A Message from Consul General Ken Okaniwa

"A very active month
for Florida-Japan relations"

In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Foreign Minister Kono sent a letter to Governor Rick Scott, conveying his deepest sympathies and prayers to the State and the people of Florida, his prayers to the victims, and his hope for the earliest possible recovery from this disaster.

I fully second the Minister’s message and sincerely wish that our friends in Florida are safe and well. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Governor Scott and all those who are working around the clock to help the affected people.

Together with Honorary Consul Dave Walsh, I had a great meeting last month with Congressman Darren Soto who expressed strong support for the upcoming Florida-Japan Aerospace & Aviation Summit. More than 30 Japanese aerospace companies are expected to visit Florida on October 25-27, seeking to promote business exchanges with Florida companies.

I also attended UNIQLO USA Disney Springs Store's 1st anniversary celebration co-organized by the Asia America Chamber of Commerce. UNIQLO fashion is popular among the locals and visitors, contributing to jobs and the economy. Congratulations!

October will be a very active month for Florida-Japan relations. On October 7th, people in the Pensacola area can enjoy the third annual Japan US Military Program (JUMP) event to reunite and honor those who have served in Japan. I will be giving a talk about the importance of the US-Japan relations for the stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

The Experience Asia festival will take place in Tallahassee on October 14th. This event is free to the public and will feature Matsuriza, the famous Japanese Taiko drummers who also perform at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. For those that wish to experience Japanese custom “Obon” closer to home, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens will be having their annual Lantern Festival on October 21st.

Ken Okaniwa

Consul General of Japan