☆January 2017 News from Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta☆
アトランタ領事館からのニュース: Febrary 2017
佐々江賢一郎(ササエ ケンイチロウ)特命全権大使からの２０１７年度ご挨拶
As 2016 draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future.
2016 was a momentous year for the Japan-US relationship. President Obama made an historic visit to Hiroshima, and I just returned from Hawaii, where Prime Minister Abe honored the fallen and marked decades of reconciliation between our countries.
During this year, partnerships between Japan and the United States bloomed on a variety of fronts. I was honored to sign agreements extending economic partnerships with the states of Maryland and Washington. I also heard stories of growing business opportunities as I visited factories across the United States. And of course, 2016 will always be the year of Pokémon GO! No matter what else you want to say about the phenomenon, it represented a wildly successful business and cultural partnership between Japanese and American companies.
These moments remind all of us that we can rely on the generous hearts of people in both countries to deepen our bilateral relationship and move into the future together with a hopeful spirit.
On behalf of my family, the Embassy’s Diplomats and Staff, and the Government of Japan, I wish you a Happy New Year.
Prime Minister Abe Visits Pearl Harbor
２０１６年１２月に安倍総理がハワイ、パール・ハーバーに訪れた時の様子
In December Prime Minister Abe became the first Prime Minister of Japan to visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. PM Abe’s speech extended condolences to the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor and also emphasized that the Japan-US Alliance was an “alliance of hope” made possible through the spirit of tolerance and the power of reconciliation. “Japan and the United States, which have eradicated hatred and cultivated friendship and trust on the basis of common values, are now, and especially now, taking responsibility for appealing to the world about the importance of tolerance and the power of reconciliation.”
Read Prime Minister Abe’s Full Speech Here:
http://japan.kantei.go.jp/97_abe/statement/201612/1220678_11021.html
See more pictures of the visit here:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/na/na1/us/page4e_000571.html
Japan-US-ROK Trilateral
“The North Korean nuclear program and missiles are clearly representing a new level of threat. In this context, it is indispensable for Japan, the U.S., and the ROK to deepen their security cooperation.” remarked Vice Foreign Minister Sugiyama at the 6th round of trilateral talks between Japan, the U.S. and the Republic of Korea.
These talks brought together Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Sugiyama, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Republic of Korea First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam to discuss the deepening trilateral cooperation in a wide variety of areas between the three nations. The consultations included strengthening efforts to promote peace and stability in light of North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile development. In addition the deputy-level discussions included Japan-US-ROK operational cooperation, an early resolution to North Korean human rights violations and maritime security.
Read the Fact Sheet for more details:
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/01/266598.htm
ommendation for the National Park Service
Congratulations to the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit of the National Park Service on receiving a Commendation from the Foreign Minister of Japan! This unit is a valued partner in the preservation and care of the cherry trees presented to the city of Washington, D.C. in 1912 by Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki.
Superintendent Gay Vietzke and staff from the National Mall and Memorial Parks and the National Park Service accepted the Commendation during an intimate presentation and luncheon with the Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Atsuyuki Oike.
