What's New
Speech at Sequim Lavender Festival delivered by Consul General Kiyokazu Ota on July 15, 2011
I. Good afternoon, everyone. I am delighted to join this beautiful Lavender Festival. The soothing smell is lulling me into blissful calm. I am glad to be among the approximately 20 thousand visitors this weekend that will experience the benefits of your lavender.
II. On March 11th, the Tohoku region of Japan suffered from an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters. Immediately after, the people of Sequim organized donations for relief efforts. I see this instantaneous kindness and generosity as a very American trait, and I would like to offer you heartfelt appreciation on behalf of my country.
III. Japan is now striving to harness the support and solidarity offered from all over the world not simply to rebuild what was lost, but to innovatively reconstruct to reflect core strengths of modern Japanese society: security, high level of technology and safety.
IV. What we would like everyone to know is that Japan is open for business and travel. Media stories composed more of sensation than fact are overshadowing scientific reports by various international organizations such as the World Health Organization which state that travel to Japan is safe.
Radiation is only a problem within 20 miles of Fukushima. Sendai and Tokyo are not affected. Sequim’s sister city of Shiso in Hyogo Prefecture is over 350 miles away. Please continue to send your student delegations there in the future, and strengthen your sister city ties.
V. Perhaps you have heard of the singer, Lady Gaga? I would like to use a quotation from Lady Gaga, made during her trip to Japan in late June: “Go to Japan, it’s safe. Continue to support the relief efforts, but know that it’s only 0.1 percent of the country that was affected and that we’re doing more harm to Japan by staying away than by going. Enjoy their beautiful cities and landscapes. Always looking forward and not looking back, never operating from a place of fear.”
Thank you for listening and enjoy the festival.