Remarks by Consul General Yoichiro Yamada at Kobe Business Seminar (July 27, 2017)
2017/9/20
I feel honored to be given the opportunity to make introductory remarks on the occasion of this investment seminar in light of the Kobe delegation’s visit to Seattle.
I came to Seattle at the beginning of June to take the post of Consul General of Japan. When arriving, my family and I immediately felt that the city was open, welcoming, dynamic and rich in diversity even before stepping out of the airport. Seattle today is such an inspiring city that the world pays careful attention to its news and trends. I have found that almost every business individual, politician, and government official in Seattle that I have met over the past 7 weeks holds a global perspective.
Today, in the state of Washington, there are 14,000 Japanese expatriates and 80,000 Japanese Americans. There are also nearly 200 Japanese companies creating about 15,000 jobs. Japan is one of the most important trade and investment partners for the state, trading everything from potatoes, lumber, and fish to aircraft and software. Japan’s export to Washington State includes cars, aircraft parts and machine tools, and electronic appliances. Japan and its culture have become a part of the fabric of Seattle’s cultural and social backdrop. As Consul General, I feel happy that these close and traditional ties to Japan have contributed to the city’s diversity and vitality in a significant way. Even the baseball player Ichiro Suzuki was imported to Seattle from Kobe.
This year, Kobe and Seattle are celebrating its 60th Anniversary since becoming sister cities. Kobe and Seattle were each other’s first sister city. The ties of the two cities are old, but they are in fact both young and attractive cities. I was born in Kobe, so I may be partial, but I personally cannot think of a more suitable city pairing than these two. Both are natural hubs for transportation and distribution. They are both hilly and of comparable size. Both have vibrant industries to add to their traditional industries. Seattle is among the world’s centers for artificial intelligence and information-communication technology as well as in the life sciences. Kobe has placed the biomedical industry at the new focus of its economy since the devastating earthquake of 1995. Today, it has become a hub for medical innovation with more than 300 companies having a firm presence in the city.
Ladies and gentlemen, there have been unhappy episodes and tragic moments in the history of Japan – US relations. But after the war, the two countries have always looked to the future and closely cooperated in every possible field, while at the same time looking squarely at the past. This positive attitude from both sides has brought about the successful, friendly and close ties that exist between us today. Today, Japan and the US share the same values and beliefs as to what we stand for and what we want to leave behind for our children. The parents of both countries feel comfortable about sending their children to each other.
After the Second World War, the US laid the foundation of an open and free international order, and preserved international peace. Japan has offered assistance and investment to many Asian countries, and it has supported the modernization of their industries. The close cooperation between Japan and the US has contributed greatly to the overall prosperity of the Pacific Region of today. Our cooperation will continue to lead the development of the region, and of the world, in the future.
Today, Kobe and Seattle are grappling with many questions, including sustainable urban development, global climate change, disaster preparedness, the technological revolution and its implications on the meaning of human life. There remains a lot to learn from each other. There also remains a big scope for further promotion of tourism and exchanges.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is the job of the Consul General to be a bridge to Japan for Seattle and the State of Washington. I wish to do my best to be useful to this end, and I humbly ask for your support.
Thank you.
I came to Seattle at the beginning of June to take the post of Consul General of Japan. When arriving, my family and I immediately felt that the city was open, welcoming, dynamic and rich in diversity even before stepping out of the airport. Seattle today is such an inspiring city that the world pays careful attention to its news and trends. I have found that almost every business individual, politician, and government official in Seattle that I have met over the past 7 weeks holds a global perspective.
Today, in the state of Washington, there are 14,000 Japanese expatriates and 80,000 Japanese Americans. There are also nearly 200 Japanese companies creating about 15,000 jobs. Japan is one of the most important trade and investment partners for the state, trading everything from potatoes, lumber, and fish to aircraft and software. Japan’s export to Washington State includes cars, aircraft parts and machine tools, and electronic appliances. Japan and its culture have become a part of the fabric of Seattle’s cultural and social backdrop. As Consul General, I feel happy that these close and traditional ties to Japan have contributed to the city’s diversity and vitality in a significant way. Even the baseball player Ichiro Suzuki was imported to Seattle from Kobe.
This year, Kobe and Seattle are celebrating its 60th Anniversary since becoming sister cities. Kobe and Seattle were each other’s first sister city. The ties of the two cities are old, but they are in fact both young and attractive cities. I was born in Kobe, so I may be partial, but I personally cannot think of a more suitable city pairing than these two. Both are natural hubs for transportation and distribution. They are both hilly and of comparable size. Both have vibrant industries to add to their traditional industries. Seattle is among the world’s centers for artificial intelligence and information-communication technology as well as in the life sciences. Kobe has placed the biomedical industry at the new focus of its economy since the devastating earthquake of 1995. Today, it has become a hub for medical innovation with more than 300 companies having a firm presence in the city.
Ladies and gentlemen, there have been unhappy episodes and tragic moments in the history of Japan – US relations. But after the war, the two countries have always looked to the future and closely cooperated in every possible field, while at the same time looking squarely at the past. This positive attitude from both sides has brought about the successful, friendly and close ties that exist between us today. Today, Japan and the US share the same values and beliefs as to what we stand for and what we want to leave behind for our children. The parents of both countries feel comfortable about sending their children to each other.
After the Second World War, the US laid the foundation of an open and free international order, and preserved international peace. Japan has offered assistance and investment to many Asian countries, and it has supported the modernization of their industries. The close cooperation between Japan and the US has contributed greatly to the overall prosperity of the Pacific Region of today. Our cooperation will continue to lead the development of the region, and of the world, in the future.
Today, Kobe and Seattle are grappling with many questions, including sustainable urban development, global climate change, disaster preparedness, the technological revolution and its implications on the meaning of human life. There remains a lot to learn from each other. There also remains a big scope for further promotion of tourism and exchanges.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is the job of the Consul General to be a bridge to Japan for Seattle and the State of Washington. I wish to do my best to be useful to this end, and I humbly ask for your support.
Thank you.