New Year Message from Consul General Kodama
2025/1/1
New Year Message from Consul General Kodama
As we open the new year, I would like to make a few remarks.
Last year, we saw a variety of developments in Japan-Hawaii relations. Sister city agreements were signed between Hatsukaichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture and Hawaii County, and between Shibuya City in Tokyo and Honolulu City. In addition, a great number of exchange projects took place, including a visit to Hawaii by young people and atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima City based upon “the sister park agreement” between Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Pearl Harbor National Memorial . Our counterparts in Hawaii have also been similarly committed to exchanges with Japan, with Hawaii Governor Green visiting Fukuoka, Ehime and Hiroshima prefectures.
The number of tourists visiting Hawaii from Japan has not yet returned to pre-COVID levels, but is recovering. In order to further promote exchange, we will continue to facilitate entry procedures, promote educational exchange, strengthen our ties with the Japanese-American communities, and promote travel through sister and friendship city relationships and other means. We will also continue to work to promote investment from Japan and business partnerships between Japan and Hawaii.
With regard to the wildfires on the island of Maui in August 2023, I would like to once again express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and my sympathies to all those affected by the disaster. The Government of Japan, in cooperation with the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), implemented the “Kibou for Maui Project,” which invited students affected by the disaster and leaders from the State of Hawaii and the County of Maui to Japan to share our experiences and knowledge of disaster recovery and reconstruction, with the aim of building a future that is more resilient to disaster. It was very encouraging to hear from the participating high school students that they had seen a ray of hope for the future through their interactions with the local people and learning about their recovery efforts. We would like to express our respect to all those involved in making this project possible. We also welcome the proclamation of November 1st, 2024 as “Kibou for Maui Day” within the County of Maui.
Hawaii, which is home to important U.S. military headquarters and bases, plays a pivotal role in ensuring regional peace and stability. Various security cooperation initiatives were implemented here last year, including the visit of then-Minister of Defense Kihara in May and the participation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in the international maritime exercise (RIMPAC 2024) hosted by the U.S. Navy from June to August. Amidst the severe global situation, and as we mark the 80th anniversary since the end of World War II this year, we will continue to work diligently to ensure the peace and security of our country and to build a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
Ensuring the safety and security of Japanese residents is the top priority of our Consulate-General office. We will continue to work hard to become a Consulate-General office that can be relied upon, while taking your opinions into account.
I wish you all a wonderful year.
Last year, we saw a variety of developments in Japan-Hawaii relations. Sister city agreements were signed between Hatsukaichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture and Hawaii County, and between Shibuya City in Tokyo and Honolulu City. In addition, a great number of exchange projects took place, including a visit to Hawaii by young people and atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima City based upon “the sister park agreement” between Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Pearl Harbor National Memorial . Our counterparts in Hawaii have also been similarly committed to exchanges with Japan, with Hawaii Governor Green visiting Fukuoka, Ehime and Hiroshima prefectures.
The number of tourists visiting Hawaii from Japan has not yet returned to pre-COVID levels, but is recovering. In order to further promote exchange, we will continue to facilitate entry procedures, promote educational exchange, strengthen our ties with the Japanese-American communities, and promote travel through sister and friendship city relationships and other means. We will also continue to work to promote investment from Japan and business partnerships between Japan and Hawaii.
With regard to the wildfires on the island of Maui in August 2023, I would like to once again express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and my sympathies to all those affected by the disaster. The Government of Japan, in cooperation with the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), implemented the “Kibou for Maui Project,” which invited students affected by the disaster and leaders from the State of Hawaii and the County of Maui to Japan to share our experiences and knowledge of disaster recovery and reconstruction, with the aim of building a future that is more resilient to disaster. It was very encouraging to hear from the participating high school students that they had seen a ray of hope for the future through their interactions with the local people and learning about their recovery efforts. We would like to express our respect to all those involved in making this project possible. We also welcome the proclamation of November 1st, 2024 as “Kibou for Maui Day” within the County of Maui.
Hawaii, which is home to important U.S. military headquarters and bases, plays a pivotal role in ensuring regional peace and stability. Various security cooperation initiatives were implemented here last year, including the visit of then-Minister of Defense Kihara in May and the participation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in the international maritime exercise (RIMPAC 2024) hosted by the U.S. Navy from June to August. Amidst the severe global situation, and as we mark the 80th anniversary since the end of World War II this year, we will continue to work diligently to ensure the peace and security of our country and to build a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
Ensuring the safety and security of Japanese residents is the top priority of our Consulate-General office. We will continue to work hard to become a Consulate-General office that can be relied upon, while taking your opinions into account.
I wish you all a wonderful year.
KODAMA Yoshinori, Consul General of Japan in Honolulu