Consulate-General of Japan in Houston

On Thursday, December 1, 2011, Consul-General Jota Yamamoto hosted a reception celebrating the 78th birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.  His Majesty Emperor Akihito was born on December 23rd, 1933, and will turn 78 this month.  His Majesty is the 125th Emperor to accede to the throne of Japan, and this year marks the 22nd anniversary of His accession.  His Majesty is the symbol of the State and the unity of the people of Japan.

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, His Majesty the Emperor, together with Her Majesty the Empress, visited again and again disaster afflicted areas and evacuation centers.  Their Majesties offered comfort and encouragement to the disaster victims.

Consul-General Yamamoto renewed his gratitude to the people of Texas and Oklahoma for their precious support and help to Japan.  He expressed his pleasure in reporting that Japan is steadily returning to normalcy.  He said that the situation is under control and that Japan will ensure the necessary transparency on the safety of foods and other health-related requirements.

Consul-General Yamamoto also reported that last week, a Japanese astronaut, Mr. Satoshi Furukawa, returned safely from the outer space to Earth and to Houston and was commended by Japan’s Foreign Minister Mr. Genba.

Consul-General Yamamoto took the opportunity to recognize another individual, professional garden designer, Mr. Terunobu Nakai.  Over the past five years Mr. Nakai has played a huge role renovating and keeping up the Hermann Park Japanese Garden.  Mayor Parker has proclaimed October 27th, 2011 Terunobu Nakai Day. 

Over 200 distinguished guests attended the reception.  Congratulatory messages were sent from both Texas Governor Rick Perry and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin.

An exhibit titled “Japanese Technology,” was held on the second floor of the residence.  The exhibit showcased Toshiba International Corporation with its LED lighting systems, Japan Railway Central, makers of the world’s safest high-speed train system and recent developments made by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Also, three different types of sake were available to taste during the evening. Two of the companies were from the two disaster-affected prefectures of Iwate and Myagi, and the third company was a newly-established local brand, Texas Sake Company, which uses local Texas-grown rice to make their sake in Austin.

# Remarks by Consul-General Yamamoto (Link)

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Reception Hall

Remarks by Consul-General Yamamoto

Japan Brand Exhibition (JAXA)

Japan Brand Exhibition (JR Central)

Japan Brand Exhibition (Toshiba)