Consulate-General of Japan in Houston

Thank you for the kind introduction and inviting me to this prestigious banquet. My name is Nozomu Takaoka and I am the Consul General of Japan, stationed in Houston, but I visit Dallas-Fort Worth as often as I can to promote the exchange and friendship between North Texas and Japan. And I am very excited about tonight’s event for two reasons.

The first reason is to know that so many Texans are kindly welcoming and celebrating Toyota’s new headquarters in Plano, which will be in addition to their Toyota Tundra plant in San Antonio.  I am certain that our keynote speaker Mr. Osamu Nagata is very much behind the rapid expansion of Toyota’s presence and investment into Texas. And I am very happy to note the undeniable positive effects by Toyota on Japan-Texas relations.

The second reason for my excitement is the great role the Dallas-Fort Worth Asian American Citizen Council plays in forging strong ties between Texas and Asian countries. I have always felt that diplomats like me and American citizens like yourselves share a common goal in promoting friendship and ties between the United States and foreign countries of your ancestral origins. Especially with regards to Japanese Americans 70 years after World War II, this event makes me sincerely hopeful as AACC is offering a venue for all Asian Americans, regardless of their country of origin, to join hands and work with one another to further these noble goals. I thank Texan hospitality and big hearts which I am happy to observe here in the banquet hall tonight.

I appreciate the leadership of the members of the Dallas-Fort Worth Asian American Citizen Council whose hard work and dedication has made tonight’s event possible. I’d also like to recognize the gracious presence of Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. Additionally I’d like to welcome the many State Representatives and Senators (State Representative Angie Chen Button, State Representative Linda Koop, State Representative Jodie Laubenberg, State Representative Matt Rinaldi and State Senator Van Taylor) and Mayors (including Mayor Beth Van Duyne of Irving, Mayor Jim Pruitt of Rockwell, Mayor Douglas Athas of Garland, Mayor Paul Voelker of Richardson and Mayor Joe McCourry of The Colony) who are with us this evening.
Thank you all for attending this important event and I wish you all great success in your future.