Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for Ms. Elizabeth Costello, Former President of Naoko Shirane Foundation
2024/3/27
Consul General Murabayashi and Ms. Elizabeth Costello
Mr. Henry Cisneros, Former San Antonio Mayor
Commemorative Photograph
On March 18, 2024, Consul General Murabayashi hosted a reception in honor of Ms. Elizabeth Costello, the former president of Naoko Shirane Foundation at the Betty Kelso Center in San Antonio Botanical Garden. Ms. Costello received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation, in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the advancement of friendly relations between Japan and the United States of America.
During her mandate as head of the Global Engagement Division for the City of San Antonio, Ms. Costello aided in the initiation of sister city relations with Kumamoto City and facilitated the establishment of Toyota’s car manufacturing facility in San Antonio. Upon retirement, she became president of the Naoko Shirane Foundation in San Antonio, which was founded to honor former head of the Texas Japan Office, Mrs. Naoko Shirane by giving back to the community through educational exchange programs.
In his opening remarks, Consul General Murabayashi emphasized the importance of San Antonio for Japanese trade and production in the Texas Triangle (the urban megaregion consisting of the state’s major metropolitan areas). He praised Ms. Costello for all of her efforts towards cultivating a healthy trade and investment environment in San Antonio.
Ms. Costello recalled Mrs. Shirane advice to herself and then-San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros to develop and foster human relations before attempting to attract foreign direct investment from Japan, which led to the formation of the sister city relationship. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. She added that the Commendation is not only for herself, but also for those in attendance who have supported her along the way.
129 guests attended the reception, including San Antonio City officials and members of the Naoko Shirane Foundation, the Japan America Society of San Antonio, and the San Antonio Japanese Companies Association.
During her mandate as head of the Global Engagement Division for the City of San Antonio, Ms. Costello aided in the initiation of sister city relations with Kumamoto City and facilitated the establishment of Toyota’s car manufacturing facility in San Antonio. Upon retirement, she became president of the Naoko Shirane Foundation in San Antonio, which was founded to honor former head of the Texas Japan Office, Mrs. Naoko Shirane by giving back to the community through educational exchange programs.
In his opening remarks, Consul General Murabayashi emphasized the importance of San Antonio for Japanese trade and production in the Texas Triangle (the urban megaregion consisting of the state’s major metropolitan areas). He praised Ms. Costello for all of her efforts towards cultivating a healthy trade and investment environment in San Antonio.
Ms. Costello recalled Mrs. Shirane advice to herself and then-San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros to develop and foster human relations before attempting to attract foreign direct investment from Japan, which led to the formation of the sister city relationship. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. She added that the Commendation is not only for herself, but also for those in attendance who have supported her along the way.
129 guests attended the reception, including San Antonio City officials and members of the Naoko Shirane Foundation, the Japan America Society of San Antonio, and the San Antonio Japanese Companies Association.