Message from Consul General Ito

 

Greetings

 

Autumn has fully arrived as both the mornings and evenings are now quite cool.

 

The biggest news coming from our Consulate this past month is the setting up of a Twitter account. This current technological communication tool allows us to share various types of information with local Japanese and Japanese Canadians.  We would be pleased to have you follow us on Twitter. 

 

As well, in the past month we had a line-up of cultural events that took place. Animation film director Mr. Keiichi Hara, Chief Executive Director of the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation Dr. Mamoru Mohri, and a musical group performing on traditional Japanese instruments (koto, shakuhachi and wadaiko) all visited British Columbia. Their presentations and performance were attended and enjoyed by a good number of people.  Other cultural events included the Japanese Film Festivals held in Salmon Arm, Vancouver, Victoria and Whitehorse.

 

In October there was a significant event related to the Government of British Columbia. Premier Clark announced a new jobs plan indicating the government’s intention to strengthen its ties with the Asia Pacific region.  Our consulate would be pleased to help the advancement of BC’s economic relations with Japan in any way we can through cooperation efforts with the Government of British Columbia.

 

At the beginning of October, the Honourable Stockwell Day, former minister of the   Government of Canada traveled to Japan on the invitation of the Japanese government.  His itinerary included a tour of the areas hardest hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake.  He is slated to give a presentation about his first-hand experiences sometime in early November to which I am very much looking forward.

 

As the weather is now changing, please take good care of your health. 

 

Hideki Ito
Consul General
October 13, 2011