Monthly Reflections

December Monthly Reflections

It has been a difficult start to the year 2024 in Japan. I offer my heartfelt condolences to those affected in the Noto Peninsula earthquake and the collision at Haneda Airport, and I pray for the rescue and recovery of those who have suffered and the swift reconstruction progress. I know that many people here are also very concerned about the situation

At the beginning of this year, I would like to reiterate that we, as the Consulate General, are determined to continue to make every possible effort by constantly reviewing our operations and organization to ensure the safety and health of everyone. I sincerely wish for a peaceful  year ahead for everyone in the region.

In this monthly reflection, I look back at the last year as a whole, while providing a report on last month's activities.


○Relationship between Japan and this region

I arrived in October 2022, and this past year was the first time I spent a full year in Vancouver. I visited Japanese communities and Japanese residents whenever possible, and made efforts to build relationships with various sectors of the BC-Yukon region. I believe that 2023 was a year of further strengthening of relations between Japan and Canada's West Coast region, with a series of visits to Japan by the premiers of both BC and Yukon and a number of related missions. It was also a year in which I met with many people, including key officials from local, provincial, and territorial governments, business leaders, and members of cultural and academic communities.

○Nikkei and Local Japanese Community

As the COVID-19 pandemic subsided, many festivals were revived, and I continued to attend events since the beginning of the year, and was also invited to events of related organizations at the end of last year. As I listened to their stories, I was reminded of the great contributions that many of them are making to the Nikkei and Japanese communities, while they are busy with their own work.

○Year-end activities

As mentioned above, there were various moves last year to strengthen the relationship between BC, Yukon and Japan. In December, the Honorable Bruce Ralston , BC's Minister of Forests, led a mission to Japan. Just prior to his visit to Japan, the minister told me that he was keenly aware that Japan is an extremely important export destination for Canada, and that he wanted to convey this to Japanese officials. Minister Ralston is also responsible for the Consular Corps, and is the minister I meet most frequently on various occasions.

○End of year weather

Although a drop in temperature is expected in January, unlike the same period the year before last, Christmas and New Year's holidays were snow-free. Maximum temperature records were broken in many parts of BC, with West Vancouver reported to have recorded 14°C, surpassing the 1986 record of 11.5°C. While we are experiencing a mild winter, there is much to be concerned about in terms of climate change, and we are also anticipating major issues in terms of wildfire preparedness in the spring and beyond. The Consulate General will continue to  make sure to provide safety and other necessary information.
 
I wish you all a very happy new year.