Culture & Education

                                        

Farewell Message
from
the former Consul General in Edinburgh
　　　　　

（April 2016）

 

This is my farewell message to the Japanese community in Scotland and the North East of England, together with all our British friends who have a close association with Japan in these areas.

 

I have received an official instruction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo to return to Japan.

 

It came as a surprise to me, since I had expected I could stay here longer, perhaps until the autumn, when my period here would have reached three years. Indeed two and a half years has been too short for me and has resulted in some important goals being left unattained.

 

I am leaving here today on 26th of April to go back to Japan, and will be posted eventually to some other country, where I will be in charge of overseeing the opening of a new Japanese Embassy.

 

My time here has always been filled with hospitality and it has been my policy to “learn by using my feet”. As such, I have flown north as far as the Orkney and Shetland Islands. To the south, I crossed the border to the North East of England as many as 20 times. And everyone my wife Yoko and I met welcomed us in such a warm and cordial manner. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to them all.

 

During my period here, I became more and more convinced that the friendship between Scotland, the North East of England, and Japan is getting stronger with all of you are at the forefront in achieving this. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely wish your efforts lead to the further promotion of our friendship.

 

Mrs Ishigami, my deputy, will take over from me as the Acting Consul General, and my successor is due to come in May. I sincerely wish that your kind and generous support shall be extended to my successor.

 

Thank you very much again! I wish you all the best.

                                         


Hajime KITAOKA
Consul General of JAPAN


26th April 2016