Inaugural Greeting
from
the new Consul General in Edinburgh
（October 2013）
This is my first greeting to the Japanese community in Scotland and Northern England, together with all our British friends, who have a close association with Japan in these areas.
My name is Hajime Kitaoka.
I eventually arrived on October 10, 2013 from my previous post in a far corner of the African continent, Ethiopia.
I regret that my arrival was delayed, and I was not able to take up this post immediately after the departure of my predecessor, the Consul General, Masataka Tarahara.
Now, I am very anxious to get in touch with you personally as soon as possible, travelling a lot in the area of my jurisdiction.
However, let me start by sending my greeting on the web.
I would also like to tell you a little about myself.
I joined the foreign service in 1979, by chance, at the same time as my predecessor Mr. Tarahara.
Starting with diplomatic training in the U.K., my career included a posting in the Japanese Embassy in London, as the U.K. Desk Officer, and later as the Deputy Director in charge of the U.K. in the Tokyo headquarters.
But those are such old stories.
I will try hard to refresh myself, in spite of my old bones, to start studying from scratch, so that I can make the best cooperation with you to further promote the existing friendship between Japan and the area in my charge.
As the Consul General, I intend to focus on improving the consular service further, giving good assistance to the Japanese Language School, and supporting the Japanese enterprises.
Regarding the promotion of publicity and cultural exchanges, I will try hard to live up to my inheritance, which my predecessor greatly enriched.
It is something of a coincidence that Edinburgh is the city where I spent the summer of 1980 as a diplomatic trainee, which makes the city so nostalgic and special for me.
The Edinburgh that welcomed me this time, was as beautiful as it was 33 years ago, and unchanged.
But I think, perhaps, I must be mistaken on the last point because the U.K. is a country that pays utmost respect to tradition, while never forgetting the enterprising spirit.
Therefore, many things must have changed!
I shall continue to be pleased by the unchanged, while continuing to be amazed by the changed, and hope I can enjoy my second stay in the U.K. with all of you.
Let me finish by asking for your kind and generous support for me, and all the staff in the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh.