Inaugural greeting from Consul General Mr Nozomu Takaoka
2018/10/26
The Following is an inaugural greeting from Mr. Nozomu Takaoka, the new Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh.
On October 9th 2018, I assumed the post as the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh. It is a great honour and pleasure for me to serve to protect Japanese interest and to promote bilateral relations with Scotland and Northern England.
In addition to working at the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, I have served in six countries for a total of eighteen years, eight and half years in Europe, four and half years in the United States and five years in the Middle-East.
I last visited Edinburgh when I was a student at the University of Oxford—coming back after thirty-four years and to serve as the Consul General is an incredible honor to me.
Scotland, home to Adam Smith; James Watt; and Conan Doyle, played an integral part in bringing about the overture to the modern world. It is the Scots who brought whisky, beer, shipbuilding to Japan—even the melody for the Japanese song for Hotaru no Hikari, comes from Auld Lang Syne.
Over 2,400 Japanese nationals and over 100 Japanese companies are contributing to the local economies in Scotland and North England.
I believe that the world is now entering a critical turning point—with the trend of globalism and a growing opposition to it. The BREXIT referendum is surely one of the phenomena brought about by this historical tide.
It is the responsibility of this Consulate General to ensure, maintain and further develop the wellbeing of Japanese nationals and bilateral relations between the UK and Japan in close coordination with the Embassy of Japan in the UK.
As we approach the end of 2018, Japan is looking forward to hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2020. This is the perfect opportunity for the UK- the birthplace of rugby and the Paralympics- to develop an even greater interest in Japan.
To mark the period linking these two major events, the UK-Japan Season of Culture will take place based on the agreement by the two Prime Ministers. I would like to encourage your interest and participation in the various events to be planned during this Season of Culture.
In closing, I would like to reiterate my determination to spare no efforts carrying out my duties mentioned above.
Wishing you good health and success in all your endeavors,
Consul General Nozomu Takaoka
On October 9th 2018, I assumed the post as the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh. It is a great honour and pleasure for me to serve to protect Japanese interest and to promote bilateral relations with Scotland and Northern England.
In addition to working at the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, I have served in six countries for a total of eighteen years, eight and half years in Europe, four and half years in the United States and five years in the Middle-East.
I last visited Edinburgh when I was a student at the University of Oxford—coming back after thirty-four years and to serve as the Consul General is an incredible honor to me.
Scotland, home to Adam Smith; James Watt; and Conan Doyle, played an integral part in bringing about the overture to the modern world. It is the Scots who brought whisky, beer, shipbuilding to Japan—even the melody for the Japanese song for Hotaru no Hikari, comes from Auld Lang Syne.
Over 2,400 Japanese nationals and over 100 Japanese companies are contributing to the local economies in Scotland and North England.
I believe that the world is now entering a critical turning point—with the trend of globalism and a growing opposition to it. The BREXIT referendum is surely one of the phenomena brought about by this historical tide.
It is the responsibility of this Consulate General to ensure, maintain and further develop the wellbeing of Japanese nationals and bilateral relations between the UK and Japan in close coordination with the Embassy of Japan in the UK.
As we approach the end of 2018, Japan is looking forward to hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2020. This is the perfect opportunity for the UK- the birthplace of rugby and the Paralympics- to develop an even greater interest in Japan.
To mark the period linking these two major events, the UK-Japan Season of Culture will take place based on the agreement by the two Prime Ministers. I would like to encourage your interest and participation in the various events to be planned during this Season of Culture.
In closing, I would like to reiterate my determination to spare no efforts carrying out my duties mentioned above.
Wishing you good health and success in all your endeavors,
Consul General Nozomu Takaoka