| New Year's Message from Consul General George Hisaeda (2010) |
Happy New Year! My best wishes to all of you for your good health, happiness, and success in the months to come.
In the New Year, the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago will continue to uphold its motto, “Open Consulate, Friendly Consulate, Reliable Consulate.” We will make every effort to fulfill our responsibilities such as ensuring the safety of Japanese nationals, providing the highest quality consular services, supporting Japanese direct investment in our jurisdiction, and promoting Japan-Midwest exchanges as well as mutual understanding. I truly appreciate your support as we strive to fulfill these responsibilities.
In many ways, Japan and Chicago have become much closer in 2009. The list of achievements is long and impressive. Yet, I believe we can accomplish even more when the global economy rebounds. Recently, the U.S. economy has shown slight improvement, although high unemployment and weak private sector demand remain risks. The Japanese economy also appears to be emerging from recession, but deflation and the strengthening yen continue to be hurdles.
International challenges also cloud the future. Global warming and nuclear proliferation, infectious disease and terrorism must be addressed, making close cooperation between Japan and the U.S. more vital than ever.
This past fall, following the ascendance of the Democratic Party of Japan, Prime Minister Hatoyama and President Obama met in New York City and Tokyo, where they reaffirmed the importance of our Japan-U.S. alliance.
It is my sincere hope that the New Year will see a further deepening of our bilateral partnership.
Once again, best wishes to all of you for a splendid 2010!
George Hisaeda
Consul General of Japan at Chicago
January 1, 2010