Consul-General Oba’s Welcome Message
2026/9/1
To all our friends in the Midwestern United States,
My name is Yuichi Oba, and I have assumed the post of Consul-General of Japan in Chicago.
I am deeply honored to be able to serve as Consul-General in Chicago representing the Midwest, also known as America’s Heartland. At the same time, I keenly feel the heavy responsibility that comes with leading the Consulate-General that has jurisdiction over ten Midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).
Many Japanese people reside in the ten states under our jurisdiction, and are active in various fields such as business, education, culture, and sports. There are also more than 1,200 Japanese-affiliated companies operating here in manufacturing and a variety of other sectors, creating over 160,000 jobs. In this regard, the primary mission of our Consulate-General is to ensure the peace of mind and safety of Japanese residents and visitors, and to contribute to the smooth operations and profitability of Japanese companies. All of our staff strive to further improve consular services, and will make every effort to live up to your trust and expectations.
We recognize that what supports today’s strong Japan-U.S. relationship is the people-to-people connections rooted in local communities. We intend to continue providing maximum support and maintaining close cooperation in every possible form for grassroots-level exchanges across various areas, including the activities of Japan-related organizations, Japan-America Societies, and the Japanese American community, as well as the exchanges between local governments, university partnerships, and youth exchanges.
For myself, this is not only my first assignment in Midwest region, but also in the United States. I sincerely look forward to visiting each of the ten states under our jurisdiction at the earliest possible opportunity, and meeting many of you in person. While receiving your candid opinions and suggestions, I will make every effort to further develop the wonderful relationships between Japan and the ten states under our jurisdiction that have been built through the efforts of so many people.
I humbly ask for your kind support.
September 1, 2026
Consul-General of Japan in Chicago
Yuichi Oba
My name is Yuichi Oba, and I have assumed the post of Consul-General of Japan in Chicago.
I am deeply honored to be able to serve as Consul-General in Chicago representing the Midwest, also known as America’s Heartland. At the same time, I keenly feel the heavy responsibility that comes with leading the Consulate-General that has jurisdiction over ten Midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).
Many Japanese people reside in the ten states under our jurisdiction, and are active in various fields such as business, education, culture, and sports. There are also more than 1,200 Japanese-affiliated companies operating here in manufacturing and a variety of other sectors, creating over 160,000 jobs. In this regard, the primary mission of our Consulate-General is to ensure the peace of mind and safety of Japanese residents and visitors, and to contribute to the smooth operations and profitability of Japanese companies. All of our staff strive to further improve consular services, and will make every effort to live up to your trust and expectations.
We recognize that what supports today’s strong Japan-U.S. relationship is the people-to-people connections rooted in local communities. We intend to continue providing maximum support and maintaining close cooperation in every possible form for grassroots-level exchanges across various areas, including the activities of Japan-related organizations, Japan-America Societies, and the Japanese American community, as well as the exchanges between local governments, university partnerships, and youth exchanges.
For myself, this is not only my first assignment in Midwest region, but also in the United States. I sincerely look forward to visiting each of the ten states under our jurisdiction at the earliest possible opportunity, and meeting many of you in person. While receiving your candid opinions and suggestions, I will make every effort to further develop the wonderful relationships between Japan and the ten states under our jurisdiction that have been built through the efforts of so many people.
I humbly ask for your kind support.
September 1, 2026
Consul-General of Japan in Chicago
Yuichi Oba