2024 Emperor’s Birthday Celebration Reception
2024/2/28
The Emperor’s Birthday Celebration Reception was held at the Official Residence of the Consul-General on February 23. This year’s reception was a great success, and was attended by 306 guests including His Excellency the Honourable Christopher John Dawson AC APM, the Hon. Don Punch MLA, Minister for Regional Development; Disability Services; Fisheries; Seniors and Ageing; Volunteering (representing the Premier of Western Australia), Mr Shane Love MLA, Leader of the Opposition, H.E. Richard Court, AC, Former Ambassador of Australia to Japan and Former Premier of Western Australia, The Hon Julie Bishop, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, The Rt. Hon the Lord Mayor, Basil Zempilas, Mayor of the City of Perth, members of the WA government, consular corps, local Japanese and Australian business communities, think tanks and universities, and friends of Japan.
In his welcoming remarks, Consul-General Naito highlighted the various developments that have strengthened both the Australia-Japan, and the Japan-Western Australia relationships. He spoke of the progression of the friendship and upscaling of people-to-people exchange, which included the resumption of direct flights between Japan and Perth and Premier Cook’s visit to Japan. He also touched on the successful experience of both countries’ development through the growth of the iron-ore and LNG industries, which formed the basis of the progression to new investment in natural resources and energy, with both countries working with the common goal of the transition to renewable energy.
His Excellency the Honourable Christopher John Dawson AC APM, began his remarks by expressing his sympathies for the victims of January’s Noto Peninsular Earthquake. He then spoke of the great friendship between Western Australia and Japan, built upon the many years of personal relationships, and of the fact that both countries share common values of democracy and the rules based order. He mentioned the visit to Perth by Parliamentary Vice-Minister Mr. Masahiro Komura for the Indian Ocean Conference, and expressed his delight in the strengthening of the relationship between our two countries.
We received the support of many people from various fields in Japanese business and the local community in making this a successful reception. Toyota brought along its Hydrogen Fuel Cell EV for guests to try out and take a close look at. The Fukushima Society in Perth and Hyogo Prefecture (Hyogo Business & Tourism Centre(HK)) set up booths to promote tourism while providing delicacies from their regions for guests to try. The national anthems were performed by twelve members of the Japanese Choir Sakura. Green tea was served to guests by Mr. and Mrs. Iwasaki of Perth’s ‘Green Tea House’. We had Hina Dolls on display, as well as Ikebana arrangements by Perth Sogetsu Ikebana, bonsai supplied by the Bonsai Society of WA, and a fabulous Japanese lantern made by Gyotaku artist, Salty Bones. All of which created an amazing Japanese atmosphere for guests to enjoy.
In addition, the reception also served as an opportunity for the Consul-General’s chef, Mr. Osawa, to show-case and promote the beauty of Japanese cuisine and cuisine culture, with the support of local Japanese restaurants and Sake experts.
In an effort to support recovery efforts and to counter misinformation, Kamaboko from the Fukushima region was also served at the reception, and donations were also being taken at the reception desk to support the victims of the Noto Peninsular Earthquake.
This reception was a great opportunity for us to host many guests from Western Australia at the Consul-General’s WA heritage-listed Official Residence, adding another layer to the great relationship between Australia and Japan and Western Australia and Japan.
(A copy of the Consul-General’s remarks can be found here)
In his welcoming remarks, Consul-General Naito highlighted the various developments that have strengthened both the Australia-Japan, and the Japan-Western Australia relationships. He spoke of the progression of the friendship and upscaling of people-to-people exchange, which included the resumption of direct flights between Japan and Perth and Premier Cook’s visit to Japan. He also touched on the successful experience of both countries’ development through the growth of the iron-ore and LNG industries, which formed the basis of the progression to new investment in natural resources and energy, with both countries working with the common goal of the transition to renewable energy.
His Excellency the Honourable Christopher John Dawson AC APM, began his remarks by expressing his sympathies for the victims of January’s Noto Peninsular Earthquake. He then spoke of the great friendship between Western Australia and Japan, built upon the many years of personal relationships, and of the fact that both countries share common values of democracy and the rules based order. He mentioned the visit to Perth by Parliamentary Vice-Minister Mr. Masahiro Komura for the Indian Ocean Conference, and expressed his delight in the strengthening of the relationship between our two countries.
We received the support of many people from various fields in Japanese business and the local community in making this a successful reception. Toyota brought along its Hydrogen Fuel Cell EV for guests to try out and take a close look at. The Fukushima Society in Perth and Hyogo Prefecture (Hyogo Business & Tourism Centre(HK)) set up booths to promote tourism while providing delicacies from their regions for guests to try. The national anthems were performed by twelve members of the Japanese Choir Sakura. Green tea was served to guests by Mr. and Mrs. Iwasaki of Perth’s ‘Green Tea House’. We had Hina Dolls on display, as well as Ikebana arrangements by Perth Sogetsu Ikebana, bonsai supplied by the Bonsai Society of WA, and a fabulous Japanese lantern made by Gyotaku artist, Salty Bones. All of which created an amazing Japanese atmosphere for guests to enjoy.
In addition, the reception also served as an opportunity for the Consul-General’s chef, Mr. Osawa, to show-case and promote the beauty of Japanese cuisine and cuisine culture, with the support of local Japanese restaurants and Sake experts.
In an effort to support recovery efforts and to counter misinformation, Kamaboko from the Fukushima region was also served at the reception, and donations were also being taken at the reception desk to support the victims of the Noto Peninsular Earthquake.
This reception was a great opportunity for us to host many guests from Western Australia at the Consul-General’s WA heritage-listed Official Residence, adding another layer to the great relationship between Australia and Japan and Western Australia and Japan.
(A copy of the Consul-General’s remarks can be found here)
