Greetings from the Consul General
Dear Friends,
It is a great honor for me to assume the responsibilities as Consul-General of Japan in Miami. This is my second time to live in the United States and my first time in Florida. This is also my first time to work for Japan-US relations, since during my previous stay in the US, I was engaged in the United Nations affairs in New York. So, I am excited to tackle these new challenges for me.
Japan and Florida have many established ties through sister state and sister city partnerships, our educational/cultural exchange programs and economic cooperation in the private sector. Japan is one of Florida's largest trade partners and Japanese investment in the state accounts for nearly 26,000 jobs. Given the importance and weight of Florida in the US, I believe that there remains much to do to further develop these relations.
Due to my past appointments in Spain, Peru, and Mexico, I feel especially comfortable with the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Florida. This state is important not only for Japan-US relations but also for Japan-Latin America relations. I hope that my Spanish will be useful when I approach Latin American issues.
Serving as Consul-General of Japan in Miami, I will do my utmost to contribute to strengthening the bonds of friendship between Japan and Florida. To this end, I look forward to joining with you, and I welcome your input about the role of our Consulate and its services.
Sincerely,
Kenji Hirata
Consul-General of Japan in Miami
