Greetings from Consul General Seiichiro Takahashi [September 23, 2024]
January 30, 2025
My name is Seiichiro Takahashi, and I have the great honor of being appointed as the Consul General of Japan in Boston.
Boston was actually the very first foreign city I stepped foot in after I joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it brings to my mind memories of my days spent in graduate school. It has been exactly thirty years since, and now I see that the Japanese presence in current Boston is greater than it was in those days in many areas: not only in the world’s most prestigious levels of academic research, but also in the fields of Business and Economics, which continues to create innovations in cutting edge fields like Life Sciences; and in places such as sports and culture, with many Japanese baseball players having been successful for the Boston Red Sox. I am truly delighted to have been given the opportunity to work in this city, but with this feeling comes a renewed sense of the importance of my responsibility.
The international community today faces a severe and complex security environment. In the midst of this, the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance and Japan-U.S. relations – strongly linked by the common values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law – is greater than ever before. This past April, Prime Minister Kishida held a summit meeting with President Biden during his official visit to the United States. It was at this meeting that both leaders reaffirmed that Japan and the U.S. are bonded by deep and multi-layered trust and based on these bonds, Japan and the United States have become global partners beyond bilateral or regional spheres, to uphold and bolster the free and open international order based on the rule of law.
This solid Japan-U.S. relationship has as its foundation the everyday efforts and actions of Japanese nationals who reside here, those involved in Japanese business, and every American with Japanese heritage. Today, there are around 18,000 Japanese nationals residing in New England, active in many fields such as business, education and research, arts and culture, and volunteer grassroots activities. Above all else, our job at the Consulate-General is to ensure their safety and support them so that they may be able to spend their lives here peacefully. I intend to work hard to increasingly improve our services here at my consulate.
Also, nearly 200 Japanese companies have been contributing to the development of the local community and regional economic vibrancy, and the governments and their organizations of each state in the region greatly value the activities of Japanese business. This region, capturing the attention of Japan and the world as an ecosystem for innovation, also holds a strong interest for Japanese Start-Ups. Here at the consulate, I hope to mobilize all our competence and resources to support the smooth operation of all of these businesses.
Furthermore, in supporting a foundation for the further development of the Japan-U.S. friendship, there is no better method than that of deepening the mutual understanding and expanding the exchange of the people-to-people ties between our two nations. In the region’s historic field of academia, of course, and in each state various Japan-America cultural exchange organizations are highly active, such as the Japan Society of Boston which is now welcoming its 120th year as well as Japanese language education and Japan Studies programs that are thriving at universities and other institutions of learning. There are also 24 Japanese Sister City partnerships in New England, people-to-people exchange is thriving, and many great events like Japan festivals or cherry blossom festivals are held in many places.
November will see the United States Presidential Election and a new administration will be inaugurated. As the Consul General of Japan in Boston who will be here as America enters a new era, I will do my utmost to facilitate the developing Japan-U.S. relationship in areas like politics and diplomacy, economics and business, academics, culture, and sports, in close cooperation with everyone in these fields. I humbly ask you for your understanding and support.
Biography
Boston was actually the very first foreign city I stepped foot in after I joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it brings to my mind memories of my days spent in graduate school. It has been exactly thirty years since, and now I see that the Japanese presence in current Boston is greater than it was in those days in many areas: not only in the world’s most prestigious levels of academic research, but also in the fields of Business and Economics, which continues to create innovations in cutting edge fields like Life Sciences; and in places such as sports and culture, with many Japanese baseball players having been successful for the Boston Red Sox. I am truly delighted to have been given the opportunity to work in this city, but with this feeling comes a renewed sense of the importance of my responsibility.
The international community today faces a severe and complex security environment. In the midst of this, the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance and Japan-U.S. relations – strongly linked by the common values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law – is greater than ever before. This past April, Prime Minister Kishida held a summit meeting with President Biden during his official visit to the United States. It was at this meeting that both leaders reaffirmed that Japan and the U.S. are bonded by deep and multi-layered trust and based on these bonds, Japan and the United States have become global partners beyond bilateral or regional spheres, to uphold and bolster the free and open international order based on the rule of law.
This solid Japan-U.S. relationship has as its foundation the everyday efforts and actions of Japanese nationals who reside here, those involved in Japanese business, and every American with Japanese heritage. Today, there are around 18,000 Japanese nationals residing in New England, active in many fields such as business, education and research, arts and culture, and volunteer grassroots activities. Above all else, our job at the Consulate-General is to ensure their safety and support them so that they may be able to spend their lives here peacefully. I intend to work hard to increasingly improve our services here at my consulate.
Also, nearly 200 Japanese companies have been contributing to the development of the local community and regional economic vibrancy, and the governments and their organizations of each state in the region greatly value the activities of Japanese business. This region, capturing the attention of Japan and the world as an ecosystem for innovation, also holds a strong interest for Japanese Start-Ups. Here at the consulate, I hope to mobilize all our competence and resources to support the smooth operation of all of these businesses.
Furthermore, in supporting a foundation for the further development of the Japan-U.S. friendship, there is no better method than that of deepening the mutual understanding and expanding the exchange of the people-to-people ties between our two nations. In the region’s historic field of academia, of course, and in each state various Japan-America cultural exchange organizations are highly active, such as the Japan Society of Boston which is now welcoming its 120th year as well as Japanese language education and Japan Studies programs that are thriving at universities and other institutions of learning. There are also 24 Japanese Sister City partnerships in New England, people-to-people exchange is thriving, and many great events like Japan festivals or cherry blossom festivals are held in many places.
November will see the United States Presidential Election and a new administration will be inaugurated. As the Consul General of Japan in Boston who will be here as America enters a new era, I will do my utmost to facilitate the developing Japan-U.S. relationship in areas like politics and diplomacy, economics and business, academics, culture, and sports, in close cooperation with everyone in these fields. I humbly ask you for your understanding and support.
Biography