Emperor's Birthday Celebration (February 19, 2026)

Remarks by Consul General TAKAHASHI

1. Introduction
To our guest of honor New Hampshire House Speaker Sherman Packard, Massachusetts State Representative Amy Mah Sangiolo, and so many other distinguished elected officials from the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, the municipalities including the city of Newton, town of Brookline, other representatives from the local governments, dear colleagues of the diplomatic and consulate missions, of course, the most important allies of mine, honorary consuls in CT and RI, Honorary Consul Gregory Boyko and Honorary Consul Steve Aveson, representatives of the Japan Societies and other cultural organizations, business and academic leaders, and to all our honored guests gathered here today,
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for attending our Reception Celebrating the Birthday of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan. I am also grateful to have video　messages for the occasion from Governor Maura Healey and  U.S. House Representative Seth Moulton from Massachusetts, as well as U.S. Senator Jeane Shaheen from New Hampshire.
I am so grateful for the strong support in strengthening Japan-U.S. relations shown by the local political leaders in New England.
It gives me great pleasure to mark such an auspicious occasion together with you all. On February 23, His Majesty the Emperor will celebrate his 66th birthday. During the past year, as the symbol of the State and of the unity of the People of Japan, Their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress, who spent her youth here in Boston, have demonstrated their dedication to the country and its people, sharing their joys and sorrows.
I would like to join you in wishing His Majesty the Emperor a very happy birthday. Here in Boston, continuing from last year, the Flag of Japan is planned to be raised at Boston City Hall on February 23rd.  I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mayor Michele Wu, and Mr. James "Reggie" Colimon, Director of Global Affairs & Protocol representing the City of Boston here today, for the establishment of this new tradition of two of the greatest sister cities of the East and West with a deep and long history as well as a spirit of innovation. The ceremony open to the public will be held from noon next Monday, and I would be honored by all of your attendance.
 
2. Japan-U.S. Relations and Japan-New England Relations
Last year marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2. Japan and the United States—who once fought a fierce war have now become one of the strongest allies in the world, with deep and strong ties rarely found anywhere in history
During President Trump’s official state visit to Japan last October, Prime Minister Takaichi stated that “the Japan-U.S. Alliance is the greatest alliance in the world,” and expressed her desire to create a new chapter in the history of the Japan-U.S. Alliance together, one that makes both countries stronger and more prosperous.
Here in New England, thanks to the warm support and understanding of everyone involved in Japan-US relations beginning with everyone gathered here today, this relationship greatly expanded and deepened since my arrival in September of 2024. 
Firstly, in Massachusetts this past year, the House of Representatives adopted its first-ever resolution celebrating friendship with Japan, officially designating May 7th as "Japan Day" in recognition of NAKAHAMA Manjiro’s landing in New Bedford, Fairhaven in 1843. This was thanks to the tremendous efforts of the House Asian Caucus including two Japanese American Representatives, Honorable Amy Mah Sangiolo and Erika Uyterhoeven, as well as State Representative Honorable Norman Orral and other friends of Japan in the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth, many of them are present here today. A similar proclamation was also issued by Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll on this occasion.
In Rhode Island, the birthplace of US Commodore Matthew Perry, March 31st was designated “Japan Day” by the two chambers of the Rhode Island General Assembly, commemorating the signing date of the 1854 Treaty of Peace and Amity—the first treaty concluded between Japan and the United States, thanks to the effort by Senator Ujifusa, another Japanese-American State legislator of the region and other local political leaders of RI.
Also, last year, a declaration of friendship with Japan was issued by the General Court of New Hampshire on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty which ended the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 thanks to the House Speaker Sherman Packard, who is present here with us today. And in Portsmouth a bell-ringing ceremony was grandly held and attended by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Governor Kelly Ayotte, and of course House Speaker Packard. I would like to reiterate my sincere gratitude to Speaker Packard, and all the other local political leaders and legislators of the New Hampshire General Court, many of whom are with us here, for their steadfast friendship and partnership with Japan.
Further, in Maine plans were put into motion to honor Mr. Horace Wilson, born in the state and credited with introducing baseball to Japan 154 years ago while working as a foreign teacher there. Now a “Horace Wilson Monument Committee” was set up to plan for the establishment of a monument in his honor, and the Portland Sea Dogs held a “Japan Night” last spring, which is now under the preparation for the next edition in this summer to come.
From last Year, sister-state exchanges between various areas in New England and Japanese local governments continue to be very active, such as with the 35th Year Anniversary Ceremony of the Hokkaido-Massachusetts sister-state relationship that was grandly held and attended by Governor Healey. And the delegation led by Maine Japanese-American Representative Ellie Sato] that visited their sister state of Aomori Prefecture, leading to an Act to Establish the Maine-Aomori Sister-state Advisory Council.
And, last April the Town of Brookline adopted a commemorative resolution marking the 125th anniversary of the birth of Chiune Sugihara who issued what became known as the "Visas for Life" to save the lives of many Jewish refugees during World War II, and officially designated April 7th as a day of remembrance in honor of him. I would like to thank Mr. Bernard Greene, Select Board Chair of Brookline and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) New England Chapter, who are here with us today, for this initiative.
 
3. New phenomena on Japan-New England relations
In the backdrop of this great dynamism here in New England is the strong economic relationship with Japan, centered on the Boston Ecosystem and displaying many rapid developments. Japanese business is quickly expanding in Massachusetts, with a focus on strengthening ties with local innovation startups in areas such as Biotech and Life Sciences. Currently there are over 200 Japanese companies active in the state, the largest presence among all foreign countries. Along with this, there are also many new developments generated by academic exchange and industry-academic collaboration, and high level missions have been visiting local research institutions very frequently.
And this year, we, as the Japanese Consulate, launched a new concept “J-NEXUS: Japan-New England Nexus for Innovation” with the aim of making our role as a “connector” and “convening power” more visible and accessible—particularly in the rapidly expanding and evolving innovation ecosystem of this region. As part of this initiative, we are inaugurating "J-NEXUS Quarterly（「四季報」）" as an integrated information platform for Japan–U.S. innovation activities in New England, thereby contributing to the further promotion of friendship, cooperation, and collaboration between Japan and New England. Copies of the 「四季報」 are stacked at the reception desk, so please feel free to pick one up and take a look.
Even still, on the cultural front Japan’s presence is growing, such as with the Boston Japan Festival- held in every year at the end of April – attracting around 100,000 visitors and becoming one of the largest “Japanese cultural festivals” in the United States; it is firmly established as a spring tradition in Boston. I hope that you may attend it this year. 
And “Cultural and Innovative Fridays at CGJ Boston” which I began November in 2024 has been held 24 times so far, and has been very well received. 
 
4. On the occasion of this special year
And this year will be an even more special one for the United States and Japan.
First, I would like to express my congratulations to the United States in welcoming its 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding this year. To celebrate this anniversary together with American friends in New England, the Consulate has created a special logo which is on the screen now.
The Ikebana flower arrangements here today are also inspired by the 250th anniversary of the Independence of the United States, and were graciously arranged locally by Ikebana International, Boston Chapter.
This year is also the year of Sports. The FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament will be held in the United States, along with Canada and Mexico, and the Japanese National Team “Samurai Blue” will also compete. In Baseball, the World Baseball Classic will be held in March, and the Women’s Pro Baseball League, - the first Women’s professional baseball league - will open in the summer with four regional teams including Boston, and I hear that Japanese women athletes will be participating.
In Japan, following from the very successful Kansai-Osaka Expo last year, the 2027 International Green Expo is scheduled to be held from March to September next year in Yokohama City. Yokohama City has set up a booth here today, and a representative from the city will be introducing the event in the second part of this reception.
And finally, what we can never forget is that this year will mark the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11th, 2011; the devastation of which even affected my hometown of Iwate Prefecture.
I would like to take this time to acknowledge that some of the first from New England to provide kind support to the affected areas were Alumni of the JET Program such as Dr. Theodore Gilman of Brandeis University, former Executive Director of Harvard’s Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies and U.S.-Japan Program; Dr. Norman Stuart Harris, from Massachusetts General Hospital, affiliates from Harvard, and over 25,000 friends from the United States Military who were deployed as part of “Operation Tomodachi”.
The Japan Society of Boston, as well as many other organizations and individuals in the New England region held countless charity events and fundraising activities in many areas. The Vermont State legislature, represented by Honorable Jonathan Cooper here today, also passed a resolution in solidarity with Japan.
And last year, Ms. Christine Pilcavage, Director of the Japan Program at MIT’s International Science and Technology Initiatives signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kesennuma(気仙沼) City in Miyagi Prefecture, an area seriously affected by the disaster. This program makes it possible for the children of 気仙沼City to participate in STEM research while offering MIT students the opportunity to learn about recovery initiatives in the Tohoku region.
Many heroes and heroines, including these I have just mentioned, are here with us this evening. As a representative of the Japanese government, I would like to express our profound gratitude once again for the support of the American people in recovery efforts such as these.
 
5. Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, I am a firm believer in the power of people-to-people relations. It lies at the very heart of international relations. We, as the Japanese consulate, hope to write the next chapter in the history of the Japan-U.S. alliance that will enrich and strengthen both countries, cooperating with people locally on a person-to-person basis, and continuing to work hard with everyone as a convening power and catalyst for new development for future growth.
I would like to join everyone in wishing for the continued health of His Majesty the Emperor, the prosperity of the Imperial Family and the good health of everyone who kindly joins me this evening.
Thank you very much.
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