Farewell Message from Ambassador OKUYAMA
2022/9/15
My mission as Ambassador of Japan to Luxembourg will end in mid-October and I will take up my new post of Ambassador of Japan to Jordan. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the friendship and cooperation you extended since the arrival of my wife Toyoko and I, in February 2020. I fondly recall the national day reception I was able to host on a full-scale that same month.
Unfortunately, from then onwards, many official events had to be cancelled, as the nation worked hard together to contain the global pandemic. As His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke said in his exceptional televised address in 2020, “only together can we make it”.
I must admit that the ensuing months of restrictions and lockdown limitations were difficult, as a number of high-level bilateral exchanges could not take place as planned, and we did our very best to promote political, economic and cultural ties between Japan and Luxembourg with full respect of government directives.
Nonetheless, Japan was able to welcome His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri and the Luxembourgish team at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021. We also managed to arrange for a meeting between Ministers and Japanese business representatives stationed in Luxembourg, as representatives from Japan could not travel. Rather than completely halt all activities, the Covid-19 pandemic put our creativity to the test and made us come up with alternative methods to reach our goals.
The 2022 ICT Spring Conference was a true success for Japanese start-ups, notably in space-related areas, and I hope that in the future, the Japanese manufacturing sector too, can continue to promote sustainable development in the Grand Duchy.
Japan is thrilled to host the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and we are very much looking forward to the Luxembourgish pavilion.
For those of you who have visited the many activities of Esch2022, European Capital of Culture, you may have noticed our imprint on many of the activities on offer. Esch2022 has been an important stage for a number of events and performances displaying Japanese culture, not to mention the largest turnout at the Spirit of Shizen exhibition at the Museum of National History. Our culinary cooperation with the École de Hôtellerie et de Tourisme du Luxembourg in Diekirch and with other fora will hopefully also increase the appeal of Japanese cuisine to Luxembourgish palates. There are growing interests in various aspects of Japan that go beyond language, tourism, student exchange, and manga/anime culture. Ikebana flower arrangements, tea ceremony, bonsai, and martial arts such as judo, karate, aikido, kendo, and kyudo, are progressively gaining momentum with the public.
As part of our long-term goals, we intend to replant fifty locally grown Japanese cherry trees along with fifty Luxembourgish cherry trees along the Remich Esplanade to mark the centenary of our diplomatic relations in 2027.
Japan’s relations with Luxembourg and the EU are more important than ever as we all struggle to build a coordinated front to fight against all forms of authoritarianism, which includes the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We must uphold our joint effort to ultimately achieve a world without nuclear weapons, and I am encouraged to see that 63 communes have already joined the Mayors for Peace initiative. There is a lot that our two countries can learn from our regional efforts. It is time for dialogue at all levels.
Finally, my successor was officially announced on 15th September: Mr. MATSUBARA Tadahiro, former Senior Managing Executive Officer of Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. He has an extensive business background with 40 years of experience. He will be accompanied by his wife, Emi. I ask of you to extend your generous friendship, cooperation, and advice, as you did to me for the last two years and seven months.
Toyoko and I will certainly cherish our memories of Luxembourg – a country of multicultural richness that makes everyone feel welcome. I am honoured to have met you during my time here and hope that our paths may cross again in the future.
I sincerely wish you all great success in your endeavours, good health, and happiness.
15 September 2022
OKUYAMA, Jiro
Ambassador of Japan to Luxembourg