2020 New Year Greeting from Ambassador Ishii
2020/1/7
Happy New Year everyone. It is now more than two years, since I have been assigned in October 2017, the Ambassador of Japan to Tonga.
Looking back on 2019, you might feel that a year goes by so fast! These were some of the key events that I noted in Tonga last year. In May, the Parliament of Tonga was opened by HM King Tupou VI and then in June, Tonga’s Parliament passed the Government of Tonga’s budget. In July, the people of Tonga celebrated HM King Tupou VI’s 60th Birthday, and it was a joyous occasion! HM King Tupou VI also headed Tonga’s delegation to the UN General Assembly of 2019, and HM’s Royal Address was focused on Climate Change.
Then in September, the Hon. Samuela 'Akilisi Pōhiva passed away, and the country mourned its late PM. The election for Tonga’s new PM was held in October and it was won by the Hon. Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa. One of the main challenges that Tonga has been trying to tackle is the influx of illicit drugs into the society.
The relationship between Tonga and Japan was advanced further with the following bilateral and multilateral events last year. Early in 2019, H.E. Mr. Takata, Ambassador for the Pacific Island Region visited Tonga and met with the late PM 'Akilisi Pōhiva. The construction of the much anticipated Nationwide Early Warning System, shortened as the NEWS project, began last year and it will help Tonga’s preparations against disasters. In Japan, the Rugby World Cup was held from September to November, and in October there was great celebration as the Enthronement Ceremony of Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako was held. To wrap up the year, Mr. Nakayama, Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs visited Tonga in December.
This year, the Embassy is looking forward to some important events, and it will begin with the Emperor’s Birthday Reception in February, followed by the National Soroban Competition in March, which will also coincide with a survey team from Japan, who will be here in Tonga to collect basic data on the Fua'amotu Airport.
I observe that the friendship between our countries and our peoples, continue to become stronger and closer, and its foundations are multi-layered. I have identified these three elements as significant factors in performing key roles in our warm relations.
Firstly, there is a spiritual affinity between the peoples of Tonga and Japan, based upon the cordial relations between the Imperial Family and the Royal Family, and the similarity in the pronunciation of our vowels as well as our interconnections as island nations surrounded by the great Pacific Ocean. Secondly, the mutual understanding and cooperation between our countries are always echoed in the Economic and Political arena. And thirdly, our relations with the Tongan society are acknowledged from leaders to the grass root level, and further strengthened by cultural relationships like Rugby, Soroban, Japanese language studies in Tonga, and Sumo.
I greatly aspire and stay committed to further strengthening our relations into the future, especially as we are now in the Golden Jubilee of our diplomatic ties, whereby the year 2020 marks 50 years of close cooperation and warm friendship between Tonga and Japan! It is my sincere wish that after 50 years from now, our successors will look back at the milestone of our 50th anniversary with appreciation, just as we now open the new half-century of our golden bond.
May good health and lifetimes of happiness bless Your Lives always, and may there be prosperity for all the people of Tonga and Japan.
'Ofa lahi atu.
Tetsuya ISHII Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga
Looking back on 2019, you might feel that a year goes by so fast! These were some of the key events that I noted in Tonga last year. In May, the Parliament of Tonga was opened by HM King Tupou VI and then in June, Tonga’s Parliament passed the Government of Tonga’s budget. In July, the people of Tonga celebrated HM King Tupou VI’s 60th Birthday, and it was a joyous occasion! HM King Tupou VI also headed Tonga’s delegation to the UN General Assembly of 2019, and HM’s Royal Address was focused on Climate Change.
Then in September, the Hon. Samuela 'Akilisi Pōhiva passed away, and the country mourned its late PM. The election for Tonga’s new PM was held in October and it was won by the Hon. Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa. One of the main challenges that Tonga has been trying to tackle is the influx of illicit drugs into the society.
The relationship between Tonga and Japan was advanced further with the following bilateral and multilateral events last year. Early in 2019, H.E. Mr. Takata, Ambassador for the Pacific Island Region visited Tonga and met with the late PM 'Akilisi Pōhiva. The construction of the much anticipated Nationwide Early Warning System, shortened as the NEWS project, began last year and it will help Tonga’s preparations against disasters. In Japan, the Rugby World Cup was held from September to November, and in October there was great celebration as the Enthronement Ceremony of Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako was held. To wrap up the year, Mr. Nakayama, Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs visited Tonga in December.
This year, the Embassy is looking forward to some important events, and it will begin with the Emperor’s Birthday Reception in February, followed by the National Soroban Competition in March, which will also coincide with a survey team from Japan, who will be here in Tonga to collect basic data on the Fua'amotu Airport.
I observe that the friendship between our countries and our peoples, continue to become stronger and closer, and its foundations are multi-layered. I have identified these three elements as significant factors in performing key roles in our warm relations.
Firstly, there is a spiritual affinity between the peoples of Tonga and Japan, based upon the cordial relations between the Imperial Family and the Royal Family, and the similarity in the pronunciation of our vowels as well as our interconnections as island nations surrounded by the great Pacific Ocean. Secondly, the mutual understanding and cooperation between our countries are always echoed in the Economic and Political arena. And thirdly, our relations with the Tongan society are acknowledged from leaders to the grass root level, and further strengthened by cultural relationships like Rugby, Soroban, Japanese language studies in Tonga, and Sumo.
I greatly aspire and stay committed to further strengthening our relations into the future, especially as we are now in the Golden Jubilee of our diplomatic ties, whereby the year 2020 marks 50 years of close cooperation and warm friendship between Tonga and Japan! It is my sincere wish that after 50 years from now, our successors will look back at the milestone of our 50th anniversary with appreciation, just as we now open the new half-century of our golden bond.
May good health and lifetimes of happiness bless Your Lives always, and may there be prosperity for all the people of Tonga and Japan.
'Ofa lahi atu.
Tetsuya ISHII Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga