Consulate-General of Japan in New York
在ニューヨーク日本国総領事館

Vol.37
November 2011

Prime Minister Noda Holds Summit Meeting with President Obama
On September 21, Prime Minister Noda held a summit meeting with President Obama during his visit to the U.S. to attend the UN General Assembly. At the beginning, President Obama stated that Japan is an important ally and a partner with which the U.S. would work cooperatively on a broad range of issues such as security, economy, and so forth. He further expressed that the U.S. would do everything that it can do as Prime Minister Noda has to deal with extraordinary challenges such as rebuilding Japan in the aftermath of the tsunami. In addition, President Obama mentioned that, as the two largest economies in the world, the U.S. would like to hold productive discussions with its ally,...

Conferment Ceremony for Mr. Shinichi Doi
On September 6, Mr. Shinichi Doi, Former Conservator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was honored with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays for his outstanding contributions to the promotion of Japanese culture through art. During a conferment ceremony at the Consul-General's official residence, Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki presented a Certificate of Commendation on behalf of the Government of Japan to Mr. Doi.
Ambassador Hiroki expressed his sincere appreciation to Mr. Doi for his tireless efforts in broadening Japanese culture, promoting mutual understanding and encouraging cultural exchange between Japan and the United States.

NYAWC and CGJ in NY to Assist Domestic Violence Victims
On September 30th, the Consulate General of Japan in New York finalized an agreement with the New York Asian Women's Center (NYAWC) in order to extend assistance and support Japanese victims of domestic violence from October 1st. This agreement will extend beyond NYWAC’s normal mandate of New York City out to the seven states in the Consulate General’s jurisdiction.
 NYAWC is a non-profit organization established in 1982 with the aim to help women and their children overcome domestic violence and other forms of abuse. It has since become the largest organization in U.S dealing with domestic violence against Asian Americans.

Hidden Gems: the Buddhist Golden Pure Land
Hidden Gems: The Buddhist Golden Pure Land
Earlier this year, the international community found a hidden Japanese historic milestone in a northern mountainous city of Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture. The quiet location helped Hiraizumi to be such an amazing destination for Japan? top cultural artifact collections and the concepts of garden construction. This hidden gem wasn? exposed much to the global attention until earlier this year when the area is designated as the UNESCO? World Heritage site for the ancient historic temples and the beginning of Japanese garden.

Japanese Language and Literature Courses at LaGuardia Community College
The Japanese program at LaGuardia Community College offers five Japanese-language courses, including elementary and intermediate language courses, two courses on Japanese literature (one in English and one in Japanese), and two culture and civilization courses. More than one hundred LaGuardia students take advantage of this opportunity each semester, making the Japanese language program the second-most popular in the college after Spanish.

Japan experienced a crisis of massive proportions in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 11th. We were grateful to have received heartwarming compassion and generous support from all corners of the globe. I was touched by a drawing the Consulate General received from an elementary school student in New Jersey. The drawing depicted two people shaking hands beneath the flags of Japan and the US.

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