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

It is with both solemnity and resolve that I write to you today. Solemn, because the coming spring season reminds us of the tragedy that befell the people of Japan on March 11th, 2011. Resolve, because the disaster strengthened and sharpened the will of the Japanese people to move forward, strongly and as one, toward a bright future for us and for the rest of the world. Conscious of the seriousness of the task at hand and the determination required of us, the Government of Japan would like to express our sincere gratitude for your support for the Japanese people following the earthquake and tsunami of March 11th.

In the aftermath of the disaster, the people of Japan's Tohoku region were staring in the face of vast destruction. But it was not long before they received a helping hand to pull their hearts from the clutches of despair. Those helping hands were yours, the hands of Japan's friends abroad. Tremendous financial, material and spiritual support poured into Japan after March 11th, and the kindness shown by generous souls like yourself deeply moved the Japanese people.

With high spirits and fresh determination, the people of Japan are now moving forward with recovery and reconstruction. We are working tirelessly to find new approaches to longstanding problems, taking the responsibility to rebuild from the ground up to create a Japan that is better than before. Many of the problems Japan faces are similar to those being faced by other nations around the world. Japan aims to lead the way in innovation to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

Once again, thank you for your generosity, your kindness and your friendship. The people of Japan were truly heartened by your support, and share my feelings of deep gratitude to our friends abroad.