The Emperor’s Birthday Reception in Hong Kong

 
     On 5^th February, the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong hosted a reception to celebrate the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. More than 500 guests attended the reception, including representatives from Hong Kong’s business community, cultural and educational sectors, Japanese companies, the Japanese community, and members of the consular corps, to celebrate His Majesty’s 66th birthday.
     In his remarks, Ambassador MIURA Jun, Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong, noted that His Majesty the Emperor continues to express deep concern for people facing hardship and prays for the happiness of the people of Japan and the world. In this same spirit, he stated that Japan stands in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong and hopes that this year will be a peaceful and good year for everyone. Reflecting on his first year in Hong Kong, the Consul-General remarked that his impression of the city remains unchanged: the warm welcome of the people of Hong Kong, the vibrant city life, and the unique East-meets-West culture. He also highlighted that steady progress has been made over the past year in Japan–Hong Kong relations across a wide range of fields, including the economy, culture, education and tourism.
     On cultural exchanges, the Consul-General referred to the 10th anniversary of the “Japan Autumn Festival in Hong Kong” celebrated last year, noting that exchanges through traditional performing arts, dance, music and other forms of artistic expression have continued to deepen. He also expressed his pride in the many Japanese artists who are active in Hong Kong and contribute to the city’s rich cultural scene. In the field of innovation and technology, he highlighted “The Japan-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Forum”, which was held for the first time last year, as a symbolic initiative reflecting the expanding scope of bilateral cooperation.
     At the reception, guests enjoyed a dynamic taiko drum performance by “Gekko,” as well as performances on traditional Japanese musical instruments such as the koto and shakuhachi, and an exhibition of ikebana. Booths showcasing regional attractions from across Japan were also set up at the venue. Representatives from 11 Japanese prefectures—Fukushima, Tochigi, Hyogo, Tottori, Tokushima, Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima and Okinawa—together with related organizations, presented a wide range of local specialities, including Wagyu beef, sake, shochu and awamori, and Japanese wine, allowing guests to enjoy the diverse charms of Japanese food, drink and culture.
 
Full text of the speech by the Consul-General (attached, available in English only)