Remarks of Consul-General Hidenobu Sobashima at the Tokyo Tourism Seminar on 10 December 2013
Director Chitose Maeda and other Members of the Delegation from Tokyo,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I appreciate this opportunity to say a few words on the occasion of this Tokyo Tourism Seminar.
My family live in Tokyo.
Late night on Saturday 7 September this year I was watching the TV which broadcast live the presentations of the candidate cities for 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Among the presentations of the Tokyo team which impressed me was a remark by Ms. Christel Takigawa of “Omotenashi” or heart-felt hospitality and this (gesture).
Yes, in 2020 and towards 2020, Tokyo is determined to welcome its visitors with the utmost hospitality.
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the centre of Japan, and thus Japanese politics, business, culture, both traditional and contemporary, and entertainments are concentrated there.
Just last week, the Japanese food was included on the list of intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO.
In Tokyo you may wish to visit Tokyo Sky Tree or Tokyo Tower, watch Sumo or Kabuki, or venture to experience a Cosplay cafe, to give you just a few examples, and certainly you will enjoy food and shopping.
Tokyo as a whole is “cool Japan.”
Therefore, I am confident that this seminar will prove useful to all of you present here.
See you in Tokyo.
Thank you.