Greeting from the Consul-General

2025/1/1

New Year's Message from the Consul-General

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Happy New Year.
 
My name is FURUYA Tokuro. I have assumed the post of Consul-General of Japan in Melbourne last November. This year, I welcomed the New Year in Australia for the first time in four years. Having previously served at the Embassy of Japan in Canberra, this is my second assignment in Australia. Australian people are kind and cheerful, and I am very happy to be back in Australia.
 
After my arriving, in Melbourne and in South Australia, where I made an official visit in last December, I was able to meet with government and business officials as well as Japanese residents in both states. I also plan to make an official visit to Tasmania at the beginning of this month. The Consulate-General will do its utmost to help a wide range of Japanese people, including businesspersons, permanent residents, and short-term residents including international students and working holiday makers. I want to make the Consulate-General open and accessible to all.
 
I attended the 61st Japan-Australia Business Conference in Nagoya last October and the Joint Annual Networking Meeting of the Branches of the Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Australia a few days after my arrival. I met with Japanese and Australian businesspersons, government officials, and I was reaffirmed of the unwavering ties between Japan and Australia, despite the changing political landscape and unstable international situation in and outside of our countries. I will continue to meet with various Japan-Australia related people and to deepen my knowledge in order to further strengthen the friendship and cooperation between our two countries.
 
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between Aichi Prefecture and Victoria. HE Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria, also attended the abovementioned Japan-Australia Business Conference. I sincerely hope that a wide range of people-to-people exchange including those between sister cities will continue to be active this year.
 
This year’s Zodiac is Kinotomi (the Year of Wood Snake), which can have the meaning of “to work hard and keep things stable”. Let’s make it a wonderful year together!


January 2025
Consul-General of Japan in Melbourne
FURUYA Tokuro