Through the Eyes of the Consul General of Japan in Detroit

The Consul General’s residence in Cranbrook has a spacious garden with a swimming pool complete with a diving board. I was on the swimming team throughout junior high and high school. At the time, there were only four high schools in Hiroshima Prefecture with water polo teams. In theory, winning just two matches would have earned us a place in the national inter-high school championships. We never made it, though, because we always lost to our rival school, which had Koji Kikkawa, a popular musician of our generation, on its team.
 
People often tell me how nice it must be to have a pool at the residence where I can swim whenever I like. But because of family circumstances, I had to return to Japan several times this summer and ended up swimming just once. Michigan’s summer is short, but beautiful. This summer, we hosted three receptions by the residence pool, each bringing together mayors along with Japanese companies operating in their cities.
 
The first reception, on July 25, brought together the cities of Farmington Hills and Northville. Although we extended more invitations, the summer holiday season meant that only a handful of companies, including Nissan, Panasonic, and Aisin, were able to attend. Fortunately, Haruki Yamazaki, a player for Detroit City Football Club (DCFC)—of which Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich is a huge fan—joined us. The mayor and he even got into the pool together, adding to the festive atmosphere.
 
On August 15, we shifted our focus beyond the Detroit metropolitan area, inviting representatives from Lansing and Battle Creek. This event had a more business-oriented format: the cities gave presentations to attract investment, while Yazaki Corporation and DENSO introduced their business operations. Mayor Andy Schor of Lansing had long expressed a desire to engage directly with Japanese companies, and this gathering gave him that opportunity.
 
The third reception, on September 5, welcomed the Ohio cities of Dublin and Defiance. Despite falling on Labor Day weekend, the event attracted representatives from companies, universities, and Japan–America societies, including guests who traveled from Columbus, Toledo and Findlay. In return, I attended Dublin’s Japanese Festival on September 12 and Defiance’s Rib Fest on September 26.
 
At all three receptions, Chef Taniguchi’s dishes were a big hit. We decided to forgo the labor-intensive barbecue and served the food indoors, while setting up a special bar by the pool for drinks. Several corporate guests told me how valuable it was to have the opportunity to speak directly with mayors they rarely got to meet. These events reminded me once again that one of the Consulate General’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to convene people and bring the right connections together.
 
Even when no one went swimming, the poolside proved to be a wonderful setting for photographs at dinners attended by distinguished guests, including Governor Taizo Mikazuki of Shiga Prefecture, former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, President Sandy Baruah of the Detroit Regional Chamber, and MEDC CEO Quentin Messer. The relaxed expressions on everyone’s faces spoke for themselves.
 
The pool has now been drained and covered for the winter, but when we open it again next year, I hope to welcome many more guests. And of course, children are more than welcome!