Through the Eyes of the Consul General of Japan in Detroit

Last September, I attended the Japan–Midwest U.S. Association Conference in Tokyo for the first time (A Consul General’s Perspective, Vol. 10). This September, I attended the same conference only this time it was in Indianapolis and it was held from September 9^th-11^th.  Since Consul Generals are generally expected to remain within their jurisdictions—in my case, Michigan and Ohio—this was likely to be my first and last official trip to Indiana. I joined Ambassador Yamada and his delegation, who had stopped in Detroit the previous day, as well as newly appointed Consul General Oba in Chicago and Consul General Watanabe in Nashville, whose jurisdiction now includes Kentucky. I also delivered the closing remarks.
 
Last year, I offered some rather sharp criticism, suggesting that the conference resembled The Congress of Vienna Dances. This time, however, I joined everyone else on the dance floor, so to speak, and found the experience highly worthwhile. Although the conference still lacked a strong sense of Midwest-wide unity at the gubernatorial level—with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer being the only participating governor besides the host state of Indiana’s governor, while Kentucky and Kansas were represented by their lieutenant governors—total attendance exceeded 500, including more than 100 participants from Japan.
 
The welcome reception was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500—a wonderfully fitting venue. The featured guest was Japanese racing driver Takuma Sato, who spoke eloquently in fluent English about his experiences, including his two victories at the Indianapolis 500.
 
Governor Mikazuki of Shiga Prefecture, Michigan’s sister prefecture, and Governor Ono of Saitama Prefecture, Ohio’s sister prefecture, also attended. Both made compelling presentations promoting their respective prefectures at the opening ceremony. Ambassador Yamada’s keynote address was outstanding: he spoke without reading from a prepared script, delivered a clear message, and earned high praise from everyone I spoke with.
 
After that, however, much like Emperor Alexander I, who slipped away from the Congress of Vienna to enjoy himself with Christel, the tailor’s daughter, I once again devoted myself to activities outside the main conference hall.
 
These activities included meetings between Governor Whitmer and Ambassador Yamada; Governor Whitmer and Governor Mikazuki; Governor Ono and Ohio Department of Development Director Mihalik; Governor Ono and the Mayor Muryn of Findlay; Governor Ono and MEDC CEO Quentin Messer; and between Director Mihalik and myself.
 
The evenings were equally productive. I accompanied Governor Ono at a reception hosted by the State of Ohio, attended a party where the mayor of Novi celebrated my birthday, and enjoyed breakfast with my longtime acquaintance Professor Adam Liff of Indiana University. All in all, I was able to make excellent use of my time.
 
At the closing ceremony, I posed three additional questions, building on the three I had raised the previous year, including: “If not us, and if not now, who?” The three new questions were:
 

1. Who is Japan in the Midwest?
2. Where is Japan in the Midwest?
3. What can Japan and the Midwest accomplish together?

 
Over the coming year, I intend to work out my own answers to these questions. My hope is that the Japan–Midwest U.S. Association Conference will continue to be a place where participants dance together, build networks, and turn those connections into opportunities for the future.