NEWS RELEASE Consulate General of Japan
Contact:
Deputy Consul General, Mrs. Midori
Takeuchi
Phone:
office: (313) 567-0120 cell:
(313) 477-5279
E-mail: jiseki@cgjdetroit.org
Special Assistant, Mr. Tomohiro Iwabuchi
Phone: office: (313) 567-0120 cell:
(313) 477-6171
E-mail: koubun@cgjdetroit.org
Message from Prime
Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan
Released one month after
Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11th
Mr. Kuninori
Matsuda, Consul General of Japan in Detroit, would like to express sincere
gratitude to the people of Michigan and Ohio who have shown sympathy and
offered support for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Mr. Matsuda
would also like to convey his heartfelt thanks to the American troops who have
served in the relief efforts in the affected areas of Japan.
One month has passed
since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Prime
Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan, has released the following official statement of
gratitude: (please see next page)
Kizuna
- The Bonds of Friendship -
- The Bonds of Friendship -
April
11, 2011
One month has passed since
the Great East Japan Earthquake, which caused over 13,000 people to lose their
lives in the enormous earthquake and tsunamis that struck. Even now, over
14,000 people remain unaccounted for, and about 150,000 people remain forced to
take shelter as evacuees. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to all the people who
have suffered as a result of this disaster, both Japanese nationals and
non-Japanese, and to their families.
We are currently mobilizing
all resources to bring the situation at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
under stable control and working to stabilize the situation there at the
earliest possible time.
This one month since the
great earthquake has been an extremely arduous time for Japan. Yet at the same
time, it has been a period during which Japan has once again realized, and once
again given thanks, that we stand together with the world.
Thus far, over 130 nations
and regions, nearly 40 international organizations, a number of nongovernmental
organizations and people from all around the globe have extended their best
wishes to us, and moreover they have expressed their support and solidarity
through donations and other means. Various countries and regions rushed in
rescue workers to swiftly conduct rescue operations in the affected areas
swiftly and delivered supplies such as food, medical supplies, and blankets.
This assistance also brought wholehearted encouragement to the disaster
victims. In addition, we have received thousands of origami paper cranes
intently folded by children in distant nations wishing for the reconstruction
of the disaster-stricken areas.
On behalf of the people of
Japan, I extend my heartfelt thanks for such assistance from all around the
world.
There is no doubt that
Japan will recover, become vibrant again, and become an even more marvelous
country. In living up to the cordial encouragement and solidarity extended to
us by the international community, I consider walking down the road to such a
rebirth to be incumbent upon us, and the best way for Japan to reciprocate your
kind concern. It is my firm conviction that through the fundamental strengths
inherent to the Japanese people and the cordial cooperation of the
international community, we can achieve this without fail.
I am also determined that
Japan will certainly repay, through our contributions to the international
community, the cordial assistance we have received from around the world.
To that end, I will work to
the best of my ability to realize reconstruction of Japan.
Naoto
Kan
Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
A friend in need is a friend indeed
