The Celebration of the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne brings a large crowd to the Japanese Ambassador's residence on Thursday, December 3, 2009.
On Thursday, December 3, Ambassador Tatsuaki Iwata hosted a reception in honor of the Emperor of Japan's birthday. About 170 people were in attendance at the Ambassador's residence, including the Honorable Gary Hunte, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs.
Ambassador Tatsuaki Iwata and the Honorable Gary Hunte, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs gave remarks to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.
H.E. TATSUAKI IWATA, AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION SPEECH
The Guest of Honour, the Honourable Gary Hunte, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
I wish to express my deepest appreciation for your attendance today, to this reception to commemorate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. This year is indeed a memorable one for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, as they celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the reign, and also the fiftieth wedding anniversary. I do appreciate your company in celebrating the National Day of Japan this year.
Since I came here in February, I have witnessed, two significant diplomatic events which have taken place here, the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the CHOGM. The OAS Summit marked the start of a new era of engagement between the United States and the countries of the Americas; while the CHOGM allowed for an important and urgent exchange of views on climate change. My congratulations to the Honourable Prime Minister and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for their leadership in this regard.
One issue that has remained dominant throughout my tenure to date, has been the effect of the global economic crisis on the region. My home government has introduced a number of measures to assist countries in coping with this issue. These facilities were introduced during the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, in Guyana, in July of this year, as well as via various bilateral consultations.
One of these facilities seeks to provide support for environmental projects, such as more efficient ways of producing water and electricity which aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. I hope that the upcoming meeting with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will therefore explore every possibility of leading concrete environmental projects in the future.
Climate change is indeed the biggest issue facing the region. We therefore need to take all necessary measures in order to reduce CO2 emissions without compromising economic growth. One of the primary ways to cope with climate change is through science and technology. The Japanese economy is efficient in this regard. In order to produce one unit of GNP, Japan emits less than fifty percent of the CO2 that the US does. My apologies to the US diplomats present here, but as you are the most powerful nation, you are very often cited for comparison the most. Many of the countries in this region are regarded as most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and it is with a great sense of urgency that we explore the ways in which we can both address this threat. In this respect, we can all share the philosophy of the P.O.S. Climate Change Consensus. I sincerely hope every country on this planet will work together toward a successful outcome at COP-15, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation.
Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a growing interest in ‘Trini’ culture such as steelpan and soca, in Japan; and I have witnessed a corresponding level of interest in Japanese culture, such as anime, martial arts and food among Trinis. Cultural and human exchange, such as the JET programme, has been forming the basis of our future relations.
Another important area of exchange between our two countries is technical cooperation, which has highlighted areas such as food security, disaster risk management, and waste disposal. I am confident that through technical cooperation, the transfer of technology has and is being realized gradually, steadily and invisibly.
On the commercial front, we were delighted to note that one of the most sophisticated software firms, Fujitsu, decided to make a significant investment in its Trinidad operations, to promote information processing locally.
Ladies and Gentlemen, now I invite you to join me in making a toast to the health of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and to the prosperity of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
I thank you very much for your kind attention, and do enjoy the rest of the evening.
Embassy of Japan in Trinidad and Tobago 
