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| Culture & Press Division >Culture & Event> | ||||||
| Embassy Marks National Day, Emperor’s Birthday | ||||||
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The Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia held a reception to mark the National Day on Thursday 9 December 2010. The Japanese National Day celebrates the Emperor of Japan's Birthday. This is also a national holiday in Japan. The Japanese Royal Family is one of the oldest surviving aristocracies in the world. It has a history of 2000 years. This year, 2010, the reigning Emperor, H.I.M. Emperor Akihito turns 77. The event kicked-off the celebrations with a single drum beat, which was followed by the speech. Ambassador Kishino told the guests that December 23 is the actual date of the Emperor’s birthday but that date falls at a very busy time of year for many colleagues and counterparts, and therefore that the National Day is celebrated here in early December every year before the festive season is in full swing. Speaking on the history of the bilateral ties between the two countries, Ambassador Kishino referred to the number 23 diplomatic license plate of the Embassy’s vehicles to make the point that this dates back to the time when Japan resumed its relations with Ethiopia in 1955. However, the history of Ethio-Japanese relations dates back 80 years, to 1930, when Japan and Ethiopia first established diplomatic relations by concluding the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. This treaty marked the first diplomatic relations Japan opened with an African country, Ambassador Kishino said, adding that Japan and Ethiopia enjoyed a long history of exchanges and cooperation including personal friendships and official exchanges between the two royal families, which continued until the early 1970s. The Ambassador also said that this year is the 50th anniversary of the official visit to Ethiopia of the then Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess, now Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress. Their Majesties still vividly remember the Palace where they stayed with the lovely Japanese garden, the impressive places they visited, the charming people they met and so on. “These are the memories Their Majesties shared with me when I was received in audience at the Imperial Palace before my departure for Ethiopia. Their Majesties are very fond of this country and the Ethiopian people. Ethiopia is without doubt an integral part of their happy memories of royal diplomacy, even today”, Ambassador Kishino added. Commenting on the contemporary Ethio-Japan relations, Ambassador Kishino underlined the strong multifaceted ties at all levels with Ethiopia, citing excellent government to government relations as well as exchanges in academia, business tourism, etc. and various Official Development Assistant (ODA) projects. At the event, photos depicting Japan’s involvement in education, health and infrastructure projects, among others were exhibited. The most impressive of the exhibits was a model of the Hidasse (Abay) Bridge, which was made by Kajima, the company that built over 200km of road from Addis Ababa to Gohatsion, and the Hidasse Bridge itself. The event was attended by State Minister of Urban Development and Construction H.E. Ato Hailemeskel Tefera, Dr. Fasil Nahom, Advisor to the Prime Minister, members of the House of Peoples’ Representative such as: Ato Wana Wke, Chairman of Budget and Finance Affairs Standing Committee, Ato Mhammed Abdisho, Chairman of Agricultural Affairs Standing Committee, Ato Damene Derota, Chairman of Natural Resources and Environment Affairs Standing Committee, other senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the media and other members of the multicultural community residing in Ethiopia.
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