Message from Mr. Akira Ouchi, Consul General of Japan in Karachi
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I would like to make a report on the activities done by the Consulate-General of Japan from April to May
this year as written below.
On April 2, my wife invited the members of “All Nations Women’s Club” including the wife of the Chief Minister
of Sindh, the wives of the Consul-Generals of other countries to the Workshop ofFuroshiki(Wrapping cloth)
followed by lunch, serving Japanese cuisine such as Sushi and Tempura. The invited guests were impressed
by the echo spirit and delicacy of the Japanese through the workshop and expressed admiration for the beauty
as well as deliciousness of the Japanese cuisine and the long history and the rich culture of Japan through
the exhibits such as Japanese dolls.
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On April 17, the Annual General Meeting of the Japanese Society was held and the Board members, the budget for FY2014 and the
itinerary of activities, etc. were decided.
From April 18 to 20, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyers, Sazanami (DD-113) and Samidare (DD-106),
led by Captain Hiroaki Tajiri, were on three-day official visit to Karachi. The two destroyers were en route to Japan, after
completing its anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia. The dispatched Maritime Force, JMSDF, which had
called at the Port of Karachi was the first convoy to participate in the Combined Task Force (CTF-151), a multinational naval coalition
including Pakistan Navy, which was established in 2009 for the anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden. Sazanami and Samidare
arrived at Port of Karachi on April 18 and were welcomed by Commodore Sajid Mahmood, other officials and Navy Band of Pakistan Navy
along with Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Mr. Hiroshi Inomata and myself. During the visit, Captain Tajiri called on Vice-Admiral
Khawaja Ghazanfer Hussain, the Commander Karachi, and Vice-Admiral Khan Hasham Bin Saddique, Commander Pakistan Fleet, as well
as senior officials of the Pakistan Navy. Both the JMSDF and the Pakistan Navy officers and seamen toured their counterparts’ vessels. Also,
JMSDF crews and the Pakistan Navy personnel had friendly sports matches. On this occasion, the Japanese residents in Karachi
had an opportunity to tour the Japanese vessels. The port visit by the JMSDF further strengthened the friendly relationship between the
two countries and enhanced defense exchange between Japan and Pakistan.Sazanami and Samidare had left the Port of Karachi on April 20.
The sending off ceremony was attended by Commodore Sajid Mahmood and myself.
On April 23, I made an official visit to Quetta, Balochistan. This was my first visit to Quetta since my arrival in Karachi in November 2012.
I paid courtesy calls on Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch and Inspector General Mushtaq Sukhera
with Honorary Consul General of Japan at Quetta, Mr. Nadeem Shah. During the meetings, I exchanged views with them on topics of mutual interests
interests and discussed the ways forward to strengthen the friendly relationship between Japan and Pakistan. In addition, I held a meeting over
lunch with the long-term Japanese friends, including Mr. Mujeeb Hashmi, provincial minister for Sports, Culture and Population Welfare,
and Mr. Ahmed Farooq Bazai, Vice Chancellor of Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences
(BUITEMS). I felt strong interest towards Japan from the people of Balochistan and high expectations on the Japanese assistance to the
development of Balochistan.
On April 30, I attended the Award Ceremony of the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest as a Chief Guest. This Contest has been held almost every
year and this was the 8th Contest. About 13,000 children in Pakistan submitted their works and 9 works from all over Pakistan, including 3
works from Sothern region are awarded and participate in the world contest. 30 people whose works are chosen as excellent works will be
invited to Japan for 5 days. Last year, a girl from Pakistan was chosen and visited Japan under this invitation program.
On May 8 and 9, the Consulate-General of Japan at Karachi and Ikebana International, Karachi Chapter co-organized ikebana (Japanese
art of flower arrangement) workshop by Mr. Christopher Lim, ikebana master from Singapore at the Japan Information and Culture Center.
This was his second trip to Karachi. It’s good to see that more and more Pakistani people get interested in ikebana year by year.
May 2014
Akira Ouchi
Consul-General of Japan in Karachi
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