2024 Emperor’s Birthday Reception
2024/2/19
On February 13, the Emperor’s Birthday Reception was held at the Ambassador’s official residence. This year’s reception saw the attendance of approximately 520 guests, including Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence Hon Richard Marles MP, Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Hon Chris Bowen MP, and Minister for Resources and the Minister for Northern Australia Hon Madeleine King MP, along with other Members of the Australian Federal Parliament, including former prime minister Hon Scott Morrison MP. Members of Australian state and territory governments, ambassadors and representatives from diplomatic missions in Canberra including US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, the Japan-Australia business community, think-tanks, academia, and Japan-related friendship organisations were also in attendance.
In his opening address, Ambassador Suzuki began by thanking Prime Minister Albanese and the many Australians who expressed their warm messages of sympathy following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January, and expressing his sympathy following the recent flooding in Victoria and Queensland. The Ambassador then reflected on the current state of the strong Japan-Australia relationship, including wide and deep bilateral exchanges, the broad economic cooperation that goes beyond traditional trade domains towards net zero, and the deepening of security and defence cooperation, such as the arrival of the first JASDF F-35A aircraft to Australia and numerous joint exercises.
The guest of honour, Deputy Prime Minister Marles, spoke of his own experience with Japan and praised the wide range of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, including the spread of Japanese language learning in Australia, and the recent further progress in security and defence cooperation between Japan and Australia.
This year’s reception was supported more than ever before by Japanese companies and local organisations from a variety of areas. Many guests had the opportunity to further increase their interest in Japan and Japanese tourism, by experiencing first-hand cutting-edge Japanese technology, such as robotics and the latest models of hydrogen and electric vehicles, and a wide array of Japanese food, such as Omugi Grainfed Beef sushi and handmade soba noodles. We express our sincere gratitude to these companies and organisations for their support and cooperation.
In addition, sake from Fukushima Prefecture and Japanese seafood, including scallops from Hokkaido, were served at the event in support of reconstruction efforts and to eliminate negative reputational impact, with Minister Farrell and other guests expressing their support and enjoyment.
The event symbolised the strong Japan-Australia relationship, with guests from around Australia being introduced to the many diverse attractions of Japan.
You can read Ambassador Suzuki's speech here.
In his opening address, Ambassador Suzuki began by thanking Prime Minister Albanese and the many Australians who expressed their warm messages of sympathy following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January, and expressing his sympathy following the recent flooding in Victoria and Queensland. The Ambassador then reflected on the current state of the strong Japan-Australia relationship, including wide and deep bilateral exchanges, the broad economic cooperation that goes beyond traditional trade domains towards net zero, and the deepening of security and defence cooperation, such as the arrival of the first JASDF F-35A aircraft to Australia and numerous joint exercises.
The guest of honour, Deputy Prime Minister Marles, spoke of his own experience with Japan and praised the wide range of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, including the spread of Japanese language learning in Australia, and the recent further progress in security and defence cooperation between Japan and Australia.
This year’s reception was supported more than ever before by Japanese companies and local organisations from a variety of areas. Many guests had the opportunity to further increase their interest in Japan and Japanese tourism, by experiencing first-hand cutting-edge Japanese technology, such as robotics and the latest models of hydrogen and electric vehicles, and a wide array of Japanese food, such as Omugi Grainfed Beef sushi and handmade soba noodles. We express our sincere gratitude to these companies and organisations for their support and cooperation.
In addition, sake from Fukushima Prefecture and Japanese seafood, including scallops from Hokkaido, were served at the event in support of reconstruction efforts and to eliminate negative reputational impact, with Minister Farrell and other guests expressing their support and enjoyment.
The event symbolised the strong Japan-Australia relationship, with guests from around Australia being introduced to the many diverse attractions of Japan.
You can read Ambassador Suzuki's speech here.
