2025 Emperor's Birthday Reception
2025/2/20
On February 12, the Emperor’s Birthday Reception was held at the Ambassador’s official residence. This year’s reception saw the attendance of approximately 641 guests, including the Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence, the Hon Madeleine King MP, Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia, and Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for a Future Made in Australia, along with other Members of the Australian Federal Parliament, including the Hon David Littleproud MP, Leader of the Nationals, and Senator Catryna Bilyk, Senator for Tasmania. Admiral David Johnston AC RAN, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Ms Jan Adams, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other federal and state government officials, ambassadors, and representatives from diplomatic missions, the Japan-Australia business community, think-tanks, academia, and Japan-related friendship organisations were also in attendance.
In his opening address, Ambassador Suzuki highlighted the support received from the Australian public during the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and post-WWII Japan-Australia reconciliation efforts in Cowra, which are symbolic of the friendship between the peoples of both countries, stronger than ever before as it approaches 80 years since the conclusion of World War II. Additionally, he expressed his welcome for cooperation in areas of both nations’ security, the economy, and people-to-people exchanges, which has further deepened and expanded in recent years, emphasising the importance of continuing this work. The Ambassador also introduced the wonders of Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, which will open its doors in April, and welcomed the official mascot MYAKU-MYAKU to the Embassy for the Emperor’s Birthday Celebration. (You can read Ambassador Suzuki's speech here.)
Guests of honour the Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence, and and Senator the Hon Tim Ayers, Assistant Minister for Trade followed this with congratulatory speeches, which included heartwarming episodes of their personal connections to Japan.
This year’s reception was strongly supported by Japanese companies and local organisations from a variety of areas. During the reception guests were able to share in Japan’s wide range of attractions through introductions of the transport sector, including tourism promotion, displays of Japan’s cutting-edge technology, such as AI image recognition and defence equipment, and the range of Japanese food on offer from handmade soba noodles, matcha green tea, snacks, and dairy products to a selection of drinks, including Japanese sake and beer. Players from the National Rugby League team in Canberra whose major sponsor is a Japanese company also attended the event, impressing attendees with the breadth of Japan-Australia relations.
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 guests enjoying a taste of Japan through the Japanese-style lighting of the Japanese garden at the Ambassador’s residence.
In his opening address, Ambassador Suzuki highlighted the support received from the Australian public during the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and post-WWII Japan-Australia reconciliation efforts in Cowra, which are symbolic of the friendship between the peoples of both countries, stronger than ever before as it approaches 80 years since the conclusion of World War II. Additionally, he expressed his welcome for cooperation in areas of both nations’ security, the economy, and people-to-people exchanges, which has further deepened and expanded in recent years, emphasising the importance of continuing this work. The Ambassador also introduced the wonders of Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, which will open its doors in April, and welcomed the official mascot MYAKU-MYAKU to the Embassy for the Emperor’s Birthday Celebration. (You can read Ambassador Suzuki's speech here.)
Guests of honour the Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence, and and Senator the Hon Tim Ayers, Assistant Minister for Trade followed this with congratulatory speeches, which included heartwarming episodes of their personal connections to Japan.
This year’s reception was strongly supported by Japanese companies and local organisations from a variety of areas. During the reception guests were able to share in Japan’s wide range of attractions through introductions of the transport sector, including tourism promotion, displays of Japan’s cutting-edge technology, such as AI image recognition and defence equipment, and the range of Japanese food on offer from handmade soba noodles, matcha green tea, snacks, and dairy products to a selection of drinks, including Japanese sake and beer. Players from the National Rugby League team in Canberra whose major sponsor is a Japanese company also attended the event, impressing attendees with the breadth of Japan-Australia relations.
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 guests enjoying a taste of Japan through the Japanese-style lighting of the Japanese garden at the Ambassador’s residence.
