History and Mission

“Bringing Kansai to the World, and the World to Kansai” (KCC Motto)

関西領事団(KCC)とは、関西地域6府県の総領事・領事および名誉(総)領事の組織です。
関西領事団の始まりは古く、神戸市に最初の外国の使節団が置かれた1868年にさかのぼります。
現在では、関西領事団は52カ国の代表で構成されており、そのうち19人はそれぞれの自国から任命された領事であり、その他は日本国外務省から任命された名誉領事です。「領事」とは日本でそれぞれの国の代表を務めるキャリアー外交官であり、一「名誉領事」はキャリアー外交官ではなく日本における経済、文化、学界で重要な地位にある人たちです。名誉領事はキャリアー外交官ではありませんが、日本と国際社会の重要な架け橋を務めています。従って、日本の外務省も外国政府も名誉領事の地位を高く認めています。名誉領事は任命を受けると、外国と日本の間の経済、文化の協力のためのチャンネルを発展させるために大変力を尽くしているからです。

個人的にも、領事および名誉領事は日本と各国の経済、文化、教育の交流の助長促進に努めることを任務としています。その他にも、日本に住む外国人の世話、日本人へのビザの発給、日本の現状の自国への報告も任務の一部です。

領事団として結束し、領事団メンバーは世界的重要な問題について地域や都市や府県の公共および私的組織と会い、声明を出し、問題解決をするよう努めています。また、情報を分け合い、なにをすべきか最良の策をまとめることに全力を尽くしております。

モットーは「Bringing Kansai to the world, and the world to Kansai(関西を世界へ、世界を関西へ)」となっています。

The Kansai Consular Corps (KCC) traces its roots to January 1868 with the official opening of Kobe to foreign missions.

Members of the Corps are Consuls-General (career diplomats appointed by heads of state or foreign ministries of their home country) or Honorary Consuls (business professionals, academics, etc. who, due to their strong link with the representative country, have been granted special Honorary Consul status to provide representation for those countries that do not have formal Consulates in Kansai).

Together, our KCC members represent 52 countries.

The KCC constitutes an important link between the consular representatives and the national, prefectural and city governments in this region. Issues of concern to the Corps as a whole or to individual countries are taken up with Japanese officials as well as the private sector on behalf of its members.

The Corps and its members also inform their respective countries about the Kansai region and support its promotional activities.

The goal of the Kansai Consular Corps is to encourage collaboration and a sense of goodwill among its members and constituents, local and national Japanese organizations, the business community, the Kansai community at large, and other stakeholders.

Through various meetings with the Corps, prefectural and municipal authorities, leading economic organizations and chambers of commerce, as well as through contact with the media and community organizations, the KCC endeavors to advance an international role for the Kansai region.

This is reflected in our slogan: “Bringing Kansai to the World and the World to Kansai.”

About the Kansai Consular Corps Logo

Support for the Kansai Consular Corps

The Kansai Consular Corps would like to extend a special thank you to the city of Kobe for its generosity in providing office space for our organization.

The KCC would also like to thank the staff of the Kobe International Communication Center, who reside in our neighboring office and kindly offer us various office-related support.