The 2024 Kansai Consular Corps Annual General Meeting commenced on Tuesday 4th June 2024. Ms Carolyn Davidson, British Consul-General and Dean of the Kansai Consular Corps, chaired the meeting. There were 61confirmed attendees from 49 countries.

The KCC Chair, who welcomed and thanked attendees for their participation, opened the meeting. A special welcome was also extended to Ambassador Himeno, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting progressed according to the agenda, with lively discussion among participants for a variety of topics including the EXPO 2025.

S&T Diplomatic Circle visited the headquaters of Sysmex Corporation engaged in the health care business and is a global leader in the hematology field, covering 190 countries and regions. It was impressive to see and exerience “Hinotori”, a robotic surgery system!

The 16th Meetingrof the Kansai Consular Forum organized by Ministry of Trade and Indutry in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Osaka Liason Office, was held on 14th March 2024. Members of the Kansai Consular Corps and other leaders from industry and local Chambers of Commerce gathered at Osaka City Central Public Hall. Kansai Consular Forum The theme of the 16th Meeting is “Toward the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.” Program was conducted as follows,

“Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Progress Update “
 “Enjoy endless discovery in Osaka and Kansai during EXPO2025” 
 “Promotion of the appeal of Kansai’s Food Culture and Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Industries；agricultural, mountain and fishing villages” 
  “Infrastructure Development for the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and Creating Vibrancy around the Expo” 
   “Tourism Policy in the Kansai Region for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan” 
   “Expectations for EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai” 

After the presentation, there were very active discussion for the EXPO including transportion, event during the expo.

The Kansai Consular Corps is honored to welcome our new members.

Mr. John Tjahjanto Boestami, Consul-General, Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Osaka and Ms. Damla GUMUSKAYA, Consul-General, Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Nagoya.

Consulate-General of the Republic of Türkiye is located in Nagoya but its jurisdiction includes Kansai region so that we are delighted to welcome member from Nagoya!

We look forward to many fruitful exchanges with you in the future.

(Members Directory has been updated to reflect these changes)

On 2nd February, “Akashi Sake Brewery Tour” was conducted by Osaka Tax Bureau and was attended by 20 representatives from KCC members.  

On the tour, we observe the sake production process and enjoy a tasting experience including sake making (and whisky blending) in Akashi City, Hyogo prefecture.

In addition to a tour of sake brewery, we also visited Akashi Ura Port fish market, one of the richest fishing grounds in Japan to observe fish auction to experience Japanese food culture as well as traditional industries.

大阪国税局による明石酒蔵視察が行われ、明石酒造、江井ヶ嶋酒造様を訪れました。この視察は酒類を管理する大阪国税局による日本産酒類の紹介や製造工程の見学及び酒造り（ウィスキーのブレンド）体験により、ブランド価値への理解を深めるとともに、輸出促進へつなげる取り組みです。酒蔵視察の前には明石ならではの昼網せりを視察し、新鮮なお魚が港でせりにかけられていく迫力ある様子に参加者の皆様は関心深く多くの質問がされていました。

During the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, the city expects to receive millions of
visitors from around the world.Osaka has a lot of attractiveness, and among them are
a variety of places where people can appreciate arts, music and tradition,
enjoying urban yet greenery views and waterside sights as well as unique
venues that can serve for many purposes.

The program was held in 16 December at Nakanoshima museum attended by 7 Consulate-Generals. The programs are as follows,

I. Healthcare Startup Pitch
II. City Promotion Opening Remarks by Shingo Torii, Chairperson, the OCCI
III. Overview of Osaka by Masaki Fujita, President, Osaka International Convention
IV. Presentation by Ikuo Ono, Senior Executive Officer, MITSUBISHI ESTATE CO., LTD.
Highlights of GRAND GREEN OSAKA to open in 2024
V. Networking

On October 3, 2023 , five members of the Kansai Consular Corps Members participated in Shizuoka study tour coordinated by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government (Osaka Office) Participants met at Shin Osaka station and headed off to Shizuoka.

Schdule is as follows,

The Kansai Consular Corps would like to thank Shizuoka prefucture for this great opportunity to study tour. We appreciate this opportunity to strengthen ties and support networks for furture cooporation.

“Explore Osaka!” event was held in June organized by Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and was attended by overseas diplomatic missions in Japan, overseas economic organizations and overseas press. It was great opportunity to learn attractive projects by OCCI. The guided water cruising tour with Rakugo performer was amazaing experience to enjoy waterside view!

Kansai Consular Corps Annual General Meeting was held on Friday, 23 June 2023. The meeting was attended by representatives from 49 countries and distinguish guests including Mr. Tsutomu Himeno, the representative of the Government of Japan and Ambassador in charge of Kansai. And we are delighted to annouce that British Consul-General Caarolyn Davidson was elected as first female Dean of the Kansai Consular Corps! We greatly appreciate Dean Jules Irrmann for his outstanding support to contribution to the Kansai Consular Corps. Merci, Bon voyage!

関西領事団年次総会が2023年6月23日に行われ、49か国から合計60名にご出席いただきました。政府代表関西特命全権大使　姫野勉大使にもお越しいただきました。そして初女性団長　英国総領事キャロリン　デーヴィットソンが選任されました。ジュール　イルマン団長の二年間の任期中、関西領事団へのご貢献を心より感謝申し上げます。

“Shiga Sake Brewery Tour” was conducted by Osaka Tax Bureau and was attended by representatives from KCC members.   On the tour, GI Shiga (Geographical Indication) was introduced and we observed the sake production process and enjoyed a tasting experience.  Before visiting Sake Brewery (Fujii Honke) a presentation by the representative director of the Shiga Brewers Association was held at Omi Shonin Yashiki, (old house of Omi merchants) which has a beautiful garden. This area has been designated as an important cultural architecture preservation area. It was great opportunity to enjoy Japanese culture as well as discovering something new about Sake production process.The tour was introduced on NHK news.  https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/otsu/20221209/2060012166.html 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　大阪国税局による滋賀酒蔵視察ツアーが行われ、近江商人屋敷での酒セミナー、藤居本家へ視察へ行ってまいりました。セミナーでは伝統的な日本酒のつくり方の紹介、GIに認定された日本酒の試飲、その後、藤居本家にて酒蔵視察。近江商人屋敷、初めて行きましたが歴史を感じる風情あるお屋敷で街並みも雰囲気もとても素敵です。NHKニュースでも紹介されました。