Wishing congratulations and farewell to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty (July 31st)
2017/8/3
On July 31st, the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville hosted a reception to congratulate Nashvillian Bill Hagerty on becoming the newest U.S. Ambassador to Japan. Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, commissioners representing three state departments, representatives from Japanese companies, and many others joined in this celebration.
In his remarks, Consul-General Kinefuchi expressed his appreciation for Ambassador Hagerty’s friendship and thanked him for the numerous contributions he has already made to Japan-U.S. relations. The Consul-General extended his best wishes to the Ambassador, who is the third U.S. Ambassador to Japan to hail from Tennessee, as he takes on this important new chapter in his career in public service.
Ambassador Hagerty, in turn, expressed his appreciation for the Consul-General’s hospitality and for the friends who gathered from all over Tennessee and beyond for the occasion. He reflected on the diverse issues that affect our bilateral relationship and spoke of his aspirations for strengthening not only the Japan-U.S. relationship, but also the Japan-Tennessee friendship. He noted that he is looking forward to welcoming Governor Haslam in Japan this fall.
Governor Haslam emphasized to guests that Japan is, by far, the largest foreign direct investor in Tennessee. Recalling how Ambassador Hagerty enriched the Japan-Tennessee relationship through his work as Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner in the Haslam administration, the governor told anecdotes from a trip that he and Ambassador Hagerty made to Japan that displayed the Ambassador’s personality and leadership. The governor expressed optimism that the Japan-Tennessee relationship will continue to grow under the leadership of Ambassador Hagerty.
Consul-General and Mrs. Kinefuchi were glad that so many friends and partners from Tennessee were able to gather at the residence to see Ambassador Hagerty and his family off to Japan.
(Consul-General Kinefuchi authored an op-ed congratulating Ambassador Hagerty and celebrating the Japan-Tennessee relationship that was published by the Tennessean; you can access it here.)
In his remarks, Consul-General Kinefuchi expressed his appreciation for Ambassador Hagerty’s friendship and thanked him for the numerous contributions he has already made to Japan-U.S. relations. The Consul-General extended his best wishes to the Ambassador, who is the third U.S. Ambassador to Japan to hail from Tennessee, as he takes on this important new chapter in his career in public service.
Ambassador Hagerty, in turn, expressed his appreciation for the Consul-General’s hospitality and for the friends who gathered from all over Tennessee and beyond for the occasion. He reflected on the diverse issues that affect our bilateral relationship and spoke of his aspirations for strengthening not only the Japan-U.S. relationship, but also the Japan-Tennessee friendship. He noted that he is looking forward to welcoming Governor Haslam in Japan this fall.
Governor Haslam emphasized to guests that Japan is, by far, the largest foreign direct investor in Tennessee. Recalling how Ambassador Hagerty enriched the Japan-Tennessee relationship through his work as Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner in the Haslam administration, the governor told anecdotes from a trip that he and Ambassador Hagerty made to Japan that displayed the Ambassador’s personality and leadership. The governor expressed optimism that the Japan-Tennessee relationship will continue to grow under the leadership of Ambassador Hagerty.
Consul-General and Mrs. Kinefuchi were glad that so many friends and partners from Tennessee were able to gather at the residence to see Ambassador Hagerty and his family off to Japan.
(Consul-General Kinefuchi authored an op-ed congratulating Ambassador Hagerty and celebrating the Japan-Tennessee relationship that was published by the Tennessean; you can access it here.)
