Welcome Reception for Consul-General Watanabe

On August 14, 2024, the Japan-America Society of Tennessee (JAST) hosted a reception for Consul- General Watanabe at the executive residence of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. In attendance were Governor Lee, U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty and Mrs. Hagerty, and approximately 70 people representing various fields involved in Japan-U.S. relations in Tennessee. Following opening remarks by Governor Lee and Senator Hagerty, Consul-General Watanabe expressed his appreciation for the warm Southern hospitality he has received in the months since his arrival in Nashville, and for all those involved in the strong relationship between the State of Tennessee and Japan. Afterward, JAST Board Chair Masami Tyson and Allen Borden, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, also gave remarks.