Consul-General Watanabe Attends NAJAS Conference Opening Reception
2026/8/4
On Wednesday, July 29, Consul-General Watanabe attended the opening reception for the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) Network Conference 2026, held at the New Orleans Museum of Art in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In his remarks, Consul-General Watanabe referred to the long history of exchanges between Japan and New Orleans—including the sister-city relationship established in 1994 between Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, and the City of New Orleans—as well as the strong economic ties between Japan and the State of Louisiana. He also expressed his gratitude to NAJAS, as well as the Japan Society of New Orleans and the Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida—which served as organizers of this year’s conference—for their efforts to strengthen Japan-U.S. relations.
At the reception, NAJAS honored Ms. Alice Yellen Gitter in recognition of her contributions to the study and appreciation of Japanese art. Together with Dr. Kurt A. Gitter, who passed away this past March, she has collected Japanese art for many years and fostered the scholarship of Japanese art. The New Orleans Museum of Art features a section called the Gitter Gallery, where valuable works of Japanese art donated to the museum by Dr. and Ms. Gitter are on display.
In his remarks, Consul-General Watanabe referred to the long history of exchanges between Japan and New Orleans—including the sister-city relationship established in 1994 between Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, and the City of New Orleans—as well as the strong economic ties between Japan and the State of Louisiana. He also expressed his gratitude to NAJAS, as well as the Japan Society of New Orleans and the Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida—which served as organizers of this year’s conference—for their efforts to strengthen Japan-U.S. relations.
At the reception, NAJAS honored Ms. Alice Yellen Gitter in recognition of her contributions to the study and appreciation of Japanese art. Together with Dr. Kurt A. Gitter, who passed away this past March, she has collected Japanese art for many years and fostered the scholarship of Japanese art. The New Orleans Museum of Art features a section called the Gitter Gallery, where valuable works of Japanese art donated to the museum by Dr. and Ms. Gitter are on display.