Closure of the Consulate-General of Japan in Anchorage
as of January 1, 2006
"The Government of Japan has been reviewing the necessity of all of its overseas diplomatic and consular establishments in an endeavor to use budget and staff in the most efficient manner possible by founding, closing, relocating or consolidating its overseas offices worldwide. As a result of this process, the Government of Japan has arrived at the conclusion to close, among other offices, the Consulate-General of Japan in Anchorage in the fiscal year 2005. A related law was passed by the Diet on March 30.
This was a very difficult and painful decision for the Government of Japan. However, under current budgetary constraints, characterized by an unprecedented level of fiscal deficits and vigorous effort towards administrative reform, this decision was unavoidable.
The Government of Japan is fully aware of the importance of the state of Alaska. We believe that this importance will continue to grow in the future. We are also fully aware that the Consulate-General of Japan in Anchorage has played a very important role in Japan - Alaska relations since its establishment in 1970. However, our decision was based on an extensive reassessment that was implemented to seek the best allocation of our limited resources in order to advance Japan's diplomatic and consular missions effectively.
We believe it is critical to maintain and further develop the close relationship between Alaska and Japan even after the closure of the Consulate-General of Japan in Anchorage. For that purpose, the Government of Japan established the Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage after the closure. The Government of Japan will instruct consular officials to maintain the same level of service and make their utmost efforts to further advance the relationship between Japan and Alaska.
There will be no immediate change to the physical location and contact information of the Anchorage office. All official correspondence previously sent to the Consul-General should be addressed to Head of Office, Consul Yoshio Uchiyama.
The Government of Japan respectfully extends its gratitude for the support and cooperation the Consulate-General has received over the years from its Alaskan friends in the course of carrying out its diplomatic and consular responsibilities in Alaska, and looks forward to the continued development of the Japan-Alaska relationship for many years to come.
This was a very difficult and painful decision for the Government of Japan. However, under current budgetary constraints, characterized by an unprecedented level of fiscal deficits and vigorous effort towards administrative reform, this decision was unavoidable.
The Government of Japan is fully aware of the importance of the state of Alaska. We believe that this importance will continue to grow in the future. We are also fully aware that the Consulate-General of Japan in Anchorage has played a very important role in Japan - Alaska relations since its establishment in 1970. However, our decision was based on an extensive reassessment that was implemented to seek the best allocation of our limited resources in order to advance Japan's diplomatic and consular missions effectively.
We believe it is critical to maintain and further develop the close relationship between Alaska and Japan even after the closure of the Consulate-General of Japan in Anchorage. For that purpose, the Government of Japan established the Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage after the closure. The Government of Japan will instruct consular officials to maintain the same level of service and make their utmost efforts to further advance the relationship between Japan and Alaska.
There will be no immediate change to the physical location and contact information of the Anchorage office. All official correspondence previously sent to the Consul-General should be addressed to Head of Office, Consul Yoshio Uchiyama.
The Government of Japan respectfully extends its gratitude for the support and cooperation the Consulate-General has received over the years from its Alaskan friends in the course of carrying out its diplomatic and consular responsibilities in Alaska, and looks forward to the continued development of the Japan-Alaska relationship for many years to come.