Upon returning to the capital of Paraná, Keiji Hamada also visited the City Council and Mayor Rafael Greca. The new Consul General of Japan, Keiji Hamada, who took office in October, visited the headquarters of Nikkei Curitiba in early November, where he was welcomed by members of the board, including President Roberto Issamu Yosida. Vice Consul Higaki Sotaro also participated in the meeting, which was quite restricted in compliance with the health measures in force due to the pandemic, but was relevant in the analysis of cultural and integrative themes. CHECK OUT THE MESSAGE ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW CONSUL OF JAPAN HERE. Keiji Hamada, a graduate of the Faculty of Foreign Studies in Portuguese Language (1985) and a master in Economics and International Politics from Aoyama Gakuin University, joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and has headed the consulate of his country in Zimbabwe, São Paulo, Mozambique, Botswana and also in Curitiba (in 2019), with jurisdiction in the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. On November 10, the consul general participated in the plenary session of the Curitiba City Council, at the invitation of councilor Nori Seto, former president of Nikkei Curitiba. When introducing himself to the municipal legislators, the diplomat donated a piece of Tamba Tachikui ceramics to the House, made in Hyogo Prefecture, in the city of Sasayama and surrounding areas, in one of the six oldest kilns in Japan. He received a glass piece representing the Rio Branco Palace, the historic headquarters of the CMC, from the president of the legislature, Tico Kusma, and the book Curitiba – Biocidade. On the occasion, councilman Nori Seto also highlighted that Curitiba has the second largest Nikkei community in Brazil, with approximately 40 thousand descendants of Japanese. “We have several places in Curitiba that reference Japan, a strong presence in the gastronomy and a tradition in cultural events, such as the matsuri festivals,” he said. The councilman also presented the consul with a jersey from the Coritiba team, which had just confirmed its return to the first division of Brazilian soccer. In turn, the Mayor of Curitiba, Rafael Greca, welcomed the new Consul General Keiji Hamada on November 23, at the Palácio 29 de Março. In addition to the meeting at City Hall, Keiji Hamada attended the exhibition The Beauty of Tohoku Crafts, at the Municipal Museum of Art (MuMA), which is part of the events celebrating Japanese Culture Month. “This month, when we celebrate the union of our countries and the memory of Japanese immigration to Brazil, the City Hall is a partner and lends the Municipal Art Museum of Portão for the presentation of an exhibition of Japanese artists. Consul Hamada is a friend of Curitiba and is always very welcome,” said Mayor Greca at the time. The consul expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received upon returning to work in the capital of Paraná. Home to a significant Japanese community, Curitiba maintains strong relations with Japanese municipalities and entities, including JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). “I am very happy to return to Curitiba and hope to further strengthen my country's relationship with this city that always welcomes the Japanese with open arms,” he said.
