Remarks at the America-Japan Society New Year's Reception on January 12, 2010 at Ambassador's Residence

Remarks by President Yoshio Okawara

A Happy New Year!

We are delighted to celebrate the happy occasion of the New Year with such a good number of our Society’s members at the official Residence of the U.S. Ambassador thanks to a kind consideration of Ambassador and Mr. Roos.

This is the year of tiger. I do not know the reason why a tiger has been singled out among 12 big and small animals in the traditional animal calendar.

But it is interesting to recognize that a tiger is associated with an image of boldness speed and decisiveness. At the start of the year of tiger, I hope all of us will cooperate for a less troubled free and more productive year in 2010.

It is our strong hope that in 2010, we will see positive and dynamic developments both in political and economic areas. Our Society celebrate the 93rd anniversary since its foundation in 1917, we should renew the commitment of our founding fathers to uphold mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples.

On January 19, we celebrate the 50th anniversary the signing of Revised Security Treaty. On this occasion, we should review the progress of the alliance partnership over the years and examine the ways to make the alliance much deeper and more closely engaged with the objective of serving the peace and stability of Asia and the Pacific area and indeed the whole world.

Unfortunately, the current state of U.S.-Japan relation is not as smooth and trouble free as has been looked for. It is our strong desire that through thorough discussions and consultations between our two governments, mutually satisfactory solution on the current base issue can be found soon.

I hope today’s reception will be long remembered in the end as a prelude to the happy solution and smooth relations across the Pacific.