Message from Ambassador (April 2015)
2015/4/1
Welcome to our website of Embassy of Japan in Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas.
I arrived in Kingston on April 4, 2015, as the 8th Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica. I concurrently take up the post as Non-Resident Ambassador of Japan to Belize and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. I am particularly pleased to be assigned here in the year that marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of our Embassy in Kingston. Before being posted to Jamaica, I served as Consul-General of Japan at Chennai, India for approximately four years. As it is my first posting in the Caribbean, I am looking forward to learning about the region and working as Ambassador to further the ties with these countries.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964, Japan and Jamaica have developed a friendly and cooperative relationship. I am very happy to note that Japan-Jamaica relationship has been greatly boosted by various events held throughout the previous year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Last year was also memorable for Japan-CARICOM relations, in that the first Japan-CARICOM Summit meeting was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. At the meeting, the Honourable Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, stated that as one of Japan's CARICOM policies, Japan would explore the possibility of future cooperation, taking into account the "vulnerabilities particular to small island states" that CARICOM member states face, other than those based on per-capita income. It is my sincere hope to further strengthen our economic cooperation activities in this regard.
Although both countries are geographically far apart, Jamaica is renowned country for Reggae, Blue Mountain Coffee, Usain Bolt – the fastest man in the world, and more recently for the goodwill soccer match between the Samurai Blue and Reggae Boyz in October 2014. Furthermore, Japan has been receiving a considerable number of people from Jamaica through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship Programme and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) training programme while many Japanese volunteers dispatched by JICA are working in various communities throughout the Island.
With regard to the relations with Belize, I am very pleased that it is attracting the attention of Japanese tourists these days for its beautiful seas and coral reefs. The Government of Japan offered a Belizean student the MEXT Scholarship for the first time in 2012. The Government has also been assisting the development efforts of Belize through the dispatch of JICA volunteers, and grant aid to establish solar power station and other projects as well as by Japan's developing programmes through international organizations such as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Bank. We are confident that Belize will achieve further development by taking advantage of its abundant natural and cultural resources.
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, consisting of nearly 700 islands and 2,000 cays, is surrounded by one of the most beautiful seas in the world. Many Japanese have visited this country to enjoy the beaches and coral reefs. Since the year 2015 is the 40th anniversary of our diplomatic relations between Japan and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I will do my best to promote even more exchanges.
Lastly, one of the most important missions for us is to ensure the safety and security of the Japanese residents in Jamaica, Belize and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as well as Japanese tourists to these countries to stay and travel safely. We will continue to provide safety information through our official homepage, emergency e-mail, etc., so that they can stay safely the aforementioned countries. Furthermore, we will try our best to support Japanese companies' activities in those three countries from the perspective of strengthening economic relations. In concluding the note of my greetings, I would like to ask for your continued support as we strive to further promote Japan's relations with Jamaica, Belize, and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Thank you.
April 2015
Masanori Nakano
Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas
I arrived in Kingston on April 4, 2015, as the 8th Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica. I concurrently take up the post as Non-Resident Ambassador of Japan to Belize and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. I am particularly pleased to be assigned here in the year that marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of our Embassy in Kingston. Before being posted to Jamaica, I served as Consul-General of Japan at Chennai, India for approximately four years. As it is my first posting in the Caribbean, I am looking forward to learning about the region and working as Ambassador to further the ties with these countries.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964, Japan and Jamaica have developed a friendly and cooperative relationship. I am very happy to note that Japan-Jamaica relationship has been greatly boosted by various events held throughout the previous year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Last year was also memorable for Japan-CARICOM relations, in that the first Japan-CARICOM Summit meeting was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. At the meeting, the Honourable Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, stated that as one of Japan's CARICOM policies, Japan would explore the possibility of future cooperation, taking into account the "vulnerabilities particular to small island states" that CARICOM member states face, other than those based on per-capita income. It is my sincere hope to further strengthen our economic cooperation activities in this regard.
Although both countries are geographically far apart, Jamaica is renowned country for Reggae, Blue Mountain Coffee, Usain Bolt – the fastest man in the world, and more recently for the goodwill soccer match between the Samurai Blue and Reggae Boyz in October 2014. Furthermore, Japan has been receiving a considerable number of people from Jamaica through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship Programme and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) training programme while many Japanese volunteers dispatched by JICA are working in various communities throughout the Island.
With regard to the relations with Belize, I am very pleased that it is attracting the attention of Japanese tourists these days for its beautiful seas and coral reefs. The Government of Japan offered a Belizean student the MEXT Scholarship for the first time in 2012. The Government has also been assisting the development efforts of Belize through the dispatch of JICA volunteers, and grant aid to establish solar power station and other projects as well as by Japan's developing programmes through international organizations such as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Bank. We are confident that Belize will achieve further development by taking advantage of its abundant natural and cultural resources.
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, consisting of nearly 700 islands and 2,000 cays, is surrounded by one of the most beautiful seas in the world. Many Japanese have visited this country to enjoy the beaches and coral reefs. Since the year 2015 is the 40th anniversary of our diplomatic relations between Japan and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I will do my best to promote even more exchanges.
Lastly, one of the most important missions for us is to ensure the safety and security of the Japanese residents in Jamaica, Belize and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as well as Japanese tourists to these countries to stay and travel safely. We will continue to provide safety information through our official homepage, emergency e-mail, etc., so that they can stay safely the aforementioned countries. Furthermore, we will try our best to support Japanese companies' activities in those three countries from the perspective of strengthening economic relations. In concluding the note of my greetings, I would like to ask for your continued support as we strive to further promote Japan's relations with Jamaica, Belize, and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Thank you.
April 2015
Masanori Nakano
Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas