Consulate General of Japan in Detroit Visits Findlay

Dr. Kazuyuki Katayama, Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, visited The University of Findlay on Dec. 9. His goal is to build stronger relationship between the U.S. and Japan.
“I sincerely hope that the American people in Michigan and Ohio will understand even more that Japan and the Japanese people are their true partners,” stated Katayama on the Consulate General’s website. “I will strive to convey this through direct contact with local people, conversations, lectures, business sector economic activities, cultural exchanges and people-to-people exchanges including grassroots and leadership.”
Katayama’s visit was part of a day-long itinerary in the city of Findlay. Katayama spoke at a Rotary Club meeting about “U.S.-Japan Relations and Rising China,” took a tour of the city and met several representatives at Marathon Petroleum Corp. before attending a reception at the Mazza Museum on campus.
During the reception, Katayama met UF administrators, faculty, staff, Japanese students and those who are studying Japanese at UF. A warm welcome was extended to Katayama by UF President Katherine Fell, Ph.D., UF Trustee C. Richard Beckett, D.V.M., and two students, Mike Gillum, a senior Japanese major, and Tanya Gordon, a master’s student in Japanese language education.
Gillum delivered remarks in Japanese, and Gordon translated it into English for the audience. Gillum talked about his study abroad experiences in Japan and thanked Katayama for the support for Japanese language education from his office.
Katayama’s tour of the city concluded following a visit to the Nissin Break Ohio and a meeting with representatives from Friends of Findlay, a consortium of 14 Japanese companies in northwest Ohio.
Hiroaki Kawamura, Ph.D., associate professor of Japanese, said “The consulate general has always been very supportive of the University’s activities with Japan. I hope Dr. Katayama’s visit will help the City of Findlay develop stronger relationship with Japan. ”
Katayama began his career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1983. Within the ministry, he has served as director of the Energy Resources Division of the Economic Affairs Bureau, and as director of the Cultural Affairs Division of the Public Diplomacy Department. Overseas, Katayama has held posts at the Japanese Embassies in China, the United States, Malaysia and Belgium. Katayama joined the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit in September of this year.