Consulate General of Japan in New York

🎖 Ambassador Katahira attended the 56th Annual JAA Scholarship Award Dinner hosted by JAANY (The Japanese American Association of New York), congratulating the awardees and encouraging the next generation of leaders. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the recipients and place on you our highest hopes for the future!

📸Photos courtesy of Masao Katagami

🌸Amb & Mme Katahira attended an event in NY celebrating Ikebana International’s 70th & Sogetsu’s 100th anniversaries. The demonstration by Ms. Reito Oizumi was truly breathtaking. Thank you for spreading the beauty of ikebana culture to the world!

Ambassador Katahira attended a memorial service, hosted by JAANY (The Japanese American Association of New York) at the Japanese cemetery in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Queens, NY.

This memorial service has been held for more than 100 years since 1912, when the Japanese cemetery was established by Dr. Toyohiko Takami. Together with Dr. Takami’s relatives, we visited the cemetery with deep respect, keeping in our hearts the memory of our predecessors who made such significant contributions to New York.

⚕ On May 21, Ambassador Katahira attended the 99th Commemorative Day Ceremony for Dr. Hideyo Noguchi at Woodlawn Cemetery. Marking his first attendance since arriving in NY and celebrating the 150th anniversary of Dr. Noguchi’s birth, the Ambassador highlighted his enduring impact on Japan-U.S. medical collaboration.

📚 The event also featured the 9th Scholarship Award Ceremony. The Ambassador extended his warmest congratulations to this year’s awardees, inspiring them as living bridges to the future of medicine. Our deep gratitude goes to the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Society and all partners for keeping his inspiring spirit alive.

💼 Ready for life and career opportunities after JET? 🌏️ ✈️(Yikes!!)

Join USJETAA and Pasona for Beyond JET: Linking Japan to Your Next Career, a 90-minute virtual session designed to help you navigate the U.S. job market as you plan your next step after JET.

We’ll discuss:
▪️ How recruiters work (and how they can help you)
▪️ What the job search looks like currently
▪️ Key industries & Japanese companies in the U.S.
▪️ Translating your JET experience to your next role

📅 US: May 29 | 7:00 PM ET
📅 Japan: May 30 | 8:00 AM JT

🔗 Register here: www.usjetaa.org/news/beyond-jet-2026


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The Consulate General of Japan in New York will be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26th.

Image: Faruk Tokluoğlu

🏫Ambassador Katahira delivered opening remarks at an insightful talk by Dr. Nobumasa Akiyama, professor at the School of International and Public Policy, and the Graduate School of Law at 一橋大学　Hitotsubashi University (Official). Dr. Akiyama also serves as the director of the Center for Disarmament, Science and Technology at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (公益財団法人日本国際問題研究所) .

🌏This timely discussion, entitled “Japan Global: Japan’s Nuclear Arms Dilemma”, covered Japan’s nuclear policy in today's challenging international landscape. The talk took place at the U.S.-Asia Law Institute at the NYU School of Law and was moderated by Professor Bruce Aronson.

⛩ Ambassador Katahira received a visit from ‘Negi’ (senior priest) Mr. Shinichi Sakamoto, and ‘Gonnegi' (assistant priests) Mr. Masafumi Nakanishi and Mr. Hideo Tateiwa from Samukawa Shrine of Samukawa Town, Kanagawa Prefecture.

During the meeting they discussed the growth of international visitors to 🇯🇵 and the rising interest in Shinto culture. 🎏 Samukawa Shrine has participated in the every year since its inception in 2022, where its mikoshi (portable shrine), donated to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 2016, is cheerfully carried along the parade route.