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2014/03/19
DPJ holds Spring Reception to foster exchanges with diplomatic corps
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On the evening of March 19, the DPJ held a Spring Reception at the Parliamentary Museum to foster exchanges with the members of the diplomatic corps stationed in Tokyo. Around 105 diplomats from 66 countries, including
28 Ambassadors, and 60 DPJ Diet members enjoyed convivial conversation while tasting Japanese sake from around the nation.
President Banri Kaieda and Supreme Advisor Yoshihiko Noda gave speeches representing the DPJ. Kaieda said that he himself had served as Chair of the then International Affairs Committee (now the International Department) just after the DPJ was formed, and recalled that the party had held several such receptions to facilitate exchanges with the diplomatic community at that time. He stated, "I find it extremely meaningful that we have once again been able to host such an event for you all. The DPJ is now an opposition party, but we are resolved to get back into government. I would like you to enjoy today's event in the spirit that you are dealing with the future ruling party."
In his speech, Noda once more expressed his appreciation regarding the meetings with the leaders of 161 countries which he had participated in during his 482 days in office as Prime Minister of Japan. In addition, he also introduced the "Enjoy Japanese Kokushu Project" which had been initiated under the DPJ administration in order to promote Japanese sake and shochu to the international community, saying, "In Japan, each region has its own tasty food and delicious sake. My favourite pursuit, when I am traveling around the nation, is to make sure that I go right to the very back streets of the town and sample delicious fish and local sake. Today, thanks to the efforts of the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, we have assembled delicious sake, shochu and awamori from each of the 47 prefectures in Japan. I would like to deepen my exchanges with all of you while enjoying delicious sake."
Kaieda, Noda, Secretary General Akihiro Ohata and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Excellency Dr. Khalil Hassan, representing the diplomatic corps as the longest-serving Ambassador present that evening, took part in the kagami biraki, a ceremony in which a sake cask is broken open, and former Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba proposed a toast. Gemba commented, "This period might be a cold, harsh winter for the DPJ, but I would like us to grow roots down deep into the soil and then finally succeed in bringing our biggest ever flower to bloom. My family also makes sake, and the time for fermentation is winter. The tastiest sake is produced by fermenting during the winter."
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