The Consulate-General of Japan, Detroit (在デトロイト日本国総領事館, Zai Detoroito Nippon-koku Sōryōjikan) is a diplomatic mission of Japan. It is located in Suite 1600 Tower 400 of the GM Renaissance Center in DowntownDetroit, Michigan.[1] Its jurisdiction includes the states of Michigan and Ohio.[2]
The Japanese government proposed opening the consulate in order to improve Japan's image with the United States and decrease tensions between the Japanese government and automotive companies.[3] It was also established due to an increase in the numbers of Japanese businesses and residents in the states of Michigan and Ohio.[4] Officials from the American and Japanese governments hoped that the consulate opening would ease trade-related tensions.[5]
The consulate exists to promote business and cultural connections between Japan and the United States, and to serve Japanese residents in the states of Michigan and Ohio. As of 2022[update], there are approximately 25,000 Japanese nationals residing in the consulate's jurisdiction.[6]
History
It was scheduled to open on January 11, 1993 in an unspecified hotel facility,[7] which was in Downtown Detroit.[5] Japanese officials were looking for a permanent office space for the consulate.[7]Yasukuni Enoki [ja] (榎 泰邦 Enoki Yasukuni) was the first consul general there.[8]
In 1993 the Japan Digest reported that the Japanese government had plans to station an official who would facilitate exports of American made cars to Japan and inspect and drive the models. This would ensure that the safety and emission testing under Japanese law is done more quickly. The U.S. automotive industry had complained of delays in this procedure.[9]
After the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami occurred, the consulate received over 200 donations with a total of over $268,000. The consul general, Kuninori Matsuda (松田 邦紀 Matsuda Kuninori), offered his thanks to the people of Michigan and Ohio.[10]
^"Location and DirectionsArchived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine." Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit. Retrieved on May 6, 2013. "400 Renaissance Center, Suite 1600 Detroit, Michigan 48243"
^Jones, Linda. "Japan Plans to Open Consulate in Metro Detroit Next Year." The Detroit News. October 19, 1992. Page E5. "Japan will open a consulate in metro Detroit by Jan 1, 1993, in an effort to ease tensions with auto companies, improve the country's image here and better[...]" The Detroit Public Library offers microfilms of this newspaper.
^ abOnishi, Norimitsu. "Japan to Open Detroit Consulate." Detroit Free Press. December 5, 1992. Page B9. "The Japanese government will open a temporary consulate in an undisclosed downtown Detroit hotel on Jan 11, 1993, as officials seek a permanent office[...]" - Clipping fromNewspapers.com - The Detroit Public Library offers microfilms of this newspaper. The University of Michigan Graduate Library also has this newspaper available in microfilm format.
^Epstein, Edward. "WORLD INSIDER." San Francisco Chronicle. Tuesday January 5, 1993. News p. A7 World Insider column. Available on NewsBank, Record Number: 14013. "Japan's Transport Ministry is going to station an expert at the Japanese Consulate in Detroit to help facilitate the export of U.S.-made cars to Japan, reports the Japan Digest. The official will inspect and drive models that Detroit's automakers want to sell in Japan, thus helping to speed the process under which Japan tests imports for safety and emissions. Delays in this procedure have long been one of Detroit's big complaints about trying to export cars to Japan."
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