Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie traveled to Tochigi prefecture as part of his initiative to further strengthen ties with the local areas of Japan. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. Jason Pratt, Public Affairs Officer; and Mr. Kazuo Aoki of the NGO GHG Emissions Trading Agency.
During this universally warmly-received visit, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was able to meet with Hon. Governor Tomikazu Fukuda (pictured above), Hon. Mayor Eichi Sato (pictured below) of Utsunomiya, and President Yoshinori Kando (pictured 2nd from bottom) of Shimotsuke Shimbun newspaper. He also had the opportunity to visit a school that has hosted Afghan cultural events in the past, Mustumi Gakko. In meeting with both of Their Honors, the Governor and the Mayor, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was able to express the deepest gratitude of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for the life-bettering, peace-spreading cooperation extended by Japan, and within this Tochigi and Utsunomiya in specific, to Afghanistan. Both of Their Honors were gracious in their time, Their understanding of the present progress, and Their willingness to continue adapt cooperation in light of current realities. In His meeting with President Yoshinori Kando of Shimotsuke Shimbun newspaper, Ambassador Fatimie stated that the newspaper has done much to improve the local awareness of the true nature of Afghanistan and the Embassy’s activities, which have brought Tochigi and Shimotsuke’s people and the people of Afghanistan closer together. At Mutsumi Gakko, a pre-school, administrators, including Ms. Mutsumi Ogura, and children (pictured bottom-most) extended the warmest possible welcome. Children sang songs, played traditional drums, and prepared lunch for the Ambassador and his contingent. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie expressed that the warmth and intelligence of these children was proof of a bright future for Japan in general and also for Afghan-Japanese relations.
To view the article in the Shimotsuke newspaper on the visit, click here.
