Ties between Panama and Japan have become more and more tightly connected recently. A wonderful meeting was held on Thursday, March 24th from 2-4 in the International Conference room of the First Congressman Hall. The three promotors for the event were; Seishiro Eto's office, Embassy of the Republic of Panama in Japan, and Santosha Publishing Company. The theme was the relationship between Japan, as the gateway for Asia and the Republic of Panama, as the gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean. The chairman was Mr. Nakagawa Toshinao, Japan-Panama Friendship Parliamentarians' Union Secretary-General. The meetings opened with greetings from Mr. Shuji Shimokoji, the former Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of Japan in Panama, Mr. Makoto Misawa, also the former Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of Japan in Panama, Mr. Tomoya Uyama , an economic cooperation specialist and Latin America Bureau Counselor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Next, some messages were read from Mr. Fan Davi Morgan, who is the Director of the Panama Canal Museum, author of the book “A Golden Horse" and the president of Morgan & Morgan Law Firm where a former Panama president once worked; Mr. Yasuyuki Fujishima, who is the former Ambassador extraordinary plenipotentiary of Japan in Panama and Mr. Hiroaki Isobe. who is the present Ambassador extraordinary plenipotentiary of Japan in Panama. The messages from afar and from Ambassadors stationed in Panama reaffirmed the important significance of this project.
Then Mr. Kimihiko Sato, who is the president of the Santosha Publishing Company, explained Geisha coffee which far outweighed expectations as a valuable, rare and delicious coffee.
The first lecturer, Mr. Seishiro Eto, Japan-Panama Friendship Parliamentarians' Union Chairman and Liberal Democratic Party Headquarters for Regional Diplomatic and Economic Partnership Chairman spoke. His lecture was entitled "Building a Solid Economic Connection Between Panama, the Gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean and Japan”. He confirmed the importance of the relationship between Japan and Panama. Then, His Excellency Ritter Diaz, the Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of the Panama Republic spoke. His lecture was entitled "Panama's Economy, Tourism, and Natural Resources, and What Panama Expects of Japan in the Third Stage of the Panama Canal Construction Project". The role of Japan in the development of a transportation hub, including the Panama Canal and specifically the monorail initiative of Panama, as well as the rich, natural habitat of rare wild life should be considered. This was demonstrated with powerful imagery presented through power point. We look forward to seeing the project successfully completed.
Mr. Kimihiko Sato, who is the president of Santosha, Co.;Ltd gave a lecture entitled "The Industrial Revolution of Japan”. The industrial revolution in Japan during the closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Edo era was accelerated, in part, by the Panama Canal Railway project. Through the project Japan learned much about the operation of companies and railroads. The depth of the historical tie between Japan and Panama is seen in today's close relationship. Japan's technology and experience being utilized in the construction of Panama's monorail is a truly amazing event.
Finally, Mr. Murakami Taiken, the Chef Priest of Tozaiji Temple, Ms. Miyahara Mariko, the Descendant of the First Ambassador to the United States of America, and Ms. Mika Yanagihara, also the Descendant of the First Ambassador to the United States presented speeches about the Society of Descendants of the First Embassy to the United States of America, in 1860. They informed us that this year a Memorial Monument will be unveiled during a ceremony to be held in Washington. We look forward to seeing reports about that event in the near future.
After the question and answer session, Mr. Takuya Hiraio, who is the Japan-Panama Friendship Parliamentarians' Union Secretary, gave a greeting and then we moved to the Geisha coffee tasting venue.
Mr. Nakagawa Toshinao continued to chair the Geisha coffee tasting time. Geisha coffee was served by the Matsuya coffee shop and we enjoyed it with Mama Gena (Panama cake) served by the Panama Embassy. Many guests experienced ?Geisha coffee served with rum for the first time and found it to be very tasty.
Many enjoyed the Panama Meeting and Geisha coffee tasting experience. I'm hoping that the friendly relations between the two countries, Japan and Panama, will continue into the future. I would like to express my gratitude to all of the participants.
