Japan’s national holiday celebrated in Budapest, Ambassador Otaka bids farewell

To mark His Majesty Naruhito’s birthday, the Embassy of Japan held a National Day reception at the Budapest Marriott Hotel on the evening of 16 February. The event was special as the much-loved and respected HE Masato Otaka, Ambassador to Hungary, bid farewell.

Considered one of the largest diplomatic events in Hungary, Japan National Day is always an interesting event in terms of both size and programme.

In his speech, HE Masato Otaka welcomed His Majesty and listed the most important events for Japan in the past year. He then referred to the international situation, which he said was very worrying and that Japan was doing its utmost to normalise the situation, whether in Ukraine, Gaza or the Korean peninsula.

Japan’s national holiday celebrated in Budapest, Ambassador Otaka bids farewell. Photo: Daily News Hungary

In his speech, Masato underlined the close ties between Hungary and Japan and expressed his satisfaction that there are currently 180 companies operating here. He added that Japanese investors have made major investments in Hungary and are planning to do so in the future. At the end of his speech, the Japanese Ambassador to Budapest thanked everyone who helped him in Hungarian for the past three years he has spent here in Hungary.

He expressed his gratitude for having had the opportunity to meet so many valuable people and to serve Japanese-Hungarian relations.

The guests thanked Ambassador Masato, who will be the Head of Mission in Bangkok, Thailand, for his extraordinary service with a long round of applause.

Japan’s national holiday celebrated in Budapest, Ambassador Otaka bids farewell. Photo: Daily News Hungary

We also found out that the next Ambassador of Japan to Hungary is already known, HE Hikariko ONO.

The Hungarian government was represented at the event by János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs, and Tibor Navracsics, Minister of Public Administration and Regional Development. In his speech, Mr Bóka also highlighted the excellent economic, cultural, and sports relations between Japan and Hungary.

The minister pointed out that the country of the rising sun has been a top 10 investor in recent years, with 27,000 employees in Japanese companies, and that Budapest certainly regards Tokyo as a strategic partner.

During the rest of the reception, 18 Japanese musicians, mostly members of symphonic orchestras from Hungary, gave a concert conducted by the baton of Haraguchi Shoji.

Several Japanese companies were also given the opportunity to introduce themselves to the attendees, and the Kicsi Japan restaurant contributed to the evening with excellent sushi.

Read also:

• Celebrating Hungarian culture in Tokyo, Japan
• Hungarikum: Pálinka added to EU-Japan geographical indication agreement