Japanese Ambassador hosts farewell function

In his speech His Excellency revealed that his next assignment is to Jordan in the Middle East; one imagines that, given the situation in that part of the world at present, should be a very different from living and working in TT.

The Ambassador said he felt very welcome in the short time (just over two years) that he has been here. He said his chef, who will also be going to Jordan, will miss the beaches, there being none in that land-locked country. Replying to His Excellency on behalf of Foreign Minister the Honourable Knowlson Gift, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Efebo Wilkinson, quoted Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” saying “parting is such sweet sorrow,” remarking how brief has been Ambassador Kato’s stay in TT. He referred to the enduring friendship between Japan and TT, the many cultural exchanges, citing the tremendous impact made by Renegades and problems in explaining why one of our steel orchestras is named “Tokyo.” P S Wilkinson proposed a toast to the continuing friendship between TT and Japan before His Excellency invited guests to the dining room to sample tidbits from the buffet.