Memorial Conference and Reception for the Great East Japan Earthquake
On 14 March 2012, the Delegation of Japan and the OECD co-organised a memorial conference and reception for the Great East Japan Earthquake at the OECD Headquarters.
At the memorial conference, our thoughts were with the victims of the tragedy, their families and those who are still greatly suffering. We expressed our thanks to the international community for the good will we have received. Mr. Motohide Yoshikawa, Ambassador of Japan to the OECD, served as the moderator at the conference. Guest speakers included Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, Mr. Luis Echávarri, Director General of the NEA and Mr. Richard H. Jones, Deputy Executive Director of the IEA. Respectively, they presented their support and contributions to Japan’s recovery by reviewing the current situation one year later and sharing the lessons learned with all participants including Heads of Delegations and the OECD Secretariat.
Ambassador Yoshikawa opened the conference by asking the participants to join in a minute of silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the Earthquake. Then, he expressed his sincere thanks to the OECD and the member countries for all their support to Japan and presented the situation in the affected areas and the challenges that Japan is still facing. (Speech delivered by the Ambassador (PDF)) Subsequently, Secretary-General Gurría paid tribute to Japan’s remarkable recovery and presented the works and contributions made by the OECD towards recovery. Mr. Echávarri and Mr. Jones also presented their works in regard to the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant and energy policy. A session of active questions and answers concluded the conference.
After the memorial conference, a reception hosted by Ambassador Yoshikawa was held in the Chateau. At the beginning of the reception, Ambassador Yoshikawa once again asked for a silent prayer and expressed gratitude for the support received from the OECD and the member countries. Ambassador Yoshikawa described the recovery situation and the current challenges that Japan continues to face. On behalf of Japan, he also expressed his appreciation for the many memorial activities organized in Paris. (Speech delivered by the Ambassador (PDF)) Secretary-General Gurría once again praised Japan’s strenuous efforts towards recovery and expressed his continued support to Japan, referring to the concept of “Kizuna.”
Participants learned more about the current situation from the panel displays and videos. Some panels showed photos of His and Her Imperial Majesties’ visit to the disaster hit area, “Tohoku Region-Rebuilding for a Better Tomorrow” and one of the videos played “Strong Performer” produced by the OECD Education Directorate.
