Consul General Daniel R. Russel welcomes Mr. Nakada and Sister Suzanne from the Holy Family Home Orphanage in Osaka as well as soldiers from the 27th United States Infantry Regiment, the "Wolfhounds." The Wolfhounds have a long tradition of supporting the Holy Family Orphanage going back more than 50 years. Recently staff from the U.S. Consulate in Osaka have also supported the orphanage with an annual Christmas toy drive.

Consul General Daniel Russel was invited to a meeting of the policy group "New Wave" of the Liberal Democratic Party. Consul General making his speech titled "International Cooperation and the U.S.- Japan Alliance."

Consul General Russel with Members of the House of Representatives.


(From left to right) Ms. Akiko Yamanaka, Daniel Russel, Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, Mr. Tetsuma Esaki, and Mr. Kenshiro Matsunami.

The U.S. - Japan Friendship League was launched on December 12 as a multi-party parliamentarian's group in the Osaka Prefectural Assembly. Mr. Yoshiaki Nagata, the Chairman of the League, and elected officials.

Consul General Daniel Russel making a speech to commemorate the establishment of the League.

The Consulate General held a discussion meeting with the Youth Bureau of the Liberal Democratic Party Osaka Chapter.

Mr. Hiroyuki Onishi, Member of Osaka City Assembly, Ms. Naomi Tokashiki, Member of the House of Representatives, and Consul General Daniel Russel (Left to right)

USS Frigate Ingraham visited the port of Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture. The purpose of the visit was to enhance the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. The crew visited beautiful Ritsurin Park in Takamatsu City as well as Shorinji Kempo Headquarters in the Prefecture for cultural exchange. Ingraham approaches Sunport Takamatsu.
[Go to Pol-Econ Photo Gallery]

Consul General Daniel Russel spoke to students at Shiga University in Hikone. His lecture on "US and Japan: Two Countries and One World" discussed the importance of US-Japan relations.

Consul General Russel speaks to students at Konan University about the Kansai economy as viewed from the U.S.

Consul General Daniel Russel was invited to a party hosted by Mr. Yasuhide Nakayama, Member of the House of Representatives. Consul General and Mr. & Mrs. Nakayama.

Consul General Russel talking with former Prime Minister Mr. Yoshiro Mori at the party.　

Consul General Daniel Russel speaks on U.S.-Japan relations at the International Symposium held by Doshisha University.

Dinner during the first visit to Osaka by Robert Cekuta, Economic Minister-Counselor, U.S. Embassy Tokyo with the Kansai's business leaders and MOFA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for the Kansai Region.
(Left: Political and Economic Consul Cummings, Consul General Russel, Minister-Counselor Cekuta, Mr. Masayuki Matsushita, Vice Chairman of Matsushita Electric, Mr. Makoto Kato, Senior Corporate Advisor, Itochu Corporation, and MOFA Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for Kansai Region Ryuichiro Yamazaki.)

CG Russel helps kick off the ACCJ's Walk-a-Thon.

Consul General Daniel Russel speaks at Osaka/San Francisco Sister City Association's 50 Year Anniversary Welcome Reception.

Consul Cummings gave a speech to Professor Eiichiro Kirimura's Kobe University International Relations graduate students and Asahi Shimbun Osaka editors, at Asacom Hall, Osaka. He discussed positive aspects of bilateral relations, areas of concern, and the need for the Japanese to learn better presentation skills in order to communicate better with Westerners, in a speech entitled "My Views on U.S.-Japan Relations."
[Go to Pol-Econ Photo Gallery]

Consul General Daniel Russel was invited to the reception by the U.S.- Japan Friendship League of the Osaka Perefectural Assembly Members, Liberal Democratic Party.

The reception was also attended by Mr. Yoshiaki Nagata, Chief of the Friendship League, and Ms. Fusae Ohta, Governor of Osaka Prefecture. Attendees from Japan and the United States had a good opportunity to deepen their friendship and exchange their thoughts.

Mike del Ferro, Jazz Pianist of American Voices, performed at Maiden Voyage for the students of Koyo Conservatory.

Consul General Russel made remarks at the reception following the Yomiuri Shimbun Symposium for Internationalization of Universities in Japan.

The Symposium, with support from the Consulate General (koen) provided an opportunity for small, medium, and large universities to learn about promoting international study abroad for their students as well as the advantages of hosting international students in Japanese institutions.

Mr. Kenichiro Sato, President of Rohm Co., visited the US Consulate in Osaka and met with Consul General Daniel Russel. Rohm is a leader in semiconductor technologies with sales and R&D facilities in the USA. Rohm also sponsors a Music Foundation with the support (koen) of the Consulate General.

Consul General Daniel Russel discusses North Korea, climate change and education at a Symposium held in Fukui University of Technology.

(Panelists)
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for Kansai Area Kishichiro Amae, U.S. Consul General in Osaka-Kobe Daniel Russel, Consul General of The People’ s Republic of China in Osaka Luo Tian Guang, Consul General of The Republic of Korea in Osaka Oh Young-whan and President of Fukui University of Technology Masahiro Jono.

Consulate General Osaka-Kobe participated in Nishinomiya's neighborhood danjiri festival.

Consul General Russel gave an aisatsu in front of the train station.

(Left to Right)
Vice Foreign Minister Osamu Uno, Consul General Russel, Vice Minister of Education Kenshiro Matsunami, Chinese musician Tu Shanxiang and Diet Member Tetsuma Esaki.

Consul General Russel delivered his speech on International Club of Kansai Economic Federation.

Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach, U.S. Senior Official for APEC, delivered remarks at the “U.S.-Japan Investment Initiative, 2007” Seminar held in Grand Cube Osaka of the Osaka International Convention Center.
[Go to Pol-Econ Photo Gallery]

(Left to Right)
Ambassador Haslach and Consul General Russel

Consul General Russlel spoke to the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry members about promoting tourism, business, educational and other forms of exchange between Kyoto and the US.

Consul General Russel spoke about the "American Home" to 100 members of the Kansai Interior Planner Association at the "KIPA Forum 2007"

Consul Cummings and staff pay courtesy calls on government officials, business organizations and the media in Toyama and Ishikawa. [more]

Consul General Russel meets Mr. Kaishi Katsura at 'Hanjotei,' a mecca of RAKUGO. Mr. Kaishi Katsura will introduce his English RAKUGO on Broadway in New York on September 7, 8 and 9, 2007.

Dr. Michael J. Kurtz, Assistant Archivist for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) spoke on NARA’s new initiative on declassification of government documents to an audience of 90 at the Kansai American Center.

The 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics Osaka (8/25-9/2)

(Left to Right)
Consul General Daniel Russel, Chairman of Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Akio Nomura and Consul General of the Netherlands Osaka-Kobe D.J. Kop

(Left to Right)
Gold Medalist of the Olympic Games in Seoul Daichi Suzuki, Consul General Russel and Vice Chairman of Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Masayuki Matsushita

Consul General Daniel Russel at the Opening of "Masterpieces from the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Impressionism and Mordern Art" by Yomiuri Shimbun at Kyoto City Museum.

Consul General Russel with Director of Philadelphia Museum of Art, Ann D'harnoncourt

Kansai American Center presented the Belrose Duo Concert in Okayama, Shiga and Kobe.

2007 July 4th Reception at Universal Studios, Osaka

As reported in Sankei Newspaper, Nanko Sakura Kindergarten children present Tanabata (the Star Festival) ornaments to Consul General Russel.

Consul General Russel listens to the children's Tanabata song.

Mr. Ryo Yoshimura, President of "Manga Koshien" in Kochi Prefecture, presents one of his father's works to CG Russel; Mr. Yoshimura's father was the late Yusuke Aoyagi, a well-known manga writer.

Consul General Russel visited Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada with Vice Consul Schulz.

Consul General Russel lectures at Kyoto University.

Consul General Russel speaking as a panelist at an International Symposium held in Kansai Gaidai University.

(Left to Right)
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for Kansai Area Kishichiro Amae, U.S. Consul General in Osaka-Kobe Daniel Russel, Consul General of The People’s Republic of China in Osaka Luo Tian Guang, Consul General of The Republic of Korea in Osaka Chung Wha-Tae and Dean of International Language and Communications of Kansai Gaidai University Katayama

As reported in Sankei Newspaper, Consul General Russel speaks at Osaka University of Arts.

Consul General Russel speaks on U.S. Foreign Policy at Kwansei Gakuin University in Nishinomiya.

Consul General Russel gives a talk at Ritsumeikan University to students studying diplomacy.

Consul General Russel speaks at Osaka Prefectural University.

A question is posed to Consul General Russel at Osaka Prefectural University.

The Kobe Fireman’s Band greets the Training Ship Golden Bear, which responds to the honor by “manning the ship.”

Captain Weinstock of the Training Ship Golden Bear accepts a plaque from Mr. Yamamoto, Bureau Chief of Kobe City Harbor Bureau.

Consul General Daniel Russel rides with the President of the Japan-America Society of Kobe (JASK), Mr. Kiran Sethi in the Kobe Matsuri Parade.

CG Russel with JASK President Sethi and the US Army Band from Camp Zama

Panel discussion by 6 speakers at the International Symposium of Confucius Institute Worldwide Conference on "The Role of Language in Globalization" held in Ritsumeikan University. Consul for Public Affairs Chris Laycock participated as a panelist.

Bobby Valentine speaks to the Japan-America Society of Osaka (JASO) members.

Consul General Russel shared a table with Bobby Valentine, the event’s featured speaker.

Bobby Valentine signs a baseball during a game
at the Kyocera Dome Osaka.

"Bob Milne Ragtime Piano Concert and U.S. Modern Culture" was held in Doshisha University. This program included collaboration of piano, shakuhachi and koto to mix Japanese classic music and modern American music.

Piano Concert performed by Bob Milne Rugtime in Kurosaki Gakki Event Hall in Tokushima was very well received.

Consul General Russel visited the Japan Bicycle Museum in Sakai, Osaka.

Photo shows Director Hiroshi Nakamura (left), Consul General Daniel Russel (center), Chairman of Shimano, Inc. and President of the Japan Bicycle Association Yoshizo Shimano (right) looking at the racing bike and jersey used by American world champion bike racer Lance Armstrong.

Mr. Yoshizo Shimano is Chairman of Shimano, Inc. and President of the Japan Bicycle Association, here pictured on the left with Mrs. Shimano. On the right, Consul General Daniel Russel and Director Hiroshi Nakamura.

Consul General Russel gives a speech at the 'Commencement' of Osaka University of Foreign Studies.

Panel discussion by three speakers on “Toward the 100th Year: The Dream of Sister City Relationship between Osaka and San Francisco”

Three speakers (Left to Right)
Consul General Daniel Russel, Ambassador Kishichiro Amae and Mayor Jun’ichi Seki

With support by the US Embassy in Japan, the "Liz Lerman Dance Exchange" company performed at Kyoto Art Center. Consul for Public Affairs Chris Laycock talks with Liz Lerman and a company advisor.

Consul Laycock with Liz Lerman and director Elizabeth Johnson of the company

USS Stethem's Visit to Osaka: Welcome Ceremony

USS Paul Hamilton's Visit to Wakayama: Welcome Ceremony

Commanding Officer Christopher Bushnell welcomes Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka of Wakayama Prefecture, Consul General Russel and Consul Cummings on board.

In Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Relationship, Mayor Junichi Seki of Osaka City welcomes Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco at his office.

Mayor Newsom and Consul General Russel

Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka of Wakayama Prefecture welcomes Consul General Russel and Vice Consul Kiser.

CG Russel speaks on the "Future of the U.S.-Japan Relationship" before 40 members of the Japan-America Society of Wakayama.

Consul General Russel gave a speech at the Dojima Yakushido Omizukumi Festival.

Consul General Russel speaks on the "Future of the U.S.-Japan Relationship" before 160 members of the Rotary Club of Osaka.

Vice Consul Heather Eaton gave a speech at Namikiri Hall in Kishiwada City.

Consul for Public Affairs Chris Laycock's remarks at the "2007 New Year's Reception," co-hosted by the Japan America Society of Osaka, Osaka-San Francisco Sister City Association, and Osaka-Chicago Association.

Consul Laycock had a pleasant talk with President Toichi Takenaka of the Japan-America Society of Osaka.

Consul General Russel lectures at Osaka University.

The audience included many who were not students.