Consul General Sunaga met with Governor Deal and Secretary of State Kemp on a courtesy visit, followed by a tour of the Capitol

Consul General Sunaga Met with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal

    On June 11th,　Consul General (CG) Kazuo Sunaga visited the Capitol to pay a courtesy call to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. CG Sunaga told Governor Deal that his primary duties include supporting 8,000 Japanese residents and about 500 Japanese companies/businesses in Georgia as well as promoting foreign direct investment from Georgia to Japan and cultural/academic exchanges between Japan and Georgia. He also expressed his appreciation to Governor Deal for his support for the activities of the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta. The Governor and CG Sunaga also discussed the current Japan-Georgia relationship.

Governor Deal and CG Sunaga in the Governor’s office

Governor Deal and CG Sunaga during their meeting

Consul General Sunaga toured the Georgia State Capitol

    Also on June 11th, Consul General Sunaga had a tour of the Georgia State Capitol guided by Representative Riley and Ms. Leigh Goff, State Assembly staff. The Capitol, designated as a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1899. It houses the House of Representatives and the Senate on the third floor and a museum on the fourth floor. At the museum, panels and materials on the history and products indigenous to Georgia are on display. This includes items related to Japan: for example, a photo of Governor Sanders during his visit to Kagoshima Prefecture in 1966, the year Kagoshima and Georgia established a sister-state relationship. Also on display is a hand-painted vase presented as a gift from Kagoshima Prefecture.

With the desk of the Speaker of the House in the back, from left, Consul Yamamitsu, CG Sunaga, Representative Reiley, Ms. Olsen, Chief of Staff to Representative Tom Taylor

CG Sunaga viewing the display on the Kagoshima-Georgia sister state relations

Courtesy call on Secretary Kemp, Georgia Secretary of State

    On June 11, Consul General Sunaga paid a courtesy call on Secretary Brian Kemp, Georgia Secretary of State, and confirmed his commitment to further promote Japan-Georgia relations.

In the office of Secretary Kemp: from right, Secretary Kemp, CG Sunaga, Representative Riley, Ms. Olsen, Chief of Staff to Representative Tom Taylor