Japan’s consulate general talks about relations with U.S. and the University of Montana

Japanese consulate-general Kazuo Tanaka spoke at the University of Montana Thursday.

Since the end of World War II, the U.S.-Japan alliance has become one of the most important in the modern world and will remain so for the foreseeable future, said a visiting Japanese diplomat in a lecture at the University of Montana’s University Center Theater Thursday afternoon.

Kazuo Tanaka, the Seattle-based consulate-general of Japan, spoke to more than 50 people about the development and future of the two countries’ coalition in his lecture, “The U.S.-Japan Alliance and Its Challenges Ahead.” As the consulate-general, Tanaka serves Washington, northern Idaho and Montana by speaking to the public, providing protection to Japanese nationals and promoting exchange of cultural and economic trade.

He said he chose to come to Missoula because of the growing interest UM students have shown in Japan and to strengthen the long-standing ties between the consulate-general and UM.
“Japan and the U.S. are partners in almost every conceivable way,” said Tanaka, who served in Tokyo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before he became the consulate-general.

By JACOB LIVINGSTON for Missoulian.com

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2006/04/28/web/webnews/wnews43.txt