2018 年天皇陛下诞辰庆祝招待会 片山和之致辞

    尊敬的上海市政府陈群副市长，尊敬的各位来宾，各位朋友，大家晚上好！今天，非常感谢大家百忙之中前来参加平成30（2018）年度天皇诞辰招待晚会。
 
    平成4（1992）年10 月天皇皇后两位陛下访问中国时，我有幸同行。两位陛下于该月27至28 日访问了行程最后一站----上海。那次，在这座花园饭店32 楼的“龙厅”（Dragon Room）会见了常住日本侨民代表，现在忆起仍恍如昨日。此外，这个“百花厅”（Grand Ball Room），也是我在北京留学期间第一次来上海的1984 年12 月参加过圣诞晚会、当时还是叫“锦江俱乐部”的难忘之地。
 
    时间飞逝，此次是我在上海主办的第4 次天皇诞辰招待宴会。记得去年我在致辞中说到“这是否是我在上海的最后一次天皇诞辰招待晚会，只有上帝才知道”。令人高兴的是，承蒙上帝的精心安排，今年我仍然站在了这个舞台上。而且，作为驻上海总领事主办预定明年4月30 日退位的今上天皇的最后一次天皇诞辰招待会，也是我的无上荣幸。
 
    另一方面，我本人也即将离任。因此，今天是我作为上海总领事主办的最后一次天皇诞辰招待晚会，同时也是我本人的离任招待会。这双重意义都令我感慨良深。
 
    天皇陛下是第125 代天皇，1989 年即位，12 月23 日将迎来85 岁。这是200 年来首次伴随天皇退位的天皇即位。明年5 月1 日将继承皇位的皇太子殿下生日是2 月23 日。因此，今后的天皇诞辰招待晚会将从年底改为年初。
 
    平成时代的30 年，也是我外交官生涯的30 年。在此期间，国际关系发生了结构性变化，中国改革开放取得了举世瞩目的经济成就，国际影响力日益增强。与此同时，日中关系也发生了巨大变化。两国曾面临困难和考验的时期，但回顾起来，近代以后的明治、大正、昭和以及平成时代的150 年间，可以说日中关系最为和平和稳定的便是平成时代。
 
    今年是日中和平友好条约缔结40 周年，也是中国改革开放40 周年的重要节点年份。日中关系正迎来“不惑”之年。5 月李克强总理访日、10 月安倍首相访华，实现了两国首脑相互正式访问。在上海刚刚举办的国际进口博览会上，有468 家日本企业・团体参展，总展示面积约2 万平方米，是参展企业最多规模最大的国家。此外，各方普遍期待习近平国家主席明年正式访日。正如这样，在以两国首脑相互往来为首的两国各界的共同努力下，双方关系回到了正常的发展轨道。能在即将离任之际目睹两国扩大强化新阶段合作的景象，是作为驻上海总领事的无上幸运。
 
    今天是一年的总括性重要活动，也是我应当对上海工作作以总结的日子，所以趁此机会，我想向大家简略汇报一下总领事馆的部分活动。我赴任以来的3 年3 个月中，在和常住日本侨民的关系方面，为提供生活上的安全保障、企业支援、更为良好的子女教育环境、以及各种领事服务上；和上海总领事馆的领区内中国人的关系方面，特别是促进年轻人对日本的理解、改善对日印象上都作出了不懈努力，为打造“低门槛、有帮助、可信任的总领事馆”全力以赴。
 
    我在物理时间和体力允许范围内，通过企业相关活动、日本人学校活动、文化交流活动、与青少年的对话、与政府人员的意见交换、与自治体的交流、和大学研究机构的交流、媒体采访、演讲、会餐等，最大限度地促进和广泛各界各层次人员之间的交流。同时，作为可称作华东地区日本“广告塔”的驻上海总领事，为加强日本的存在感，我有意地在显眼的服装和发型上下工夫。另，最大限度地利用总领事馆事务楼和官邸，使之充分发挥与常住日本侨民、中国人以及其他外国人之间联系网络的枢纽功能。此外，对于日本的来访人员，我努力简洁鲜明地介绍中国变化的速度和规模，以便让他们对此有正确的认识。
 
    如用数字来回顾，在此期间，包括招待会在内的官邸会餐735 次，地方出差90 次，日资企业支援2423 件，日资企业・商工俱乐部相关人员的意见交换660 次，企业活动出席120次，大学访问71 次，日本人学校・补习校相关活动出席38 次，演讲38 次，各种活动致辞396 次，媒体・采访52 次，与上海媒体的记者恳谈会39 次，签证签发数量去年达到约185万份，今年截至目前已经超过204 万份。
 
    上海总领事馆领区的重要性毋庸赘言。在3 年3 个月中，我每天都切身感受习近平主席所述的“开放之于上海、上海的开放之于中国的重要性”。长江三角洲一体化发展最近已上升至国家战略。总领事馆领区的总人口达到2 亿6 千700 万，是次于美国的世界第4 位。经济规模超越了法国和英国，是次于德国的世界第5 位。这里还集中了约80%的日本对华投资（2016），约44%的对华贸易（2016），约46%的中国日本侨民（2017），约69%在华日资企业据点（2017），以及日本所有驻外使领馆签证总量的约三分之一，可以说是日中交流的最前线。
 
    我在上海结识了很多日中友好的“挖井人”朋友，对他们的长年贡献，我就任后决定授予各种表彰，即授勋5 名、外务大臣表彰4 名（包括官邸料理长）、以及总领事表彰30 名（包括团体）。再次向这些朋友表示祝贺。今天，稍后还将对花园饭店（上海）为日中交流作出的长年贡献进行总领事表彰。
 
    今天，在日资企业・自治体、公共团体的协助下，同时还举办商品展、食品展和试食，推介观光。另外，大家还可以品尝日本料理、日本酒，欣赏插花、茶道、传统乐器演奏等日本传统文化。稍后，更有流行文化的节目给大家带来惊喜。顺便一提的是，我的任期中，在总领事馆新闻文化中心和官邸举办的日本文化介绍、观光促进活动共计135 场。
 
    17 世纪英国外交官亨利・沃顿曾说：“外交官就是派往国外为了本国利益而说谎的诚实人。”如依他所言，我再住下去的话，上海美好的环境和温暖的人心可能会令我心理上产生复杂的感情。所以，对于一名应该代表日本国家利益的日本外交官来说，也许现在已经到了离开上海的时刻。至此的上海3 年3 个月，我35 年外务省生涯中一生都难以忘怀的美好回忆，已经深刻在我的脑海。而能够获得如此丰硕宝贵的经历，离不开在场每一位对我个人以及对日中关系发展倾注的热忱，借此机会我再次向大家致以深深的感谢。
 
    我即将离开上海回到外务省。今后，即使不再担任驻上海总领事，也无论身处何地，我和太太都真挚希望和大家之间的友谊地久天长。
 
    最后，就请大家在今天的天皇诞辰招待晚会上尽情欢享、开怀畅谈吧！
 
    谢谢大家！
 
   


   
Honourable Mr. Chen Qun, Vice mayor of Shanghai,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen: Good evening.
Thank you for coming to this Reception Celebrating the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.
 
In October 1992, I had the honor of accompanying Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress during their visit to China. On the 27^th and the 28^th, they arrived at the final destination, Shanghai. I still remember so clearly even today that Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress met the representatives of the Japanese residents in Shanghai in the “Dragon Room” on the 32^nd floor of Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai. This “Grand Ball Room”, which was called “The Jinjiang Club”, is an unforgettable place for me because I joined a Christmas party when visiting Shanghai for the first time in December 1984 while studying in Beijing.
 
Time flies, this is the fourth time I hold this reception in Shanghai. In my remarks of the last time, I mentioned that “God only knows whether this is my last on here or not.” Thanks to God’s jaunty arrangement, I am delighted to be able to stand on this stage this year as well. Furthermore, I am extremely honored to host in Shanghai the last reception for His Majesty the Emperor, who is expected to abdicate on April 30^th in the next year.
 
Simultaneously, I was instructed to leave Shanghai very soon. Therefore, today’s reception is not only the last Reception I celebrate the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor as the Consul General of Shanghai, but also my farewell ceremony for leaving Shanghai. These two meanings make me feel impressed deeply.
 
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan Akihito was enthroned as the 125th Emperor in 1989, he will be a vigorous 85 years old on December 23^rd this year. It is the first time in this 200 years that the imperial succession happens due to an abdication. February 23^rd is the birthday of the Crown Prince, who is expected to succeed to the imperial throne on May 1^st in the next year, so the date of this Reception Celebrating the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan will also change from the end to the beginning of the year.  
 
The 30 years of the Heisei Era is also the 30 years I spend as a public servant of Foreign Service of Japan. During this period of time, international relations have changed structurally; China has developed remarkably and has increased its influence on international society through the Reform and Opening Up Policy. These changes have changed the relations between Japan and China as well. The two countries experienced the difficult and hard period of time, however, if we look on 150 years including the Meiji, the Taisho, the Showa and the Heisei Era, then I guess we can say it is in the Heisei Era that the Japan-China relations is the most stable.
 
This year is the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship and is also the 40^th anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening Up Policy. The Japanese-China relations reached the year of “Buhuo.” (Confucius said; “At forty years old, I became able to engage in my own study undoubtedly.”)  Both Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe realized official visits in May and in October respectively. In addition, China International Import Expo was held in Shanghai in the beginning of this month, during which 468 Japanese companies and groups participated and their exhibition space was around 20,000 square meters. These two numbers are biggest among the participating countries. Furthermore, we are highly expecting President Xi Jinping’s visit to Japan in the next year. As the Consul General of Japan in Shanghai, I am extremely fortunate to be able to see just before leaving Shanghai that the bilateral relation has returned to the normal development path and is expanding a new level of cooperation.
 
As today’s reception is an important event bringing our year to close and is also an opportunity to summarize my works in Shanghai. I would like to take this occasion to briefly report on some of the activities taking place with the Consulate-General. During the 3 years and 3 months in this office, in relation with Japanese residents in our jurisdiction, (1) ensured their safety, (2) supported their companies, (3) improved the educational environment and (4) provided all kind of consular services. In the relation with Chinese residents in our jurisdiction, we have worked to facilitate an understanding regarding Japan especially of the youth for their better views toward Japan. By doing so, we have strived to be a friendly, helpful and reliable Consulate-General.
 
During this period of time, I have made every effort to promote the exchange with various fields and levels of people in the limitation of time and physical strength. As the Consul General in Shanghai, which should be called “Poster Boy” of Japanese Government in the East China Region, I have tried to wear a conspicuous cloth and to have noticeable hairstyle in order to make Japan’s presence felt in the region. I have made utmost use of the office of Consulate-General and my official residence as networking hub places of Japanese, Chinese and other foreign residents in the region. Furthermore, I have worked on making simple and impressive brief for visitors from Japan to help them understand precisely speed and scale of the change happening in China.
 
Let me show you the related numbers. During my term, we have hosted 735 meals at my residence, taken 90 business trips out of Shanghai, supported companies 2,423 times, exchanged views with officials in Japanese companies and the Japanese Commerce and Industry Clubs in various cities  660 times, attended 120 events of Japanese companies, visited universities 71 times, attended 38 events at Japanese schools and Japanese language supplementary schools, made 38 lectures, made 396 speeches in various events, received the media interview 52 times, held meeting with correspondent of the Japanese media in Shanghai 39 times. The number of the visas issued last year was approximately 1,850,000, and this year we have already issued approximately 2,040,000 visas to this day.
 
It goes without saying that the jurisdictional area of the Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai is very important. My 3 year and 3 month term is the time during which I fully realized that “The essence of Openness is in Shanghai, Shanghai’s openness is of importance to the rest of China” as President Xi Jinping mentioned. The integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region has recently been upgraded to a key national strategy for China. The total population of the area is around 267,000,000, which is the 4^th largest after the United States of America. The economic scale is 5^th largest following Germany, which surpass France and the United Kingdom. The jurisdictional area of the Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai accounts for roughly 81% (2016) of the investment by Japan in China, 44% (2016) of Japan-China bilateral trade, 46% (2017) of the Japanese residents in China, 69% (2017) of Japanese companies in China, and nearly one-third (2017) of the Japanese visas issued throughout the world.
 
Here in Shanghai I have had the pleasure to encounter many people who have “dug a well” to build the goodwill between Japan and China. I decided to award the Imperial Conferment Decoration to 5 people, the Foreign Minister’s Commendation to 4 people (including culinary staff of my official residence), and the Consul-General Commendation to 30 times to people or organizations during my term in Shanghai for their many years of service. I offer my congratulations again to these recipients. Also today, I will hold later a ceremony of the Consul-General Commendation for Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai’s many years of contribution to the exchange between Japan and China.
 
We have an exhibition of Japanese products and food samples, as well as promotion for sightseeing supported by Japanese companies, local government and public organizations. In addition, please enjoy the Japanese cuisines, alcoholic beverage, traditional culture such as the arts of Ikebana flower arrangement, tea ceremony and traditional instruments musical performance. Today, I would like you to have a good time through a pop culture performance prepared secretly. Additionally, During my term in Shanghai, we have held 135 events related with introducing Japanese culture and promoting tourism in the Public and Cultural center of Consulate- General and my official residence.
 
The 17^th century English diplomat Henry Wotton once said, “An Ambassador is a man of virtue sent to lie abroad for his country.” If following his remark, it may be time to leave Shanghai for a Japanese diplomat who should represent national interest because I may have mixed feeling due to comfortable environment and warmth of others if I keep staying here for a longer time. To this extent, the 3 years and 3 moths in Shanghai has been kept in my mind as my forever unforgettable and precious memory in my 35 years in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The enthusiasms you all have carried for me and the development of the Japan-China relation have enabled me to have these meaningful experiences. I would like to take this opportunity to express again my sincere gratitude for all of you.
 
I am expected to leave Shanghai to return to the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, however I and my wife Yukari earnestly hope to get along with you all for many years no matter where I will be assigned.
 
So everyone, I would appreciate it if all of you could enjoy to the full this Reception Celebrating the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.
 
Thank you!