Prime Minister Abe Addresses the United Nations General Assembly 

On Sept. 20, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed the United Nations General Assembly, urging fellow members to "strengthen our unity" and work towards addressing North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles issues as well as its past abductions of Japanese nationals.
Read his address here:

Foreign Minister Kono Attends Meeting on U.N. Reform

On Sept. 18, Foreign Minister Taro Kono attended a meeting on United Nations reform hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.N. headquarters.
Find out more about this meeting and Kono's U.N. trip

Prime Minister Abe Visits India

On Sept. 13-15, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took a trip to India, meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a summit. Japan and India agreed to cooperate to elevate the bilateral partnership to the next level

Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia 

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Kono went to Vladivostok, Russia to attend the third Eastern Economic Forum and other events on Sept. 6 and 7. Prime Minister Abe met with other leaders in attendance at the forum, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Foreign Minister Kono met with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyun-wha.
Read more:

2018 JET Program Application Now Available

The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program has sent more than 60,000 global participants to work in schools, boards of education, and government officies throughout Japan. The 2018 application is now open, with a deadline of Nov. 9 for the online application deadline and Nov. 18 for mail-in documents.
Read more below:

Service in Japan Alumni Reception Held

On Sept. 7, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles Akira Chiba hosted the second annual Service in Japan Alumni Reception at his official residence, welcoming 130 guests including U.S. military service members, reservists, veterans and their families to reminisce about their time living in Japan.

Japanese American Student Program 
Laurent Chang, a junior at Taft Charter High School in Woodland Hills, was selected as one of five participants of the 2017 Japanese American Student Program sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Read about his experience traveling to Japan on the program here: 

Kizuna Video Series #2: Obon Challenge 

The Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles in association with Kizuna brings you a video series highlighting the unique features and history of the Japanese American community. Relive summer memories in the second video, which explores the enticements at a recent obon festival!

Steel in the Spotlight - How One Japanese Firm Supports the California Economy!

The World Trade Center of Los Angeles presents a new series of articles on the postive impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in southern California. Read to discover how California Steel Industries became a major employer, investor, and now a major sponsor of technical education in this region!

Japan's Shinkansen High Speed Trains to Traverse India!

India, the world's second most populous nation, partners with Japan Rail East to introduce the benefits of high speed rail travel into the subcontinent's burgeoning economy. The population is there. The ridership demand is there. And now, with this groundbreaking collaboration agreement, the technology will be there. 
See details here:

At Sea or Ashore... Demand for Japanese Food Now Satisfied Everywhere!

Carnival Cruise Line is adding a whole new culinary experience within their ship, Horizon. Those passengers craving an entertaining Japanese dining experience can soon indulge in their teppanyaki offerings, for a fresh taste of Japan wherever they may be cruising!
Link here:

O-tsukimi (Autumnal Moonlight Viewing)

Tsukimi, or moon viewing, is a practice of appreciating the full moon in autumn, which is said to be the perfect season for viewing the moon when the air is clear and outside temperatures are not too cold. People set up altars in places where they can see the moon and decorate with silver grass and place offerings such as rice dumplings, fruits and sake. 
According to folklore, some say that a rabbit on the moon makes rice cakes - making it a common motif of otsukimi moon viewing.