HR45: HR45 Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta; 51st anniversary; recognize

25 LC 112 2710 House Resolution 45 By: Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Au of the 50th, Williamson of the 112th, Neal of the 79th, Kelley of the 16th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing the 51st anniversary of the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta has strength ened the cultural,3 political, and economic ties between the Southeast United States and Japan and has worked4 to help and support Japanese citizens and companies in the Southeast; and5 WHEREAS, a long and steady friendship has grown between Georgia and Japan, as shown6 by the establishment of the Office of the State of Georgia in Japan 51 years ago; and7 WHEREAS, Georgia has become a model for welcoming Japanese comp anies to the8 Southeast, and the region has grown to become an indispensable part of the United9 States-Japan relationship; and10 WHEREAS, the Japanese community has thrived together with all o ther communities to11 make Georgia greater; and12 H. R. 45 - 1 - 25 LC 112 2710 WHEREAS, current trade between Georgia and Japan is $7.65 billion in import and export13 trade; and14 WHEREAS, there are 514 Japan affiliated offices (not including retail locations) now located15 in Georgia, employing 38,290 people; and16 WHEREAS, the consulate-general created Japan Fest in 1986 and h elped grow it into the17 largest Japanese cultural festival in the Southeast; and18 WHEREAS, the 2020 Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021 due to19 COVID-19; and20 WHEREAS, Americus, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dublin, Gainesville, Macon, and Rome21 have sister-city relationships with cities in Japan, making Georgia the state with the highest22 number of Japanese sister cities in the Southeast; the State of Georgia has a sister-state23 relationship with the Kagoshima Prefecture; and the Port of Sav annah has a sister-port24 relationship with the Port of Shimizu; and25 WHEREAS, nearly 1,000 Georgia public school students are studying the Japanese language,26 13 Georgia institutes of higher education have Japanese language programs, and since 1987,27 573 Georgians have participated in Japan's Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) program;28 and29 WHEREAS, more than 25 members of the Georgia General Assembly a nd other Georgia30 officials were hosted in the autumn of 2019 on trips to Japan to meet with Japanese 31 H. R. 45 - 2 - 25 LC 112 2710 government, business, and cultural officials in order to promote a deeper understanding and32 to cement ties between Japan and Georgia.33 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that34 the members of this body recognize the 51st anniversary of the Consulate-General of Japan35 in Atlanta and the long and steady friendship between this state and Japan and commend the36 efforts of the Consulate-General to strengthen cultural, educational, political, and economic37 ties between Georgia and Japan.38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized39 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the40 Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta.41 H. R. 45 - 3 -