Consul General Mitsunori Namba (left) with state Sen. Paull Shin at the Consulate General of Japan’s annual holiday party in Seattle on Dec. 11 (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of the emperor of Japan. It follows on the heels of the 50th wedding anniversary of Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Dec. 23 is also Akihito’s birthday. In honor of these occasions, the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle celebrated during its annual holiday party. About 250 people attended the event held at the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood.
Notable people in attendance were state Sen. Paull Shin and Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago.
Consul General Mitsunori Namba is finishing his two-year term. He plans to return to Japan Jan. 9. ♦