JAPANESE CONSULATE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 98, 20 January 1938, Page 13

JAPANESE CONSULATE

Coming Establishment At Wellington VICE-CONSUL ARRIVES To establish a Japanese ConsulateGeneral at Wellington, two Oriental diplomats arrived at Wellington yesterday by the Wanganella. They were Mr. Naimo Nakafuji, vice-consul, and his assistant, Mr. T. Kako. Mr. Nakafuji was accompanied by his wife.

The vice-consul stated that he preceded Mr. K. Gunji, who had been appointed consul-general for Japan in New Zealand, and would arrive in March. “At present New Zealand is the only one of the British Dominions which has no Japanese consulate,” said Mr. Nakafuji. “It was felt that as there are representatives of the Japanese Government in Canada, Australia, and South Africa, there should be also in New Zealand. Moreover, between New Zealand and Japan there are no international political differences in relationships, and there is considerable mutual trade. This trade has been increased by the direct steamer services, established in the last eight months. We hope that this mutual goodwill will be promoted, and the trade Increased by the establishment of a consulate at Wellington.” .He added that the consulate would be opened in a few days, as soon as suitable headquarters had been found, and the necessary arrangements formulated. The consul-general, Mr. Gunji, had been for three years in a similar official position in Singapore. He himself had been attache_d to the Japanese consulate at Singapore, and had been in the Foreign Office at Tokio. Mr. Kako came from the Sydney consulate.

This was his first visit to New Zealand, but he was greatly pleased by what he had so far seen. From his glimpses of Wellington, he considered that New Zealand landscapes were greatly similar to certain parts of Japan. He declined to discuss the war in the Far East.