It is with great sadness that we learned of the news of the passing of Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya yesterday in Japan. Ambassador Nishimiya was the former Consul-General of New York and had recently been named as the new Ambassador of Japan to China.

Delegates to the 2010 JETAAUSA National Conference in New York might remember how actively involved the Ambassador was in that conference and what a great supporter of the JET Program and JETAA he was during the difficult times of the JET Threat. The Ambassador was always there for JETAA offering guidance, advice and encouragement. This is truly a great loss for Japan and the world.

We’d like to express our sincere condolences to the Nishimiya family and his friends around the world.

~~JETAA USA Country Representatives