Ten years ago, on March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake. This was an unprecedented natural disaster that included earthquake and tsunami, which devastated Tohoku region of my country and was further complicated by severe damage to the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. The scale of the disaster and extent of the damage were overwhelming.

Nearly 16, 000 people were lost and more than 2,000 are still counted as missing. In the face of that, our friends from around the world, as well as from Bosnia and Herzegovina, stepped up with warm and heartfelt assistance.

People in B&H showed great compassion, generosity and friendship.

I have learned that we had received a great number of donations from the government and local authorities of B&H, as well as private organizations and friends of Japan in B&H. Countless number of kind letters, encouriging messages and drawings from school chlidren have been sent to us. Many citizens of Sarajevo, including Judo Federation members visited our Embassy office for several days since the great eartquake, with flowers and candles.

We have been so encouraged by these acts of solidarity and friendship from B&H people.

As the Ambassador of Japan, I hereby would like to convey again our most sincere thanks to the people and to the Government authorities of BiH for their kind support and valuable assistance during that time of need in Japan.

We will never forget.