Atlanta, August 28, 2025 – When Consul General of Japan Mio Maeda first received his posting to Atlanta three years ago, the career diplomat was filled with a sense of trepidation. It was his first assignment in the United States, a new chapter in a foreign service career spanning more than three decades that had, until then, not focused on U.S.-Japan relations.
As his term concludes at the end of September, however, those early worries have been replaced by a deep fondness for the Southeast and its people. In an exclusive reflection shared ahead of his departure, Consul General Maeda described his time overseeing Japan’s diplomatic and economic interests across the region as “one of the most pleasant and memorable” of his long career.
“When I first heard of my new assignment in Atlanta, I felt only worries and concerns,” Consul General Maeda admitted. “But during these three years working in the Southeast U.S., I am glad to say that it has completely changed.”
His tenure, which saw him act as a key liaison for Japanese companies—a massive economic presence in states like Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina—was defined by what he called the “strong support, fruitful collaboration, warm kindness, and heartfelt friendship” extended to him by community and business leaders across the region.
His departure comes just weeks before the annual SEUS-Japan Conference, a cornerstone of the Southeast’s economic relationship with Japan, set for late October in Atlanta. Banno expressed regret at missing the event but confirmed his successor will arrive in mid-October to assume the role. “I do hope you will extend the same assistance and friendship to him as you kindly gave to me,” he wrote in an announcement.
The Consul General’s next assignment is a return to Tokyo, where he will be seconded to another government agency for approximately one year. He anticipates another period of adjustment but faces it with newfound confidence.
“I know Japanese people are as kind and gentle as those in the Southeast,” the Consul General noted, adding that he looks forward to a fruitful time in Japan before likely heading to another overseas post.
True to the spirit of Southern hospitality he has come to admire, Consul General Maeda ended his message with an open invitation, swapping sweet tea for sake. He extended a warm offer to meet any former colleagues should they find themselves in Tokyo, suggesting a glass of sake at an authentic izakaya pub or a meal at a revolving sushi restaurant.
“If you do not have a chance to come to Japan,” he added, “I still hope our paths will cross again in one way or another in the future.”
