On September 13, a new Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the State of Japan tendered his diplomatic credentials to President Laura Chinchilla. Having worked in his country’s Science and Technology… Read more » Continue reading →
On September 13, a new Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the State of Japan tendered his diplomatic credentials to President Laura Chinchilla. Having worked in his country’s Science and Technology and Space Exploration agencies, Ambassador Mamoru Shinohara has a strong background in science and technology, which may explain his enthusiasm in bringing a clean energy project to Guanacaste.
Costa Rica and Japan have enjoyed close diplomatic relations since 1928, although these relations were suspended from 1941 to 1953 due to World War II. After Costa Rica abolished her standing army on December 1st, 1948, politicians and jurists drew inspiration from Japan’s post-World War II Constitution and its renunciation of war to develop a blueprint for peace; this was actually part of the plot of the Metal Gear: Peace Walker video game. Since 1953, Costa Rica and Japan have been friendly nations.
During an October visit by Ambassador Mamoru Shinohara and his culture secretary to the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, several topics were discussed. The Japanese diplomats were received by Legislator Oscar Alfaro Zamora and Legislative President Luis Fernando Mendoza. The Costa Rican lawmakers thanked the Japanese diplomats for their assistance in converting a communal hall into an emergency shelter in Pueblo Nuevo de Parrita, in the province of Puntarenas. The Government of Japan contributed $112,000 and expertise in building a shelter that can withstand the overflowing waters of the Parrita River.
Legislator Oscar Alfaro spoke talked about a situation in the town of Santiago de Puriscal, where heavy rains turn into floods due to drainage problem. The diplomats said that they will look into the situation, and then the conversation turned to a special project that the government of Japan is planning for Guanacaste. The project will feature advanced Japanese technology used for clean energy production. Legislative President Mendoza was please to learn this since he is from Guanacaste. The Ambassador will schedule a weekend visit to the province to evaluate and select the site of this future clean energy project.