Consulate-General of Japan in Denver

09/06/2026

🛠The Consulate-General will be closed on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day and will resume normal functions on Tuesday, September 8th.

For a full list of our holiday closures, please visit: https://www.denver.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/aboutus.html

09/04/2026

On August 31, 2026, Consul-General Hiroyuki Okajima welcomed this year’s officers of the Colorado Japanese Language Education Association (CJLEA) to the official residence for an informal gathering.

It was a valuable opportunity for the Consul-General to hear, in a warm and friendly atmosphere, directly from teachers who are dedicated to the promotion and development of Japanese language education in Colorado about the current situation and the challenges they face.

The Consulate-General will continue to collaborate closely with those supporting the next generation of Japanese language education and Japan-U.S. exchange.

09/04/2026

Opening tomorrow, September 5th at the New Mexico Museum of Art is 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, a "major exhibition bringing together ten Japanese and Japanese American artists whose work engages the enduring legacies of wartime incarceration, migration, memory and place."

This exhibition is a poignant reminder of the past, especially with its proximity to the former Santa Fe Internment Camp, and also an encouraging message of using memory to build a better future.

Dates:
Public Opening Reception: September 5th, 2026, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Exhibition Dates: September 5th, 2026 - May 31st, 2027

09/03/2026

On Tuesday, August 25th, the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver and World Trade Center (WTC) Utah co-hosted a Japan-Utah space business seminar in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The seminar was held in conjunction with the 40th Small Satellite Conference, an annual international event on small satellites hosted in Salt Lake City. Approximately 65 participants attended the seminar from both Japan and Utah sides, along with Japanese companies and organizations participating in the conference.

It began with opening remarks from Consul-General Okajima and WTC Utah CRO Rich Israelsen, followed by presentations on initiatives from both Japan and Utah, including from the Governor's Office of Economic Development, 47G, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan Space Systems, and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Los Angeles.

We will continue to dedicate our efforts toward further strengthening space cooperation and economic ties between Japan and Utah.

For more information, please see the full article on our website.

09/02/2026

On August 29 and 30, the annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF) brought the vibrant spirit of the Asian community to Sloan’s Lake, on the border of Denver and Edgewater, Colorado.

Since its start in 2001, the CDBF has grown into one of the largest Asian cultural celebrations in North America, featuring sports, culture, music, and food all in one place. This year, 40 teams competed in exciting dragon boat races over two days.

The opening ceremony was attended by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, Edgewater Mayor Steven Conklin, and Consul-General Hiroyuki Okajima along with many distinguished guests.

The “Nichi-Bei-GO” team from the Japan America Society of Colorado (JASC) was the only Japan-related team in the festival, and Consul Sanae Kanno joined the team in both practice and race, connecting with the local community. Teammates enjoyed special Japanese bento lunches prepared by Consulate Chef Jo— an extra treat for the day!

We are truly grateful to the CDBF team and all participants and supporters for making this event a wonderful tradition that unites the Asian community and the region. We look forward to seeing everyone again on the lake next year!

09/01/2026

On August 8, Consul-General Okajima attended an exciting National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match between Denver Summit FC and Utah Royals FC. In this match, four Japanese players took the field: Mina Tanaka, Miyabi Moriya, and Narumi Miura from the Utah Royals, and Yuzuki Yamamoto from the Denver Summit. It was a special moment to see all four Japanese players come together on the same stage.

Thanks to Summit’s generosity, we had the valuable opportunity to meet with all four players after the match. We expressed our heartfelt respect and encouragement to these athletes, who are shining brightly and working hard far from home. We would like to extend our deep appreciation to the Denver Summit for arranging this wonderful opportunity for exchange.

The Consulate-General of Japan in Denver will continue to wholeheartedly support all Japanese athletes active in the Rocky Mountain region!

Go Denver Summit! Go Utah Royals!

08/28/2026

On August 24th, Consul-General Hiroyuki Okajima paid a courtesy call to Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson during his visit to Salt Lake City.

They exchanged views on further strengthening relations between Japan and Salt Lake County, including its sister city relations (Salt Lake City with Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture (1958), and Magna with Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture (2012)). Honorary Consul of Japan in Salt Lake City Jani Iwamoto also attending the meeting.

08/25/2026

On August 14, the annual Obon Festival was held at Albuquerque Bio Park. Within and near the "Sasebo Japanese Garden," named in honor of the City of Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture, which celebrates its 60th anniversary as Albuquerque’s sister city this year, visitors enjoyed traditional Japanese cultural experiences such as toro nagashi (floating lanterns), taiko drumming, calligraphy, tea ceremony, and origami. This year, the festival welcomed around 1,000 guests—far exceeding last year’s attendance of about 600—who came together to experience the spirit of Japanese summer.

Consul-General Okajima and staff from the Consulate-General of Japan attended, connecting with local Japanese organizations and the Albuquerque community.

We sincerely thank the Bio Park, organizers, and volunteers for their dedication to sharing and preserving Japanese traditions in the local community, making this wonderful event possible. We hope the Sasebo Japanese Garden and the Obon Festival will continue to be cherished by everyone for years to come!

08/24/2026

We're excited to announce that our office's chef, Mr. Jin Jo, will be a panelist at this year's Nan Desu Kan convention! Chef Jo will share about his experience and duties as a consulate chef, and teach attendees how to prepare two simple and delicious recipes which can easily be recreated at home!

🍥🍡Panel Highlight🍡🍥

We are so excited to introduce Chef Jo!

Japanese chef, Mr. Jo, serves as the exclusive chef for the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver. This year, he will be hosting a panel where he shares his insights into his work as an “Official Chef for Japanese Diplomatic Missions” as well as some special recipes!

He will also introduce Japanese popular dishes that can also be recreated at home using ingredients available at your local supermarket!

Don't miss out!

📆Saturday, September 5th
⌚ 6pm
📍 Panel Room 4

08/21/2026

On August 6 and 18, 2026, the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver was visited by students from Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture (Denver’s sister city) and Nakamura Junior High School in Koto-ku, Tokyo, respectively.

During these visits, Consul-General Okajima welcomed the students and explained the functions of a consulate-general as well as the mission and activities of the Denver office in the Rocky Mountain region. The students were able to ask a variety of questions, including about the broader responsibilities of Japanese diplomatic missions across the United States, the kinds of people who work at a consulate, and how Consul-General Okajima came to pursue his career.

We hope that these visits to Colorado help to inspire the students, and that they continue to grow their interest in international exchange.