令和3年天皇誕生日祝賀レセプションの中止について
あけましておめでとうございます。
昨年は、新型コロナウイルス感染症の世界的な拡大に伴い、誰しもが大変な一年を送られたことと思います。そして、その闘いは今も続いており、ブルガリアにおいては、昨年10月以降の深刻な感染拡大を踏まえ、本年1月31日まで新型コロナ対策のための措置が維持されることとなっています。
このような状況下、本年2月に予定されている天皇陛下誕生日祝賀レセプションにつきましては、開催を断念せざるを得ないとの結論に至りました。例年、このレセプションには数百名の来賓をお迎えし、和食や日本酒を味わいながら、ひとときでも日本を感じて頂けるとても良い機会であり、多くの方が楽しみにされていました。しかしながら、どのような防疫措置を講じたとしても、物理的なレセプションを開催することによって生じる感染リスクは回避できないと思います。大変残念ではありますが、どうかご理解賜りたく、お願い申し上げます。
近い将来、新型コロナウイルス感染症の脅威を克服し、また皆さんと天皇陛下誕生日祝賀レセプションでお会いできる日を楽しみにしています。それまで、呉々も新型コロナウイルス感染対策にご留意頂きつつ、どうかお元気でお過ごしください。本年が皆様にとって良い年になりますように祈念しております。
在ブルガリア日本国特命全権大使
奈良平 博史
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
Please accept my best wishes for a Happy New Year.
The past year has been difficult for all of us due to the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fight with which continues nowadays as well. In light of the serious expansion of the infection in Bulgaria since October last year, the government has adopted strict epidemiological measures, which will be in place until January 31, 2021.
Under these circumstances, we have come to the conclusion that we have no choice but to refrain from holding the reception on the occasion of the National Day of Japan – the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Naruhito, scheduled for February, 2021. Every year we have welcomed hundreds of guests to this reception, who had the great opportunity even for a while to experience Japan by tasting Japanese food and sake, and many people have been looking forward to the event. We share the opinion that unfortunately even strictly observing the epidemic prevention measures, the risk of infection while holding a physical reception cannot be avoided. For this reason, regretfully we have to cancel the reception this year, hoping for your kind understanding.
I truly believe that in the near future we will be able to overcome the threat of COVID-19 and I am looking forward to seeing you again at the next reception on the occasion of the National Day of Japan. Until then, by observing the epidemic preventive measures, I would like to wish you to take good care of yourselves and to stay healthy. I would also like to extend my heartfelt wishes to everyone for a better year.
NARAHIRA Hiroshi
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to
the Republic of Bulgaria