Lifting spirits through sports and entertainment.

Today, on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of Samoa regaining her fullIndependence, I have the singular honour, on behalf of Samoa’s Head of State, His
Highness TuiAtua Tupua Tamasese Efi, the government and the people of Samoa,
to extend to Their Imperial Majesties, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, andto the government and the people of Japan my sincere respect and best wishes atthis very difficult time following the catastrophic devastation caused by themassive earthquake and tsunami which struck north eastern Japan on 11 March
2011. I offer also my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, andmy heartfelt sympathies for those who suffered serious injuries and those who havelost their homes and their livelihoods. The thoughts and prayers of the leaders andthe people of Samoa are with you all as you undertake the monumental andheartbreaking task of rebuilding your lives, your communities, and your country.
The people of Japan are no strangers to dealing effectively with natural and manmade disasters on an epic scale. This time too, people throughout the world havewatched in great admiration the calm, disciplined and efficient way that the peopleof Japan have been dealing with the brutal impact of this disaster. There is nodoubt that the indomitable spirit and the renowned resilience of the Japanesepeople, together with strong support from the international community, will see
Japan emerge stronger from this catastrophe.

From recent experiences, the people of Samoa are intimately familiar withthe devastating impact of a major earthquake and tsunami. In September 2009,
Samoa was struck by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake which generated a powerful
tsunami that reached heights of over 14 meters on land. Whole villages werecompletely wiped out and 143 people perished, a significant loss of life in a
population of a little under two hundred thousand people. With over 20% of her
GDP needed to pay for the rehabilitation and recovery costs, Samoa’s economy
contracted into negative growth territory. However with the assistance from theinternational community, especially Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China,
excellent recovery has been made and the country is back on solid ground.

Apart from monetary donations and messages of condolence and best wishes
to the leaders and the people of Japan, Samoa has been looking at ways to help
lift the spirits and the morale of the people of Japan at this very difficult time.
Accordingly, Samoa’s national rugby team (Manu Samoa) has decided to play its
game against Japan (Brave Blossoms) in Tokyo on 2nd July 2011, in the PacificNations rugby tournament involving also Fiji and Tonga, although this tournament
which was scheduled to be held in Japan in July, has been shifted to Fiji following
the March 11 disaster.
In the same spirit, Samoa’s Embassy in Tokyo has decided not to host theusual diplomatic reception to mark Samoa’s Independence Day. Instead, inconjunction with the Samoans who have made Japan their home, as well as someSamoa students studying in Japan, and some Samoans playing professional rugby
in Japan, a Samoan entertainment group will travel to the evacuation centre atKisai High School in Saitama, housing evacuees from Futaba town, located near
the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and present exciting Samoa dances and songson Sunday 5 June 2011.

I would like to conclude by thanking the Japan Times for giving me thisopportunity to share my thoughts with its distinguished readers.

Leiataua Dr. Kilifoti Eteuati
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Embassy of the Independent State of Samoa