DETROIT (WXYZ) — Japan's consulate in Detroit is correcting earlier media reports that a travel warning was issued to its citizens following mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.
According to a statement from Consul General Tsutomu Nakagawa, Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, the notice sent by email on Aug. 4 to Japanese residents in Michigan and Ohio was to "inform them of the nature of the event that occurred in Dayton earlier that same day."
The consulate general added that the notice was to inquire if local Japanese residents were harmed in the shootings in any way, in order to provide resources to them.
The Associated Press reported on Aug. 8 that several countries were issuing warnings – at varying levels – for travel to the U.S. following the mass shootings. Those countries included Venezuela, Uruguay and Japan.
The AP noted that Japan issued more of a "general warning" to its citizens via email, citing that the consulate mentioned the potential for gun violence while referring to the U.S. as a "gun society."
Read the consulate general's full statement below:
A Statement from Consul General Tsutomu Nakagawa, Consulate General of Japan in Detroit Regarding the August 4 Incident in Dayton
Consul General Nakagawa together with the entire Consulate General of Japan in Detroit grieve with the community of Dayton over the tragedy that occurred last weekend. We offer our deepest condolences to the victims and their families.
Contrary to many media reports that have appeared in the wake of this horrible event, the Consulate has not issued any travel warning towards the United States. The purpose of the e-mail sent from the Consulate to Japanese residents in Michigan and Ohio on August 4 was to inform them of the nature of the event that occurred in Dayton earlier that same day, and to inquire if any local Japanese residents were in any way harmed or injured so that we may provide resources to help them. The e-mail was sent in Japanese in order to raise general awareness among local Japanese residents.
As a reflection of the responsibility of the Consulate to protect Japanese residents, sending e-mails such as the one on August 4 is part of the Consulate’s daily activities to provide information and resources for local Japanese residents.
