The government of Japan announced Thursday that Mary Zunick, cultural affairs manager of Visit Hot Springs, has been appointed the honorary consul of Japan in Hot Springs.
"I can't reiterate enough what an honor this is," she said.
Zunick will assist the consulate-general of Japan in Nashville, Tenn., in promoting positive Japan-United States relations in Arkansas. She will hold the position for a five-year renewable term.
Zunick said she attended a meeting in Chicago of the honorary consuls from across the country, and considers the appointment a "huge honor."
Zunick was contacted about being appointed in July 2007; she said the approval process by the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. State Department is "very detailed."
Zunick said she will serve in an honorary capacity to support the consulate-general in Nashville.
The consulate-general's office said in a news release Thursday "(Zunick) has taken a special interest in promoting cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Japan and was directly involved in the installation of a Japanese language and culture program in schools in the Hot Springs area. She is also directly involved in the ambitious plan to bring the Japanese art of sake production to Arkansas."
Zunick serves as the director of the Sister City program between Hot Springs and Hanamaki, Japan. She has been instrumental in growing the program to include a student exchange in which more than 150 students have participated. The program also coordinates annual delegations to Japan for citizens, students and teachers.
Zunick's work with the program has been recognized with the Sister Cities International award for Best Overall Program in 2012, as well as with Youth Leadership and Innovation in Economic Development awards. The program was only one of four American programs to be presented with an award from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2014.
Local on 02/23/2018