WHEREAS, On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the magnitude 9.0 Tohoku Earthquake, off the northeast coast of Honshu, which was the 4th largest earthquake in the world since 1900 and the largest in Japan since modern instrumental recording began 130 years ago, with the region continuing to experience significant aftershocks; and
     WHEREAS, This extraordinarily powerful earthquake triggered devastating tsunami waves, which rapidly and forcefully traveled up to six miles inland in Japan; and
     WHEREAS, Together, this historic earthquake and tsunami resulted in a monumental and continuing disaster of staggering personal, life-threatening, and economic proportions; and
     WHEREAS, The lives of people in Washington State and Japan are deeply interconnected, with many families in Washington having members in Japan, and many families in Japan having members in Washington; and
     WHEREAS, There are innumerable personal friendship ties between Washington and Japan through Washington's long standing Sister State relationship with Hyogo Prefecture established in 1963 (the oldest Sister State relationship in the U.S.), 36 Sister City relationships, Sister Port relationships between Seattle and Kobe, numerous college and university exchange relationships, strong trade relationships with Japan being Washington's third largest export market, and innumerable cultural exchanges that include trees and gardens, music and visual arts, and language and cultural studies; and
     WHEREAS, Washington State is honored by Japan locating in Seattle one of its sixteen U.S. consulates, and by our Sister State, Hyogo Prefecture, locating a Business and Cultural Center in Seattle; and
     WHEREAS, People throughout Washington admire the strength and resiliency of the survivors, grieve for the tragedies being experienced, and are participating in opportunities to be of assistance;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate express its heartfelt condolences to the people of Japan, especially to those in the immediately affected region; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate express its admiration for the strength and resiliency of the survivors and the determination of the Japanese people to recover as quickly as possible; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate express its profound appreciation to the many organizations and individuals in Washington State who, from their strong sense of affection and friendship, are contributing many forms of assistance for the very substantial rescue and recovery efforts; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to: The Japan Consul General Kiyokazu Ota in Seattle; the Hyogo Prefecture Governor Toshizo Ido in Kobe; and Mr. Takanori (Ginn) Kitaoka, Director, Hyogo Business and Cultural Center in Seattle.