"We are truly grateful for this.''
The visit to Tauranga was supposed to have taken place last year but the earthquake and tsunami intervened. More than 17,000 houses collapsed in Hitachi.
"Now, together with the full support of local people, we are aiming with all our strength to reach even greater heights of recovery,'' he said.
Mr Yoshinari said he first visited Tauranga 20 years ago so it was extremely nostalgic to be able to return.
"Yesterday, I had the opportunity to walk around you city and I saw with my own eyes its energy. I was astonished at how far it had developed since I was last here.
"I truly hope that today's meeting will further deepen understanding and trust between our two cities and contribute towards our mutual prosperity,'' he said.
Hitachi's life and environment manager Jinichi Hashimoto, said no one wants to experience another earthquake like the one that hit Japan, but sadly no one knew what the future held.
"I would like to think about how we support each other in such a disaster.''