Japan-Austria Relations

October 22, 2026
Japanese
  1. The 28th meeting of the Japan-Austria Committee for Issues of the Future was held in Krems, Austria, from October 4 to 6.
  2. On October 5, an open symposium featuring keynote speeches and panel discussions was held at the University for Continuing Education Krems, focusing on the themes of medical care/life sciences and regional revitalization. In the medical care/life sciences session, participants introduced examples of Japanese investment in Austria and the latest developments in medical care utilizing advanced technologies, and discussed the benefits and challenges of using AI in the medical field. In the regional revitalization session, participants exchanged information and views on urban planning models adopted by Japanese local governments, initiatives by Japanese companies to promote regional revitalization, and examples of the use of AI in urban transportation planning.
A scene from a public symposium held in the auditorium of the University for Continuing Education Krems Open symposium
Scenes from the keynote speech and panel discussion Open symposium
Scenes from the keynote speech and panel discussion Open symposium
  1. On October 5, at a dinner hosted by Ms. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of Lower Austria, Mr. Seiichi Yamaguchi, Japanese Co-Chair of the Committee and President of Yamaha Corporation of America, was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria in recognition of his contributions to bilateral relations through music.
From left: Prof. Wolfgang Mazal, Austrian Co-Chair of the Committee; Ms. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of Lower Austria; Mr. Seiichi Yamaguchi, Japanese Co-Chair of the Committee; and Mr. Iwama, Ambassador of Japan to Austria. Photo: Government of Lower Austria
  1. On October 6, a diplomatic session was held, attended by Mr. Sepp Schellhorn, State Secretary at the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, from the Austrian side, and Mr. Naoki Takahashi, Deputy Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. Iwama, Ambassador of Japan to Austria, from the Japanese side. In light of the Japan-Austria Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on September 1, the participants discussed the current international situation and concurred on promoting cooperation in various fields, including advanced technologies.
Diplomatic session
  1. In connection with the themes of this meeting, participants visited EYYES GmbH, a local company that uses AI and image recognition technology to enhance traffic safety, on October 6. They observed a demonstration of a system that provides advance warnings when vehicles approach. Subsequently, they visited the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), where they received an overview of the institute and toured its facilities.
Visit to EYYES GmbH
Visit to ISTA

(Reference1) Japan-Austria Committee for Issues of the Future

  1. The Committee was established in 1990 based on an agreement reached at a Japan-Austria Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Prior to the 28th meeting, 27 meetings had been held alternately in Japan and Austria every other year.
  2. As the only public-private forum between Japan and Austria, the Committee discusses a wide range of issues of common interest to both countries and contributes to promoting exchanges and mutual understanding between them.
  3. The Japanese side is chaired by Mr. Seiichi Yamaguchi, President of Yamaha Corporation of America, and the Austrian side by Prof. Wolfgang Mazal, Professor of Law at the University of Vienna.

(Reference2) Participants in the 28th Meeting

Japanese Side
  • Mr. Seiichi Yamaguchi — Japanese Co-Chair of the Committee; President, Yamaha Corporation of America
  • Mr. Katsuhiro Ito — Yamaha Music Europe
  • Ms. Astrid Jankowitsch — Head of Communications, Takeda Austria
  • Mr. Kazuhito Omomo — Senior Director, Corporate Planning and Business Strategy, Eisai Europe
  • Mr. Heinz Kaltenböck — Commercial Director, SME Business, EMEA, Eisai Europe
  • Associate Professor Shinya Sakaguchi — Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna
  • Professor Ryuichi Shigemoto — Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
  • Mr. Hiroyuki Kondo — General Manager, Global Sales Department, ANA
  • Mr. Yuki Katagiri — Regional Revitalization and Tourism Department, Customer Experience Promotion Office, ANA
  • Mr. Kenji Urase — General Manager, Nuclear Business Unit, and Executive Advisor, Business Management Enhancement Division, Hitachi, Ltd.
  • Mr. Toru Ishii — Public Relations and Advertising Group, Communications and External Affairs Department, Nuclear Management Strategy Division, Nuclear Business Unit, Hitachi, Ltd.
  • Mr. Takeru Shibayama — Senior Researcher, Institute of Transportation Research, TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology)
  • Professor Atsushi Deguchi — Executive Vice President, The University of Tokyo; Professor, Department of Socio-Cultural Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
  • Mr. Naoki Takahashi — Deputy Director-General, European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  • Mr. Ryosei Terai — Assitant Director, Second European Division, European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Austrian Side
  • Prof. Wolfgang Mazal — Austrian Co-Chair of the Committee; Professor of Law, University of Vienna
  • Prof. August Reinisch — Incoming Austrian Co-Chair of the Committee; Professor of International Law, University of Vienna
  • H.E. Mr. Sepp Schellhorn — State Secretary, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
  • Prof. Viktoria Weber — Rector, University for Continuing Education Krems
  • Ms. Jana Meixner — Head, Medical Transparent Center, University for Continuing Education Krems
  • Mr. Michael Tripolt — Medical University of Graz
  • Mr. Harald Leiter — General Manager, Technopol Krems
  • Ms. Petra Patzelt — General Manager, RIZ UP Lower Austria
  • Mr. Harald Schnidar — CEO, Scarletred Holding
  • Mr. Johannes Traxler — CEO, EYYES GmbH
  • Ms. Sylvia Meier-Kajbic — Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
  • Mr. Florian Frauscher — Director-General for Foreign Trade, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism
  • Mr. Nikolaus Keller — Head of Japan Unit, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
  • Ms. Elisabeth Weissenböck — Head, Asia-Pacific Department, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism
  • Mr. Clemens Binder — Officer, Asia-Pacific Department, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
  • Mr. Hans-Peter Mikesa — Officer, Asia-Pacific Department, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism
  • Mr. Michael Otter — Director, AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO)

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