Japan-France Relations
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs SHIMADA’s attendance at the signing ceremony regarding Japan-France cultural cooperation
April 1, 2026
On April 1, Mr. SHIMADA Tomoaki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, attended the signing ceremony regarding Japan-France cultural cooperation, which was held in Tokyo, hosted by H.E. Ms. Catherine Pégard, Minister of Culture of the French Republic, who was visiting Japan accompanying H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron on an Official Visit to Japan, and delivered his remarks on behalf of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The overview is as follows:
- In his remarks, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Shimada expressed congratulations on the signing of six documents aimed at further enriching Japan-France cultural cooperation, on the occasion of President Macron’s visit to Japan. He noted that culture is one of the main pillars of cooperation with France, an “Exceptional Partner” that shares values and principles, and in light of the 170th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and France in 2028, he expressed his hope that the cultural and content industries of both countries would be further promoted, with a focus on literature, manga, anime, and film, while also keeping the younger generation in mind.
- Parliamentary Vice-Minister Shimada welcomed the visit to Japan by Minister Pégard, who was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in the fall of 2019 for her contributions to the promotion of Japanese culture in France and to Japan-France friendship and goodwill. He also expressed his strong hope that President Macron’s visit to Japan and this signing ceremony would serve as an opportunity to further deepen friendly exchanges between the two countries across a wide range of fields, including culture, the arts, and content.