Latin America and the Caribbean
Courtesy Call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs HORII by Next-Generation Nikkei Leaders
October 8, 2026
On October 8, Mr. HORII Iwao, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, received a courtesy call from nine next-generation Nikkei leaders who visited Japan from Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Mexico under the invitation program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- At the beginning, State Minister HORII welcomed their visit to Japan and stated that in order to further deepen the bonds between Japan and Latin America, cooperation with Nikkei leaders of the next-generation is indispensable. He added that the Government of Japan wishes to further strengthen cooperation with young Nikkei who will lead the next generation.
- In response, a representative of the next-generation Nikkei leaders expressed gratitude for the invitation by the Government of Japan and the holding of the Next-Generation Nikkei Leaders Meeting as a platform for future-oriented dialogue and cooperation. Following this, an exchange of views took place on issues such as what can be done to continue inheriting Japanese values and traditions, as well as to make the bonds between Japan and Latin America even stronger.
- In addition, State Minister Horii, while referring to his past interactions with Nikkei people during his visits to Latin America and at the Conventions of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad, expressed his gratitude to the Nikkei communities that have served as the foundation of the relationship of trust between each country and Japan. He also expressed his expectations to the participants that, by utilizing the experience from this visit, they will play an increasingly active role in the future both as the leaders of the Nikkei communities in various regions and bridges between Japan and Latin America.