Public Diplomacy

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism carries out Japanese gardens restoration project in cooperation with MOFA since fiscal year 2017. Shofuso garden in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, USA was restored in October 2018 within the framework of this project. Japanese gardeners, including those from Kobe, a Sister City of Philadelphia, visited the Park and worked on the restoration with local gardeners. Features of the Japanese gardens such as stepping stones and a shishiodoshi (a water-filled bamboo) were finally restored. This project contributed to further deepening of the international exchanges between Kobe City and Philadelphia.

On April 19, a Host Town exchange event for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games was held at the Embassy of Mongolia in Japan. Mongolia has 18 Host Towns with local governments in Japan, and arranges various programs with each local government, such as pre-games training camps, exchange programs with elementary-school students. In this event, local governments gave presentations introducing their Host Town Initiative and exchanged their experiences. The participants appreciated this precious opportunity kindly offered by the Embassy, as it will enrich each of their Initiatives toward 2020.

Zavattarello is located 100km south of Milano City. It is a scenic town on a hill. You look over beautiful Medieval towns from the Dal Verme Castle in the town. Their local product, honey, is very famous in Italy. Zavattarello, which had historical ties with Japan in 19th century, is looking for a sister-city in Japan.