Public Diplomacy

Restaurant Canada Show” is the largest restaurants and groceries business exhibition in Canada taken place in Toronto. This year, for the first time in 15 years, the Government of Japan participated in “the Show” from May 9 to 11, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) which are engaged in supporting the export of Japanese foods and ingredients to the World. In the Show, both Iwate Prefecture and Ehime Prefecture had an occasion to introduce their local ingredients such as Wagyu beef, rice, farmed fish and citrus fruits. At the same time, as a preparatory activity for “the Show”, a tasting event was held at the official residence of the Consul-General targeting the local high-end supermarkets and restaurants. With these effort, the Show closed successfully.

Since 2020, mutual visits between Japan and Australia has become difficult due to the worldwide spread of COVID-19. In this difficult situation, on behalf of the representative of Japan, Mr. KIYA Masahiko, Consul-General of Japan in Sydney, has tried to visit various places and to meet mayors or other stakeholders who are related with their sister cities in Japan. Believing the importance of momentum for resuming direct exchanges between the local governments after the COVID-19, Mr. KIYA has had trips to the Snowy Mountains region and other regions which have friendly relations with Japanese local governments. At the meetings, while the Australian side has showed expectation towards restarting exchanges, the Consul-General expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the longstanding exchanges.

The Host Town relationship between Iwate and Paraguay for the Tokyo 2020 Games originates from the relations formed by Japanese immigrants to Paraguay from Iwate. Since the establishment of the biggest association launched by members from Iwate in Paraguay in 1960, they have developed the friendship through the various exchanges and activities. For this long-term history, Ichinohe Town of Iwate Prefecture became a Paraguay’s Host Town and was willing to welcome pre-games training camps for the Paraguayan athletes. The warm hospitalities which were fully extended by Ichinohe Town, worked as a driving force for the athletes to achieve a new national record in Paraguay at that time. It is expected that the bilateral relations will be developed by the both sides; by young Paraguayan of Japanese origin who are proud of their roots, and, by Japanese young generation who learn the history of emigration and actual society of Japanese immigrants in South America.

In Ota City of Tokyo, Ms. Bethany Cummings from Wales of the United Kingdom, has worked as a CIR for 4 years. When she was a child, she much enjoyed watching Japanese cartoons “anime” and TV dramas, then she became interested in Japan itself. After majoring in Japanese language at a university in the UK and studying in Japan, she decided to apply for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. Then finally, she took her current post. As a CIR, she has been engaged in a wide range of activities, such as translation, interpretation, promotion of the City and introduction of her country’s culture to the citizens of Ota. Before coming to Japan, she imagined that the life in Tokyo might be noisy and uncomfortable. However, while learning and feeling the City’s comfortable environments and its charm of local history, culture, cuisine and “Sento” (Japanese public bath) etc. through the activities as a CIR, her impression stated to change. Ms. Cummings hopes that she will keep supporting and encouraging the multiculturalism and international exchanges of the City in any way even after the end of her current term as CIR in this August.

Since 2001, Shizuoka Prefecture has hosted "World O-CHA（Tea）Festival" marking the 8th time this year. The event aims to spread the charms of tea from Shizuoka over Japan and the world. The festivals were held last May and will be held this October under the theme of "Cheerful smile with a cup of tea!”. In the previous event, there was a wide range of activities, such as "O-CHA Journey @ Train Lines" in collaboration with five local railroad companies in Shizuoka prefecture, and, "O-CHA to Chill Out? ～'Cha'll Out at Home!” for the introduction of tea cocktails. In this coming October, an online tea business matching event titled "Autumn Festival" will be organized with 3 pillars: “industry”, “cultupre”, and “knowledge”. The event will offer you a new horizon around the tea and will suggest unique ways to enjoy the tea in modern lifestyles. Check the latest event information on the official website!

• World O-CHA (Tea) Festival 2022, Shizuoka, JAPAN

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) implements the personnel exchange program with local governments of Japan in which officials from local governments work OJT at MOFA in Tokyo and Japanese overseas diplomatic establishments (Embassies, Consulates General, etc.) as diplomats for several years. On June 7 and 9, these officials visited the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and took lectures on the theme of “JETRO's recent activities”. Given the presenter’s overseas experiences, JETRO’s support for Japanese companies, especially, for local companies in Japan, were fully explained to the officials. They also learned JETRO’s mission and vison from the aspect of trading promotion which is closely linked to Japanese local regions.