Public Diplomacy

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs implements the events for the Diplomatic Corps to Japan, etc. in collaboration with a head of local government in order to spread the diverse local attractions both domestically and internationally, supporting the regional revitalization. In this sense, on July 25, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Governor of Fukushima Prefecture held “Fukushima Revitalization Reception –Continuing to take on new challenges-” at Happo-en Tokyo with the attendance of approximately 140 guests including the Diplomatic Corps, etc.. At the reception, Minister HAYASHI and the Parliamentary Vice-Minister UESUGI (as of July 2022) each gave welcome speech. Then, Mr. UCHIBORI, Governor of Fukushima Prefecture, gave a presentation titled “Future of FUKUSHIMA”. The guests enjoyed visiting booths introducing local products such as peaches and Sake, tourism, and the activities related with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and its Host Town projects. Beautiful performances by both Samurai and Fula dancers attracted the audience. It could be a good opportunity for the promotion of Fukushima’s local attractive points with the attendance of State Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers as well.

The Embassy of Japan in Slovakia has been holding Japan Summer Festival in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, every July since 2016. This year, the festival was taken place for the first time in three years because of COVID-19. In the Festival, various presentations and demonstrations such as tea ceremony, Aikido, and Hogaku (traditional Japanese music) concert were fully exposed on stage. Gifu City which is a Host Town of Slovakia at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics Games, had a booth to promote Gifu’s local attractions to the visitors. A talk show was also held by Slovakian gold medal Paralympians, sharing their impressions when they visited Gifu City.

A Japanese cultural exchange event “Japan Festival Wellington” was held in the capital of New Zealand for the first time in four years. The Embassy of Japan in New Zealand, collaborating with Japanese Host Towns, introduced their activities by showing photos on Host Town exchanges and a promotion video on their tourism aspects at the booth. The event could provide an opportunity to publicize their Host Towns in Japan to a wide range of local citizens in New Zealand. As people-to-people exchanges between the two countries gradually resume, the Embassy will continue to promote exchanges in private-sector including Host Towns, valuing the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

In July 2022, the Embassy of Japan in Belgium hosted a reception titled “Friends　of Japan” to strengthen Sister Cities’ mutual relations. Japan and Belgium have eight Sister Cities, two Friendship Cities and three Friendship Ports. This year’s reception which was the eighth in total, provided opportunities to introduce the initiatives of each City at booths showing their local specialties and photos. It was the first time for the representatives from both Cities and Japanese companies based in those cities to exchange with each other. In this sense, it would be a great opportunity for the attendees to feel the potential for a wide range cooperation beyond the public or private sectors.

Two of new relationships were established between local governments in Japan and abroad in June 2022!
On June 21, Moka City of Tochigi Prefecture and Harvey Town in Australia launched Friendship City relationship. The purpose is to further develop the friendly relationship which have been built through local school exchanges. The two regions aim to promote the cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture, trade, commerce, education as well as social welfare.
On June 30, Susami Town of Wakayama Prefecture and Jezero Municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina established their first Sister City relationship with abroad for each. This relationship was initiated by the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Japan who found common points between two regions such as rich nature, etc. Commemorating the new start, Susami Town gave a large fisher’s flag praying for a good haul to Jezero at the signing ceremony, with expectations for further development for the two regions. Both of them aim to continue their long-term exchanges in various forms, including industry and tourism.

In Yamanakako Village of Yamanashi Prefecture, Mr. BOSSIS Tom from France, has worked as the Village's International Promotion Specialist. After retiring his career as a professional bicycle road racer, he came to Japan and studied at a university in Japan. In 2016, he came across Yamanakako Village. "This must be the most beautiful cycling road in the world" he realized then. In the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, he played an important role for hosting the pre-training camp for the French national cycling road race team. Through those precious experiences, he has been working to make Lake Yamanakako a sacred place for bicycling.

Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture, realized a unique idea which is to play an opera in their local bullfighting arena in order to promote their artistic culture. Although there were not a few of challenges to hold the opera there, they made it possible with corporation of not only the citizens of Ojiya but also buddies from a wide range of fields. After the playing Opera, the audience admired the cultural fusion of history and art and the explosion of “Bravo” was directed to the stage. Ojiya City will continue to "collaborate" with buddies, including the local citizens, in order to present performing arts that only Ojiya City realize.