Public Diplomacy

The 2nd Regional Promotion Seminar in fiscal year 2017

December 20, 2017

On December 11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the 2nd Regional Promotion Seminar in fiscal year 2017 jointly with Sobo-Katamuki Mountain Range Area (Miyazaki Prefecture), General Incorporated Association “Akita Inu Tourism” (Akita Prefecture), Wakayama City (Wakayama Prefecture) and Kagoshima City (Kagoshima Prefecture) at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo and more than 130 people including around 60 foreign diplomats in Japan participated in the seminar.

In the first part of the seminar, Sobo-Katamuki Mountain Range Area made a presentation on the region’s beautiful nature (PDF), Akita Inu Tourism introduced Akita dogs and edamame products (PDF), Wakayama City promoted its unique food culture (PDF) and Kagoshima City introduced Saigo Takamori, one of the famous samurais (PDF).

In the latter part of the seminar, visitors enjoyed stage programs such as Takachiko yokagura, the ceremonial dance performed by members of Sobo-Katamuki Mountain Range Area and a demonstration of Jigen-ryu, one of Japan’s schools of swordsmanship. Akita Inu Tourism offered a special opportunity for visitors to meet and mingle with fluffy Akita dogs. Wakayama City promoted its delicious local foods such as Wakayama ramen noodles.
This semiar contributed to enhancement of foreign diplomats’ understanding for each region of Japan and networking between the local governments and the diplomatic corps.