Public Diplomacy

On October 24, "Japan Cruise Seminar in Seattle 2018", co-organized by Japan Sea and Seto Inland Sea Ports (Port of Aomori, Kanazawa, Sakai, Kitakyushu, Hiroshima and Kobe), was held in Consul General's official residence in Seattle. The aim of this seminar was to expand the number of stops of U.S. cruise ships and foreign passengers. Representatives from the six ports presented their own receiving plan of cruise ships and attractiveness of tourism around the port. In the reception after the seminar, local culinary products and Japanese Sake from the regions where ports are located were served to the participants.

From October 25 to 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kochi Prefectural Government co-organized Ambassadors' Study Tour to Kochi Prefecture. In the tour, ambassadors visited disaster prevention facilities for tsunami and earthquake and had discussions of related matters. The ambassadors also visited Kochi's traditional industrial facilities - paper and Sake brewing factories. Furthermore, the ambassadors heard explanation about the Kochi's efforts for protection of sustainable fishing industry and water resources in Kure Harbor, which is famous for Katsuo Ippon-Zuri (bonito pole-and-line fishing).

From November 12 to 13, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-organized diplomats' Study Tour to Shizuoka Prefecture with TSJ (Tourism Shizuoka Japan). The diplomats visited Izu Velodrome, which will be the venue of the track cycling games in the Olympic and Paralympics Tokyo 2020. Also, they enjoyed Shizuoka's attractiveness, visiting bonito processing factory and craft whiskey distillery, as well as experiencing tea ceremony.