Public Diplomacy

On October 30 and 31, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan organized Diplomats’ Study Tour in collaboration with Kyoto City with the participation of 16 ambassadors and others from 13 countries. Under the theme of “Tour exploring the charms of Kyoto's industry, history, and culture”, diverse charms of Kyoto City, including industries, academic research, history, culture, food and local products were promoted to the diplomats.

On November 18 and 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan organized Diplomats’ Study Tour in collaboration with Sano City in Tochigi Prefecture with the participation of 12 ambassadors and others from 9 countries. Under the theme of “Sano City Tour to Experience the Charms of All Areas, Past and Present”, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of municipality, diverse charms of Sano City, including industries, local products, food, tourism and sport were promoted to the diplomats.

In September 2024, as part of efforts to promote the attractiveness of Japan's regions, the Embassy of Japan in Singapore and the Japan Creative Centre co-organized special events introducing Kumamoto and Kochi Prefectures with the Kumamoto Prefectural Asia Office and the Kochi Prefectural Singapore Office, respectively. The local culture and characteristics were introduced from various perspectives, and many visitors had the opportunity to enjoy the attractions of both prefectures.

In May 2024, Kobe City and Rio de Janeiro City in Brazil celebrated the 55th anniversary of their sister city relationship. In fact, Kobe and Brazil have a deep historical relationship. This article looks back at the history between Kobe and Brazil. It also introduces events marking the 55th anniversary as well as various initiatives between the two cities, including this year's international conference.

In October 2024, Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture and Bottrop City, Germany signed a partner city agreement. The exchange between the two cities began when Nobeoka City served as the host town for the German judo team during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Since then, their relationship has deepened through various forms of cooperation, including judo, support for Ukrainian refugees in Bottrop City, and collaboration in the field of innovation. This agreement was signed to further strengthen their cooperative ties.