Public Diplomacy

Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, and Berndorf, Austria, celebrated the 60th anniversary of their friendship city relationship in 2025. The exchange began, inspired by resemblance between the small flowers of Mt. Hayachine and Alpine flowers, and developed into grassroots exchanges such as mountaineering and skiing activities, as well as youth exchange programs. In October 2025, the mayor of Hanamaki and its citizens, including junior high school students, visited Berndorf. It is hoped that these exchanges, which began with small flowers, will continue to expand and develop significantly in the future.

In August 2025, Hamamatsu City organized the "Hamamatsu Fair" in Singapore, successfully showcasing the appeal of its food, traditional industries, music, and tourism. Local specialties such as eel and mandarin orange juice were met with enthusiastic demand, quickly sold out. The city also co-hosted a special event with the Japan Creative Centre (JCC) of the Embassy of Japan in Singapore. Through tastings and cultural presentations, led to new business opportunities, and effectively promoted Hamamatsu's charm overseas.

Misasa Town, Tottori Prefecture and Lamalou-les-Bains, France marked the 35th anniversary of their sister city relationship in 2025. They were also awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation for their long-standing friendship. This article introduces the exchanges between the two municipalities, including mutual visits by junior high school students who serve as a bridge between the two cities.

A group of 20 junior high school students from Miyoshi Town in Saitama Prefecture visited Queensland, Australia, where they gained valuable learning experiences through homestays and interactions at local schools.
Also, Miyoshi Town became the first municipality in Japan to sign a cooperation agreement with the Queensland Department of Education’s Education Queensland International (EQI), opening up new pathways for students to step out into the world.
Building on the friendships and learning fostered across borders, Miyoshi Town’s international exchange initiatives are embarking on an exciting new stage.

In September 2025, “Jak-Japan Matsuri”, Indonesia's largest Japanese cultural event was held. The event featured mikoshi procession, parade floats, and a wide range of performances by popular artists from Japan and Indonesia, providing visitors an opportunity to experience the passion and appeal of Japanese culture. In addition, local governments hosted booths under the theme “Traveling Through Japan.” In Indonesia, where interest in Japan is growing, showcasing the attractions of local areas is expected to be highly effective in drawing attention to Japan's diverse regions.