Public Diplomacy

On February 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan conducted a Diplomats’ Study Tour together with Sumida City and Sumida Tourism Association, attended by 20 ambassadors and others from 16 countries. Under the theme of “Old Meet New Authenticity Sumida in TOKYO,” the program introduced the diverse attractions of Sumida to the diplomatic corps including Tokyo Skytree, the startup ecosystem, manufacturing industries, and traditional craftsmanship.

On February 17, 2026, the Local Partnership Cooperation Forum was held online to support international activities of local governments. In the first session, a MOFA official delivered a lecture titled “Economic Security and Diplomacy”. In the second session, an expert delivered a presentation titled “Outlook for Halal Business and Regional Economic Revitalization — from the perspective of local government initiatives,” which was followed by a panel discussion.

Misato Town, Shimane Prefecture, and Mas Village, Bali, Indonesia, have maintained exchanges for over 30 years, beginning with a joint canoe-building project in 1991. These two small regions have continued their relationship, with Misato Town even declaring itself "Bali Town" by ordinance. In December 2025, Misato Town and the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Bali signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement, deepening not only cultural exchange but also academic and artistic collaboration, serving as a model of international exchange initiated by local governments.

In January 2025, Toyama City was selected by The New York Times as one of the “52 Places to Go in 2025.” Capitalizing on this recognition, Toyama Prefecture conducted tourism promotion activities in New York in November 2025, led by Governor Hachiro Nitta, to showcase the prefecture’s diverse appeal. As part of the promotion in New York, on November 13, a tourism promotion seminar and reception were co-hosted by the Consulate General of Japan in New York and Toyama Prefecture at the Consul General’s official residence.

Misato City, Saitama Prefecture, began its exchange with Greece following the 2014 Misato City Half Marathon. Through ongoing initiatives in the fields of education, culture, and sports, as well as repeated citizen exchanges, the momentum for this partnership grew, leading to the formalization of a sister city agreement with the City of Salamina in December 2025. Going forward, the two cities hope to deepen mutual understanding and friendship through youth exchanges and reciprocal visits, with the expectation that this will contribute to raising international awareness and revitalizing the local community.