Public Diplomacy

Uchiko Town and Rothenburg, Germany, have fostered exchanges based on their shared features such as preserving historic townscapes, and became sister cities in 2011. In 2026, marking the 15th anniversary of their sister-city partnership, a delegation from Uchiko visited Rothenburg to attend a commemorative ceremony. Through activities including a joint Kyogen performance by children from both municipalities and a Japanese tea experience, the two communities deepened their ties. They will continue to promote lasting exchanges while passing their traditions and cultures on to the next generation.

Building on the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, exchanges between Takaishi City, Osaka Prefecture, and Madagascar have strengthened. H.E. Mr. Hitoshi Tojima, Ambassador of Japan to Madagascar, visited Takaishi City and, through an exchange of views with the mayor and visits to a junior high school and companies, promoted grassroots exchanges in the fields of local government, education, and industry. As part of the Expo’s legacy, it is hoped that ties of friendship will be further deepened and passed on to future generations.

Ushiku City in Ibaraki Prefecture and Telavi City in Georgia have fostered ongoing exchanges centered on “wine,” a subject deeply connected to both cities. Through reciprocal visits between mayors, and tours of wineries and sports facilities, the two cities have deepened their collaboration across a wide range of fields, including culture and sports. This article outlines the process by which the two cities deepened their ties, leading up to the signing of a sister-city agreement in April 2026.

On June 25, 2026, the Embassy of Japan in Laos held a roundtable discussion in Luang Prabang aimed at promoting exchanges between Japan and Luang Prabang. This article introduces the history of exchanges that Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture and Moriya City in Ibaraki Prefecture have long maintained with Luang Prabang and provides an overview of the roundtable.