Other Information
Courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. TSUJI Kiyoto
by participants of FY2023 Local Staff Training Program in Japan
October 31, 2023
- On October 30, 2023, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. TSUJI Kiyoto received a courtesy call from 59 participants of FY2023 Local Staff Training Program in Japan. In a message to all the participants, State Minister Tsuji expressed his appreciation for their contribution at Japan’s missions overseas as well as his expectation towards their further active engagements. Moreover, State Minister Tsuji exchanged words with each one of them, offering encouragement.
- This year’s Local Staff Training Program is held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and other sites from October 29th to November 5th, in which 59 local staff members (Note 1) working at Japan’s overseas missions (Embassies, Consulates, and Permanent Missions) participated.
(Note 1) Total of 59 members: 15 from Asia and Oceania, 14 from North America and Latin America and the Caribbean, 17 from Europe, 13 from the Middle East and Africa.
The Training Program includes lectures by the relevant bureaus and divisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Note 2), a lecture on “WASHOKU”（Japanese dietary culture）and its manners, and on-site visits in Tokyo. They also attended a lecture on the safety, tourist attractions and current state of reconstruction of Japan, especially Fukushima. Further, this program presented them an opportunity of hands-on experience of Japanese traditional music culture.
(Note 2) Lectures by senior and other officials of the Ministry and external instructors on administrative work, consular affairs, public diplomacy, Japan’s foreign policy, Japan’s international cooperation, Japan’s economic strategy, protocol, international law, information security, security measure, etc. - The local staff are essential to Japan’s diplomatic service at its missions overseas. The 59 participants were selected from approximately 5,600 local staff worldwide with recognition of their outstanding performance.
The participants deepened their understanding of the mechanisms and policies concerning the various tasks of Japan’s overseas missions, and acquired the latest information and firsthand knowledge about Japan. It is expected that the training will lead to their further contributions to the missions’ work and accordingly strengthen Japan’s diplomatic activities. It is also expected that this training will vitalize the activities of Japan’s overseas missions at large by not only developing the capacities of the participating local staff but also by providing further incentives for all local staff of Japan’s overseas missions upon their engagement in their daily work at the frontlines of Japan’s diplomacy.