Cultural Exchange
Courtesy call on Prime Minister TAKAICHI by Mr. SASAE Kenichiro, Japan Chair of the Japan-United States Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON)
On April 16, commencing at 2:30 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from Mr. SASAE Kenichiro, Japan Chair of the Japan-United States Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON).
- Japan CULCON Chair SASAE, former Ambassador of Japan to the United States, presented Prime Minister TAKAICHI with the Joint Statement issued at the 31st CULCON Plenary Meeting in Okinawa last February. Chair SASAE and his fellow CULCON members then outlined their proposals based on the final reports covering the Plenary’s two main themes, “Information Access and Sharing in the Digital Age” and “Subnational Diplomacy/Local & Regional Exchange.”
- Prime Minister TAKAICHI then engaged in a lively exchange with the CULCON members regarding policies that will lead to deepened Japan-U.S. cooperation on the above mentioned themes.
(Reference1)
CULCON was established in June 1961 by a joint statement announced by Prime Minister IKEDA Hayato and President John F. Kennedy. Expert panels from Japan and the United States make proposals and recommendations to both governments regarding cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries. Its first meeting was held in Tokyo in January 1962. Since then, conferences have been held biannually in principle, alternating between Japan and the United States.
(Reference2) CULCON Panelists in Attendance
- Chair: Mr. SASAE Kenichiro, President of the Japan Institute of International Affairs, Former Ambassador of Japan to the United States
- Vice-Chair: Mr. KUBO Fumiaki, Fomer President of the National Defense Academy of Japan
- Panelist: Ms. TAKAHASHI Yuko, President of Tsuda University
- Panelist: Ms. SATO Yuri, Former Advisor at the Japan Foundation
(Reference3) Attachment
Joint Statement (Japanese (PDF) 
/ English (PDF) )