Public Diplomacy

　In the morning, Minister Hayashi, joined by Mr. OISHI Kengo, Governor of Nagasaki Prefecture, Mr. TAUE Tomihisa, Mayor of Nagasaki City, and the diplomatic corps in Japan, visited Former Glover House, one of the components of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining.” Professor Brian Burke‐Gaffney, Honorary Director of the Glover Garden, explained about the activities of Thomas Blake Glover, who contributed to the modernization of Japan, and the history of Former Glover House. In addition, Minister Hayashi viewed the exterior of Oura Cathedral, one of the components of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region,” while receiving Mayor Taue’s explanation.

　Minister Hayashi, joined by Governor Oishi, Mayor Taue and the diplomatic corps, then visited SUGINAGA KAMABOKO Co., Ltd. and saw production of kamabokos (processed fish cake), a traditional food of Nagasaki. SUGINAGA KAMABOKO is one of the top producers of kamaboko in Kyushu and exports its products overseas.

　Minister Hayashi, Governor Oishi, Mayor Taue, the business community in Nagasaki and the diplomatic corps exchanged views over lunch with local ingredients on effective means of promoting information about Nagasaki’s attractions for revitalizing the local economy.

　In the afternoon, Minister Hayashi held a roundtable dialogue on the theme of “Nagasaki to Global” with ten locals, including youth, based in Nagasaki who are actively contributing to a wide range of fields such as international exchanges, tourism, culture and arts, overseas expansion of specialty products, start-up companies, and activities related to nuclear disarmament activities.
　In light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Minister Hayashi explained Japan’s initiatives in dealing with diplomatic issues, such as nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The participants expressed a range of views and suggestions based on their own experiences, and lively exchanged views with the Minister.
　At the end of the dialogue, Minister Hayashi stated to the participants that he hopes the people in Nagasaki play more and more active roles, in order to introduce the “people“, "attractiveness" and “products” to the world making the most of MOFA's vaious programs and schemes as well as the young people's initiatives of Nagasaki.

　At the Nagasaki Station, Minister Hayashi, joined by Governor Oishi, Mayor Taue and the diplomatic corps, received an explanation from the station master on the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, and then, Minister Hayashi and diplomatic corps boarded the Shinkansen.

[Reference 1] Outline of the schedule
　Visit to Nagasaki City (Former Glover House, Oura Cathedral, SUGINAGA KAMABOKO CO., LTD)
　Exchange of views with local governments and the local business community
　Roundtable dialogue with locals based in Nagasaki
　Introduction of the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen by Nagasaki station master

[Reference 2] Diplomatic corps in Japan accompanying Minister Hayashi (10 countries)
　Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Kenya, Portugal, Brazil, Malaysia, Vietnam, Argentina

[Reference 3] Former Glover House and Oura Cathedral
　Former Glover House, the oldest extant of a wooden Western-style structure in Japan, was the home of Thomas Blake Glover, a British merchant who arrived in Nagasaki after the opening of the Nagasaki port in 1859. The house was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1961 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as a component of the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining” in 2015.
　Oura Cathedral, a Gothic-style church built in 1864 and representative of medieval European architecture, was designated a National Treasure in 1933. After completing the restoration of the damage caused by the atomic bombing, the structure was designated a National Treasure again in 1953 as the oldest extant church in Japan. In 2018, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as a component part of the “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region.”

[Reference 4] SUGINAGA KAMABOKO CO., LTD.
　The company was founded in 1962, became a limited liability company in 1986, and changed its name to a joint stock company in 2014.
　It makes and sells Nagasaki’s traditional kamabokos as well as prepared foods and products for businesses. The company is one of the top manufacturers and sellers of seafood paste products in Kyushu and exports overseas (including to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan).

[Reference 5] Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen
　The Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen line opened on September 23, 2022, connecting the approximately 66-kilometer distance between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki in 23 minutes at the fastest. At Takeo-Onsen Station, passengers can transfer between the Shinkansen “KAMOME” and the Limited Express train “Relay KAMOME” on the same platform. Using this cross-platform transfer method, the line connects Hakata and Nagasaki in 1 hour and 20 minutes at the fastest. The Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen is expected not only to further increase travel between the region and the Fukuoka, Chugoku, and Kansai regions and contribute significantly to the promotion and development of the Western Kyushu region, but also to play an important role in further boosting the entire Kyushu region by linking with the already opened Kagoshima line.