Public Diplomacy

April 5, 2023
Japanese

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) is implementing the "Japan Brand Program." It seeks to promote a variety of distinct national qualities, including its strengths and unique values, based on traditions and cultural background that form modern Japanese society. The program engages in outreach initiatives with local audiences through organizing lectures, seminars, and workshops, and dispatches prominent experts from wide-ranging fields in order to share knowledge and experiences with the international community toward nurturing their interest in and understanding of Japan. The program also serves as a catalyst in initiating international exchanges of people, as well as cross-border economic exchanges.

FY2022

  • March 2023
    “Japanese Sake Seminar” KARAHASHI Hiroyuki, President, Homare Sake Brewery Co.,Ltd (Australia (Canberra, Sydney))
  • December 2022
    “Japanese Culture in Short films” celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-India diplomatic relations
    TAKEGASA Shoko, Festival Director, Short and Shorts Film Festival & Asia
    (India (Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune))
  • November 2022
    “Kintsugi”Repair Technique on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of Establishing Diplomatic Relations Between Japan and Vatican
    KIYOKAWA Hiroshi, Urushi Artisan, Founder and President of Kiyokawa Lacquer Art Co.
    (Vatican, Italy)
  • October 2022
    “Owari Cloisonne” celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-UAE diplomatic relations
    ANDO Shigeyuki, President, ANDO CLOISONNE CO.,LTD and IKEDA Takayuki, Deputy Factory Manager, TANYO SHOKAI
    (United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah）
  • September 2022
    Webinar “Seto pottery: The Art of Light”
    TARUTA Hiroshi, Seto potter
    (Denmark (Copenhagen) )

FY2021

Project examples

  • March 2022
    Craftsmanship of Japan: Sakai Forged Knives
    Eric Chevallier, Japanese Traditional Knives Specialist and Blacksmith
    Yasuhiro Hirakawa, the 5th Generation Master of Sasuke Kobo
    (Canada)
  • February 2022
    Webinar ”Arimatsu Narumi Tie-Dyeing“ marking the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and India.
    Aya Osuka, Founder of 彩Aya Irodori
    (Delhi, India)
  • November 2021 and February 2022
    Webinars “The Edo Ukiyo-e Woodblock Prints” to mark the 100th anniversaries of Japan/the Baltic states friendships
    Yukiko Takahashi, the 6th Generation Master of Takahashi Kobo
    (Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania)
  • August 2021
    Shochu/Awamori Japanese Spirits Seminar
    Christopher Pellegrini, founding partner of Honkaku Spirits
    (U.S.A. (Washington DC))
    Stephen Lyman, founder of Honkaku Spirits
    (U.S.A. (Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC))

FY2019

Project examples

  • March 2020
    “From a wheelchair to Paralympic Games, and to 2020”
    Aki Taguchi, Team Member, Office for Corporate Citizenship, Corporate Communication Group, NYK Line / Vice President of Paralympian Association of Japan
    (Laos (Vientiane), Bangladesh (Dhaka))
  • January 2020
    “New Space Innovation: Micro-satellites will democratize the way we use space”
    Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace
    (Ethiopia (Addis Abeba ), Zambia (Lusaka ), Angola (Luanda ) )
  • October 2019
    “Japanese Calligraphy & Tea Ceremony”
    Wakako Yamaguchi, Vice Chairman of Institute for Japanese Culture Experience and Education
    (Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Turkey (Ankara), Jordan (Amman))
  • October 2019
    “Echizen Washi : Tradition and Creation
    Yoshinao Sugihara, CEO of WASHIYA SUGIHARA WASHIPAPER, Inc.
    (Poland (Warsaw), United Arab Emirates (Dubai))
  • October 2019
    “Art of Bonsai ”
    Adam Jones, CEO of Tree House Bonsai
    (U.S.A. (DC, Memphis, Nashville, Cleveland, Columbus))
  • October 2019
    “Onsen and Ryokan : Places to savor Japanese style hospitality
    Noriko Seino, Landlady of SEIKOKAN, a Japanese hot spring inn in Niigata
    (Finland (Helsinki), Sweden (Stockholm), Ireland (Dublin))
  • September 2019
    “The Fascinating World of Grand Sumo”
    Hiroshi Morita, Anchor of NHK World JAPAN
    (Georgia (Tbilisi), Estonia (Tallinn, Saku), Lithuania (Kaunas, Vilnius))
  • June 2019
    “Cycle Around Japan”
    Michael Rice, Professional Cyclist
    (New Zealand (Wellington), Australia (Perth, Gold Coast, Brisbane))
  • May 2019
    “Shojo Manga”
    Moto Hagio, Manga Artist, and Asako Furukawa, Deputy Editor of Monthly “flowers” from Shogakukan Inc.
    (U.K. (London, Norwich))
  • May 2019
    "Journey by Train"
    Kan Sakurai (Railroad Photojournalist)
    (U.S.A.(Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco)

FY2018

Project examples

  • February 2019
    "Amezaiku – Japanese traditional sugar sculpting"
    Shinri Tezuka, Leader of the amezaiku artist collective, Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin
    （Spain (Barcelona), France (Paris, Rennes), U.K. (London))
    • VideoOpen a New Window(Le Cordon Bleu London)
  • February 2019
    "Japanese Knife and Cutting Flavor"
    Bjorn Heiberg, CEO of TOWER KNIVES
    (Germany (Munich), Denmark, Finland)
  • January 2019
    "Spirituality Living in Japanese Tea Ceremony and Craftsmanship (KOGEI)"
    Ohi Chozaemon XI (Toshio), Pottery artist
    (U.S.A.(Miami), Brazil (Sao Paulo))
  • November 2018
    "Kyogen-the oldest comedy of Japan"
    Ippei Shigeyama, Kyogen artist
    (Mexico (Mexico city, Monterry), U.S.A. (Detroit))
  • November 2018
    "Japanese Manga"
    Erica Sakurazawa, Manga Artist
    (Canada (Ottawa, Calgary))
  • November 2018
    "Japanese Whisky"
    Hajime Kunai, Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd.
    (Canada (Toronto, Windsor), U.S.A. (Nashville, DC))
  • October 2018
    "Aomori Nebuta Festival and Nebuta creator"
    Shunichi Kitamura, Nebuta creator
    (Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Korea (Busan))
  • October 2018
    "Nostalgic Future"
    Takaharu Tezuka, President of Tezuka Architects
    (U.S.A. (San francisco, Chicago))
  • October 2018
    "Japan's Fashion Design"
    Atsushi Nakashima, Designer of "ATSUSHI NAKASHIMA"
    (India (Delhi))
  • September 2018
    "History of Wagashi"
    Satomi Fujita, Owner of "kashiya"
    (France (Strasbourg), Italy (Milan))
  • September 2018
    "Mystery and Spirit of Ninja"
    Tomonosuke, Ashura Ninja Group
    (U.S.A. (St. Louis, Miami, Nashville), Canada (Vancouver))
  • August 2018
    "Japanese Garden, the best healing space"
    Chisato Takeuchi, Landscape Gardening Designer of "Ryokuseien"
    (U.S.A. (Chicago, Detroit))

FY2017

Project examples

  • March 2018
    "Bamboo Art -The Tradition as a Challenge-"
    Chikuunsai IV Tanabe, Bamboo Artist
    (Norway, Russia (Saint-Petersburg))
  • February 2018
    "Japanese Hospitality and Resorts Management Technique"
    Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO, Hoshino Resorts Inc.
    (Russia (Saint-Petersburg, Moscow))
  • February 2018
    "Interactive Art - "Kawaii" is in Bloom! Dialogue with Imagination - "
    Mayuko Kanazawa, Visual Animation Artist / Picture Book Author
    (Ukraine, Sweden, Serbia)
  • February 2018
    "Scanning Technology for Cultural Heritage Preservation"
    Ari Ide, Ph.D, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University
    (Indonesia (Jakarta, ASEAN Secretariat))
  • February 2018
    "Kirigraphy: Lectures, Exhibition and Workshops"
    Risa Kojo, Graphic Designer
    (Colombia, Brazil (Sao Paulo), Ecuador)
  • October 2017
    "Japanese Lighting Design"
    Daisuke Yano, CEO of Tokyo Lighting Design LLC / Lighting Designer
    (Azerbaijan, Oman)
  • July 2017
    "Japanese Culture in Sports"
    Dai Tamesue, Representative Director of Athlete Society
    (Ghana, Kenya, Botswana)
  • June 2017
    "Spiritual Recycling : PIA RE : MEMBER Project New recycle model incorporating memories"
    Shuji Yonemura, New Business Development Live Entertainment Department PIA Corporation
    (Czech, France (Paris))

FY2016

Project examples

  • March 2017
    "Exo Muscle -Social Welfare Innovation-"
    Hiroshi Kobayashi, Professor, Tokyo University of Science, Founder, Director, CTO, INNOPHYS Co. Ltd.
    (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi))
  • March 2017
    "Material Sensation"
    Kohei Nawa, Sculptor, Professor of Kyoto University of Art and Design, and Director of SANDWICH Inc.
    (U.S.A. (Los Angeles), Brazil (Sao Paulo))
  • March 2017
    "Japanese Culture in Short Films"
    Seigo Tono, Festival Director, Short Short Film Festival & Asia
    (India (Mumbai, New Delhi))
  • February 2017
    "Science through Entertainment with Shooting Stars on Demand"
    Lena Okajima, CEO and Founder of ALE Co., Ltd.
    (Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang), Singapore)
  • February 2017
    "Japanese Traditional Confectionery
    -Color Palettes and Forms of Japanese Four Seasons-"
    Takeshi Inoue, Japanese Confectionery Master, Baikatei Kagurazaka
    (U.K. (London, Edinburgh))
  • January 2017
    "Introduction of Japanese Baseball"
    Atsuya Furuta, Former professional baseball player, Sports Commentator
    (Cuba, U.S.A. (Puerto Rico), Dominican Republic)
  • January 2017
    "From Research to Expression"
    Masaya Ishikawa, Researcher, Graphic designer, EUPHRATES
    (France (Paris), Germany (Dusseldorf), Spain (Barcelona))
  • November 2016
    "Awaji Puppet Theater:Convergence of Tradition and Modernity"
    Shiko Yoshida, Puppeteer, Awaji Puppet Theatre
    (U.S.A. (New York, Los Angels))
  • November 2016
    "Open-source 3D-printable Bionic Hand"
    Genta Kondo, NPO Mission ARM Japan
    (Austria, Poland)
  • November 2016
    "Design-led Innovation -Prototyping for Envisioning the Future-"
    Shunji Yamanaka, Design Engineer, Prof. of the University of Tokyo
    (U.S.A. (Los Angels), Brazil (Sao Paulo))
  • October 2016
    "The Design for the Public"
    Eiji Mitooka, Don Design Associates, Designer
    (China (Hong Kong), Korea (Seoul))
  • September 2016
    "EDO KIRIKO - The world of Japanese cut glass"
    Toru Horiguchi, HORIGUCHI KIRIKO INC.
    (Finland, France (Strasbourg), U.K. (London))
  • August 2016
    "Cosplay Lectures & Workshops"
    Goldy Takahiro Sakai, Cosplay Designer
    (Australia (Sydney, Melbourne))
  • August 2016
    "Japanese Culture in Fashion Perspective"
    Mayuko Ban, Designer, BANSAN
    (Peru, Chile)
  • July 2016
    "Japanese IoT Products and Apps Development"
    Shuichi Tsutsumi, iOS Engineer
    (Israel, Palestine)
  • May 2016
    "Fashion Design～ Harmony of the latest technology and tradition"
    Tamae Hirokawa, Creative Director/Fashion Designer , SOMA DESIGN
    (Oman, United Arab Emirates (Dubai))

FY2015

Project examples

  • March 2016
    "8K Endoscope and Japan's Advanced Medical High-Technology"
    Toshio Chiba, M.D., Ph.D. Professor, Advanced Research Institute for the Sciences and Humanities, Nihon University, & Chief Director, Medical Imaging Consortium
    (United Arab Emirates (Dubai))
  • March 2016
    "The Beauty of Nishiki"
    Amane Tatsumura, President, Master Textile Artist, Koho Tatsumura Co., Ltd.
    (India (New Delhi))
  • March 2016
    "Japan's Experimental Music"
    Tetsuro Yasunaga, Sound Artist
    (Argentina, Uruguay)
  • March 2016
    "Japan's Manga Seminars & Workshop"
    Kohei Nishino, Associate Professor, Character Design Course, Faculty of Manga, Kyoto Seika University, Aya Kamide, Kyoto Seika University
    (Panama, U.S.A. (Miami))
  • March 2016
    "Japan's Cutting Edge Robot Technologies"
    Tomotaka Takahashi, Robot Creator, ROBO GARAGE Co., Ltd. CEO, Project Associate Professor, RCAST, The University of Tokyo
    (Croatia, Spain (Madrid))
  • February 2016
    "Japanese Culture in Short Films"
    Seigo Tono, Festival Director, Short Short Film Festival & Asia
    (Morocco)
  • February 2016
    "Lacquer Culture and Future Inheritance"
    Yutaro Shimode, Lacquer Craftsman, Professor, Kyoto Sangyo University
    (Italy (Rome), Spain (Madrid), Portugal)
  • February 2016
    "Collaboration between Japanese Manufacturing Culture and Advanced Information Technology"
    Emi Tamaki, Ph.D. in Engineering, H2L Chief Researcher & Assistant Professor, Department of Human Sciences, Waseda University
    (U.S.A. (Boston, Seattle))
  • February 2016
    "Redesigning Japanese Traditions"
    Ryusuke Nanki, Architect and Planner
    (Belarus, Estonia)
  • January 2016
    "The Wagashi's Charm"
    Chikara Mizukami, Master Wagashi Craftsman, & Owner of IKKOAN
    (Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary)
  • January 2016
    "Solving Riddles from Ukiyoe"
    Kentaro Makino, Ukiyoe Producer, NHK Promotions
    (Russia (Moscow), Poland)
  • December 2015
    "The Noh's Appeal"
    Soraya Umewaka, Film director,& Noh researcher
    (China (Beijing, Shanghai))
  • November 2015
    "Nishijin Textile History and Innovation"
    Masataka Hosoo, Director, HOSOO
    (United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh))
  • November 2015
    "Japan's Traditional Crafts and Mask Culture as Seen in Noh Masks"
    Hideta Kitazawa, Kitazawa Wood Sculpture, & Noh Mask Sculptor / Traditional Craftsman
    (Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Romania)
  • November 2015
    "Japanese Sake Seminar" , Maiko Tsuji, Master Brewer (Toji), Tsuji Honten
    (U.S.A. (Nashville, Atlanta)
  • October 2015
    "Japanese Sake Seminar"
    Takenosuke Yasufuku, President & CEO, KOBE SHU-SHIN-KAN BREWERY
    (Australia (Perth), Fiji)
  • July 2015
    "Japanese Traditional Crafts and Design"
    Rika Yajima, CEO, Aeru, Inc.
    (Spain (Barcelona))

FY2014

Project examples

  • March 2015
    "Japanese SAKE Seminar" (Australia (Melbourne))
  • March 2015
    "Japan Design" (China (Shanghai))
  • March 2015
    "Japanese Wine" (Lebanon, Belgium)
  • March 2015
    "Japanese Short Films" (Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Oman, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur))
  • February 2015
    "One of the Top 6 Japan-wide Renowned Old Kilns Tamba-Yaki Ceramics" (Canada (Ottawa, Vancouver))
  • November 2014
    "Machiya Old Townhouse Culture and its Recycle Use" (Italy (Milan))
  • November 2014
    "Japanese Sake Evening" (Peru, Jamaica)
  • July 2014
    "Japanese Traditional Arts and Crafts Design" (Spain (Barcelona))
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