Public Diplomacy

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles (JHLA), which opened its second floor earlier in December last year, held an event of grand opening on Friday, August 24, to open the fifth floor to the public.
Many officials from Japan and the United States attended this event, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Kono and his wife, Minister of State Masaji Matsuyama, and Advisor to the Prime Minister Kentaro Sonoura from the Japanese Government, as well as members of the Japan-California Parliamentary Friendship League (Mr. Junzo Yamamoto and Ms. Mizuho Onuma, members of the House of Councilors), Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti and Representative Mark Takano, United States Congressman.

Prior to the beginning of JHLA’s Grand Opening Celebration, JHLA held a grand opening reception attended by stakeholders, including US congress officials, local government officials, and representatives of Japanese American organizations, who delivered congratulatory speeches in front of the participants from Japan, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Kono and his wife.

JHLA held a program celebrating its grand opening at the ballroom of the Dolby Theater in the Hollywood & Highland Mall, where JHLA is also located. Approximately 800 participants from Japan and the United States attended the program. Mr. George Takei, an American actor, acted as the moderator of the program, where JHLA President Yuko Kaifu, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Kono delivered opening speeches, and Mayor Eric Garcetti gave a congratulatory message to celebrate welcome the opening. The program included attractive events, including a dance performance by Rhizomatiks Research, a world-renowned art and technology group, in collaboration with Elevenplay, a Japanese dance troupe, and a music play by the X Japan’s Yoshiki, who serves as an advisor for JHLA. Their performances greatly warmed up the opening of JHLA. During ceremonial dinner after the celebration, Minister Kono had talks with many participants in friendly atmosphere.