ODA Topics 5

ODA Public Relations
– In Order to Make ODA Feel Closer and More Familiar –

● Information Dissemination about Development Cooperation

According to a public opinion surveyNote 1 conducted by Japan’s Cabinet Office in 2022, 84% of respondents answered that in development cooperation in the future “Japan should more actively promote development cooperation” or “The current level of development cooperation is appropriate,” indicating a positive evaluation for development cooperation. This positive public opinion in Japan can be attributed to the growing awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has also been brought about, amid the compound crises the international community faces, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, by the broader understanding of the need for all countries to cooperate and help each other in addressing global issues such as disasters and infectious diseases, of the importance of development cooperation for ensuring a stable supply of energy resources and for increasing trust in Japan in the international community, and of the importance of development cooperation as a means for strategically advancing Japan’s foreign policy.

This column introduces MOFA’s various initiatives for information dissemination and public policy communication on the significance of Japan’s development cooperation.

● Revision of the Development Cooperation Charter and Dissemination of the Significance of ODA

In June 2023, the Development Cooperation Charter was revised for the first time in eight years, against the backdrop of major changes in the situation since its formulation in 2015. In line with this, from the perspective of disseminating the significance and achievements of ODA to a wide range of people, MOFA prepared new materials that focused on the benefits of ODA to Japan and posted them on the ministry’s ODA website as the “Significance of Japan’s Development Cooperation.Note 2 MOFA also prepared a series of good examples of ODA that have also benefitted Japan under the following themes:Note 3 “Connections through the ocean,” “Support for Japanese companies’ overseas expansion,” and “Strengthening trust in Japan from the international community through ODA and its benefits for Japan’s national interests.” They were delivered through the ODA email newsletter in three installments.

From October to December, Mr. Kusakabe, Ambassador for Civil Society, from the International Cooperation Bureau, MOFA, appeared in a public relations program of the Japan Platform (JPF)Note 4 on YouTube, an online video sharing service, to disseminate information targeting the younger generations. He talked about the significance and initiatives of Japan’s development cooperation in a talk show with current university students (11 episodes).Note 5

Significance of Japan’s Development Cooperation (Japanese only)

Mr. Kusakabe, Ambassador for Civil Society, from MOFA (on the right) appearing in a talk show with current university students as part of information dissemination efforts for the younger generations (Photo: JPF)

● TV Dramas/Documentaries

MOFA also works on producing public relations contents that make use of high-profile performers in order to deliver its message to a broader range of the public.

One of the initiatives is the production of a TV drama series, “The First Step” with the cooperation of Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd. The series is navigated by TV personality and author Mr. MATAYOSHI Naoki and is set at MOFA’s International Cooperation Bureau, as well as at international cooperation sites. In 2023, MOFA produced its second episode “First Step 2: Sekai wo Tsunagu Yuuki no Kotoba”Note 6 that depicts the growth of the characters under the theme of disaster risk reduction cooperation utilizing Japan’s experience and knowledge acquired through repeated natural disasters. In this production, the concept of “Build Back Better,” which was proposed by Japan at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai City in 2015 and became a universal term in the field of disaster risk reduction, is used as a keyword. In 2022, MOFA produced the first episode “The First Step: Sekai wo Tsunagu Ainoshirushi,”Note 7 which transmits stories of parent-child affections and the growth of characters, revolving around the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, Japan’s initiative introduced to the world through ODA. Both episodes are being broadcast and transmitted.

A scene in which the main character YOSHIZAWA Mizuki (on the right) hands the Maternal and Child Health Handbook to Lien in the first TV drama “First Step: Sekai wo Tsunagu Ainoshirushi” (Japanese only)

The second episode of the TV drama series “The First Step 2: Sekai wo Tsunagu Yuuki no Kotoba” (Japanese only), set in MOFA’s International Cooperation Bureau and showing scenes of actual international cooperation

In addition, amid the occurrence of events around the world that shake the world order, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, MOFA produced documentary videos titled “Japanese Women Delivering Hope in a World of Uncertainty,”Note 8 narrated by freelance newscaster Ms. NAKANO Minako. With the diplomatically important “Women, Peace and Security (WPS)” agenda in mind, those videos focus dynamically on women on various topics. In the field of NGOs, the video features conflict prevention initiatives in countries in civil war or other crises, such as South Sudan. As for the efforts of government agencies, it focuses on the JICA Japan Disaster Relief Team, which utilizes the international standard medical record Minimum Data Set (MDS), devised in the Philippines and developed in Japan, in such areas as supporting displaced Ukrainians in Moldova. Regarding the field of international organizations, humanitarian aid efforts for women and the poor in Afghanistan are featured.

The documentary video “Japanese Women Delivering Hope in a World of Uncertainty”

● Global Festa JAPAN 2023

In 2023, the 32nd international cooperation event “Global Festa JAPAN 2023” was held on September 30 and October 1, with approximately 39,000 participants, which was more than the previous year. With the theme “International Cooperation to Build the World – The More Friends the Better!,” the number of participating organizations was increased by about 30 from the previous year, in the hope of increasing the number of people who would participate in international cooperation to create a better world. More than 130 organizations involved in international cooperation, including NGOs, international organizations, companies, universities, and foreign embassies in Tokyo, exhibited and reported their activities, sold goods, and held stage programs with various guests and hands-on workshops.

At Global Festa, MOFA carried out stage programs, including the opening ceremony, with the theme of utilizing ODA for overseas expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises that do not usually have much contact with ODA. It was followed by panel discussions featuring social entrepreneurs and people involved in startups on the theme of young people’s challenges to address social issues, and the production announcement of documentary videos entitled “Japanese Women Delivering Hope in a World of Uncertainty.” MOFA also held an award presentation ceremony for its photo contest, which has become customary.Note 9 This year’s contest, with the theme of “Building the future with friends,” received many entries that convey the feeling of “love, friendship, and growth.” The award-winning works were selected from a record 422 entries, focusing on heartwarming works such as family love, friendship, and natural scenery that we want to preserve for the future. Other programs included a special lecture by Mr. IKEGAMI Akira and Ms. MASUDA Yuriya entitled “Plain Explanation of ODA found in the international community!” For the sub-stage programs, an international organization career seminar was held by MOFA’s Recruitment Center for International Organizations, followed by activity reports from NGOs working on international cooperation, attended by MOFA officials from the Non-Governmental Organizations Cooperation Division of the International Cooperation Bureau and staff members from NGOs. The results are available in the event reportNote 10 on the ODA website.

Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hosaka greeting an audience at the opening ceremony of Global Festa JAPAN 2023

A panel discussion with the theme “Let’s talk with young people about ODA! Young people’s challenge to solve social issues,” a stage program at Global Festa JAPAN 2023

A view of the Lobby Gallery, where exhibits of foreign embassies stationed in Japan, international organizations, and other participants were held. MOFA also had a booth to provide an easy-to-understand explanation of how Japan’s ODA contributes to the world.

● ODA Email Newsletter, ODA Public Relations X (formerly Twitter)

MOFA publishes an ODA email newsletter once a month, the content of which is also available on the ministry’s website. In addition, MOFA disseminates information about ODA on the social media X (formerly Twitter). As of December 2023, the number of email newsletter subscribers is approximately 20,000, and the number of followers on X is over 12,000.

MOFA’s ODA X account (Japanese only)

ODA email newsletter (Japanese only)

Note 1: The FY2022 Public Opinion Survey on Diplomacy took place from October to November 2022. The Cabinet Office entrusted it to a survey organization, which implemented a mail survey of 3,000 Japanese nationals aged 18 and over across Japan (Cabinet Office Public Opinion Survey:
https://survey.gov-online.go.jp/r04/r04-gaiko/index.html (in Japanese only)).

Note 2: Significance of Japan’s Development Cooperation
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/about/oda/page24_000194.html (in Japanese only)

Note 3: ODA email newsletter No. 465–No. 467, ODA that enriches the world and Japan (Cases 1 to 3 regarding benefits to Japan)
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/mail/bn.html (in Japanese only)

Note 4: See the glossary.

Note 5: JPF public relations program, MOFA vs. Current university students. No. 38–No. 48
https://www.youtube.com/@milakarma (in Japanese only)

Note 6: The First Step 2: Sekai wo Tsunagu Yuuki no Kotoba
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/sanka/page22_001633.html (in Japanese only)

Note 7: The First Step: Sekai wo Tsunagu Ainoshirushi
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/sanka/page22_001443.html (in Japanese only)

Note 8: Japanese Women Delivering Hope in a World of Uncertainty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pgx1_EPVos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzI-gQ_RkY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvuO3xbNRZs

Note 9: Report on the MOFA Photo Contest “Building the future with friends”
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/press/event/page23_001395.html (in Japanese only)
See also Special Photograph Collection (1) for the photographs submitted to the contest.

Note 10: Global Festa JAPAN 2023 event report
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/press/event/page22_001739.html (in Japanese only)