Section 4 Efforts to Promote Understanding of and Trust in Japan

Overview

(Strategic Communication in 2015)

The year 2015 was a milestone year marking the 70^th anniversary since the end of World War II. It was communicated that, based on Japan’s deep remorse over the war, Japan has been consistently following the path of a peace-loving nation in the international community, believing in fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, rule of law, and human rights, and contributing greatly to the peace and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world.

Especially since FY2015, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has been working to convey Japan’s views, share Japan’s rich and varied appeal and cultivate understanding and support for Japan while strengthening the system of the diplomatic missions overseas, which provide information directly to the public overseas. Additional 50 billion yen was allocated for the FY2014 supplementary budget and the FY2015 initial budget to strengthen the strategic communication including the approaches above.

To convey Japan’s views, in addition to direct communication from the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and heads of the diplomatic missions overseas, MOFA promptly provided information to the media, offered assistance for press coverage and actively engaged in communicating with public through invitation of experts and media related persons and in collaboration with think tanks.

To share Japan’s rich and varied appeal, MOFA held big cultural events in major cities in the world including Washington D.C (U.S.), and Beijing (China), introduced Washoku, the traditional dietary cultures of the Japanese to the world, and introduced Japanese broadcasting contents including animations and T.V. dramas in developing countries. MOFA also prepared establishment of the Japan House in London (UK), Los Angeles (U.S.), and Sao Paulo (Brazil). The opening of the Japan House is scheduled in 2017.

To cultivate understanding and support for Japan, MOFA drastically expanded centers for Japanese-language education, promoted the exchange of young people from Asia, the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, and enhanced Japanese studies at universities in major countries including the U.S.

(Cultural Diplomacy)

In a world in which diverse cultures coexist, respect for cultural diversity and promotion of mutual understanding will lead to laying and strengthening the foundation for peace and prosperity.

From this perspective, Japan has engaged in the efforts to deepen understanding towards its traditional and popular cultures, promote people-to-people and intellectual exchanges, and support Japanese language education. In addition, in order to contribute to the success of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan will promote its “Sport for Tomorrow” programme for making international contributions through sports. Japan will also continue to work with relevant persons in and out of the country to enhance the protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the world, Japan will promote safeguarding of the cultural heritage in Japan through the inscription on the World Heritage List and the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

(Strategic Communication in 2016)

The year 2016 is an important year for Japanese diplomacy from the perspective of strategic communication as well. Japan is hosting the G7 Ise-Shima Summit, and is serving a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) starting from January 2016. Japan also has many precious opportunities to lead discussions in the international community, such as being chair of the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit and TICAD VI to be held for the first time in Africa. MOFA is expected to seize these opportunities and work out a new approach for providing information.

(Budget for Strategic communication Overseas)

To implement these approaches strategically and effectively, MOFA prepared a FY2016 budget for the strategic communication with maintaining the size of the previous fiscal year (FY2015), which had increased significantly compared to the last fiscal year (FY2014). MOFA is determined to effectively use the budget, continue to enhance Japan’s strategic communication by communicating Japan’s views in a strong manner while cultivating understanding and support for Japan through sharing its rich and varied appeal.