Press Conferences

Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi: As the Expo will soon draw to a close, I would like to give an overall summary of Japan’s Expo diplomacy.

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will conclude on October 13, next week. Since its opening, numerous foreign dignitaries, including approximately 90 heads of state and government leaders and approximately 50 foreign minister-level officials, have visited the Expo venue for their National Days and other events.

Seizing these opportunities, Prime Minister ISHIBA and I held approximately 50 and 40 Expo-related meetings in total, respectively. It seems that the number of meetings conducted by Foreign Minister was fewer, as there were many head-of-state and government-level meetings, and Prime Minister ISHIBA worked hard to hold many meetings. Through these Expo-related meetings, we were able to further strengthen cooperation on bilateral relations and issues facing the international community while communicating with various countries.

I believe the Expo also served as an opportunity to bring overseas vitality to Japan. When foreign dignitaries visited Japan, they often included business-related events in their itineraries. In that regard, we believe that the Expo had significant synergistic effects. In addition, there were many dignitaries who took this opportunity to visit regions other than Osaka, and from that perspective, we consider that the Expo also contributed to regional revitalization.

Furthermore, through the Expo, not only government officials but also many Japanese citizens including those from the business, academic, and cultural communities, deepened their exchanges with those from around the world. We believe this has broadened the scope of diplomacy and offered a valuable opportunity to widely showcase Japan’s charm to the international community.

As these examples show, I am convinced that our Expo diplomacy has been extremely meaningful. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who provided various forms of assistance.

That concludes my opening remarks.

Yomiuri Shimbun, UEMURA: I have a few questions regarding the significance of Expo diplomacy that you mentioned in your opening remarks. You just explained the significance of the series of Expo-related diplomatic activities. Please tell us about any other achievements that were made possible due to opportunities provided by Expo diplomacy, as well as any diplomatic scenes that left an impression on you. Additionally, when looking back, how would you characterize the ISHIBA administration’s Expo diplomacy during the Osaka-Kansai Expo? Also, what characteristics do you reflect on regarding this Expo diplomacy compared with Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan, the previous Expo that Japan hosted?

Foreign Minister IWAYA: As I mentioned at the outset, seizing this opportunity to host the Expo, Japan welcomed numerous dignitaries from various countries. I believe Prime Minister ISHIBA, as well as myself and other ministers were able to further strengthen communication and cooperation with each country.

As I mentioned earlier, I held approximately 40 Expo-related meetings. Although I made 17 overseas visits in the past year, the number of countries I can visit is still limited. In that respect, as many dignitaries, including foreign ministers, came to Japan from many countries, including those I have few opportunities to visit, and by waging the most of these opportunities, I had the chance to engage in extensive discussions on bilateral relations and international affairs. This was a unique privilege that Japan enjoyed as an Expo host country. Since officials whom we would normally have to visit to meet have been coming here, in that sense, I believe that the Expo significantly increased diplomatic opportunities.

Especially, as Japan hosted TICAD9 in Yokohama in August, I was able to hold approximately 10 Expo-related meetings in that month alone. It was indeed a summer of Expo diplomacy.

In my case, most of the meetings were hosted here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). In that sense, there wasn’t anything particularly memorable. Anyway, having the chance to engage in thorough discussions with foreign ministers from countries that are difficult to visit truly exemplified a genuinely fruitful Expo diplomacy.

Regarding comparison with the past Expo, while simple comparisons cannot be made, 121 countries and 4 international organizations participated in Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan. By contrast, 158 countries and 7 international organizations participated in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Therefore, the number of participants for this Expo is a record high among the world expositions held in Japan.

Moreover, the number of meetings and courtesy calls the Prime Minister held and received as part of summit-level Expo diplomacy was approximately 30 during Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan when Mr. KOIZUMI was Prime Minister. Prime Minister ISHIBA has held and received approximately 50 meetings and courtesy calls.

The number of meetings and courtesy calls I held and received was approximately 40, as I mentioned earlier. This was double the number compared with the approximately 20 of then Minister MACHIMURA during Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan.

I believe the dignitaries who visited Japan were able to gain an overall sense of how Japan embodies the Expo’s theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Building upon the achievements of this Expo diplomacy in the future, MOFA will continue to pursue proactive diplomacy.

NHK, KAWAMURA: I have a question related to the Ukraine Mine Action Conference. The Ukraine Mine Action Conference is scheduled to be held from the 22nd of this month. Japan will be hosting the conference this year. Please share with us your expectations for the conference.

Foreign Minister IWAYA: As you mentioned, Japan will host the Ukraine Mine Action Conference in Tokyo from the 22nd to the 23rd of this month. This conference has been held since 2023 to support mine action in Ukraine. This year, Japan, which has been engaged in supporting Ukraine, including in the areas of recovery and reconstruction, will chair the conference.

At this conference, under the theme of “Accelerating toward reconstruction,” Japan will lead the discussions on the concrete implementation of international cooperation for mine action, focusing on the three pillars of “People”, “Technology”, and “Nexus”, each of which is important for advancing mine action in Ukraine. The term “Nexus” refers to a smooth transition from mine clearance to recovery and reconstruction, or the process leading from mine clearance to recovery and reconstruction.

Japan has long been engaged in mine action. We intend to have intensive discussions on strengthening cooperation between other mine-affected countries and Ukraine, as well as on creating and expanding business opportunities related to mine action.

Through hosting this mine conference and leading international discussions, Japan aims to contribute to diversifying and strengthening the global network supporting Ukraine, including mine action efforts.

Kyodo News, AYUKAWA: I would like to ask about Japan’s domestic politics and its impact on diplomacy. Today, the heads of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito are holding a meeting, which I think has not ended yet. They are discussing the mechanisms of the coalition between the LDP and Komeito. Firstly, what are your thoughts on the mechanisms of the LDP-Komeito coalition? Secondly, with the prospect that the convening of the extraordinary Diet session to nominate the Prime Minister may be slightly delayed from the initial anticipation. I would like to ask how you view the impact of this somewhat prolonged political vacuum on diplomacy?

Foreign Minister IWAYA: Firstly, I understand that the framework of the coalition is now being discussed principally by the parties, and I would like to refrain from commenting on this in my capacity as a Foreign Minister.

Nevertheless, as you just suggested, diplomatic schedules will not wait for us. Some dates for international conferences that cannot be rescheduled have already been set, and we have started coordinating various related meetings. Therefore, it is naturally desirable that the framework of the new administration be decided as soon as possible and that arrangements be made to respond not only to domestic affairs but also to diplomacy without delay.

The ISHIBA administration will continue to fulfill its duty until the new administration is officially inaugurated, and as long as I remain in office, MOFA will make every effort to undertake thorough preparations to ensure that the upcoming diplomatic schedules are carried out smoothly and meaningfully.