Press Releases

State Minister for Foreign Affairs MIYAJI’s attendance at the 2nd “Meeting with Ambassadors on the issue of Loneliness and Isolation”

July 1, 2025
Japanese
State Minister Miyaji using the avatar robot “OriHime” from Benin
“OriHime” delivering State Minister Miyaji's message

On 26 June, the 2nd “Meeting with Ambassadors on the issue of Loneliness and Isolation” hosted by the Cabinet Office was successfully convened. Mr. MIYAJI Takuma, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting, using an avatar robot “OriHime” to deliver an online address from Benin, where he was on a business trip. The overview of his speech is as follows.

  1. State Minister Miyaji pointed out that Japanese nationals overseas are generally vulnerable to loneliness and isolation because they are in an environment different from that of their home country and because of physical distance. He also explained the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' efforts, including the establishment of the Coordination Platform for Loneliness and Isolation Measures, and stated that these efforts would be further enhanced in the future.
  2. State Minister Miyaji introduced the avatar robot “OriHime”, a remote-controlled robot developed to enable social participation even by those who have difficulty going out, and referred to it as one of the new approaches to address the issue of loneliness and isolation.
  3. Finally, State Minister Miyaji stated that the issue of loneliness and isolation is common to the international community and that he would like to promote understanding both at home and abroad towards the realization of a society where no one who suffers from loneliness and isolation is left behind.
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