For Luxembourg, the EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges overlapped precisely with the six-month period beginning on January 1 during which Luxembourg held the Presidency of the EU which represents the EU. The Year of People-to-People Exchanges was started with the Grand Opening on January 19, held jointly by Brussels and Luxembourg, with then-Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Itsunori Onodera in attendance.

Their Royal Highnesses the Grand-Duke and Grand-Duchess of Luxembourg extended their warm understanding and support to the Year of Exchanges, and graciously attended the concert held in April. In both name and in reality, we were able to gain the participation of the entire country.

As the various events were gathering steam, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Luxembourg in May as Japan’s first incumbent prime minister to visit the country, and the 14th Japan-EU Summit and the Japan-Luxembourg Summit were held. It can be said that it was a symbolic period rich in content for Japan-Luxembourg relations both in the contexts of diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges.

Extensive assistance was received throughout the Year of Exchanges from the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture, the city of Luxembourg, and other related agencies and organizations. Under such assistance, Japan introduced its traditional culture through a Sho (traditional Japanese wind instrument) performance in February, and Gagaku performance in November, and they were regarded highly. Events that played a part in the grassroots exchanges included a Kijima-Daiko Concert in July, the performers of which did a homestay with local residents, and the Wind of Asia 21 Kimono Show in which Luxembourg’s female students took part as models. Such events created a sensation and left a lingering afterglow.

Furthermore, many civic organizations such as the Go Club, Japan Classic Car Club, and the Bonsai Club actively participated in the Year’s events. As many as 27 events were held overall, making up the most fruitful year to date.

We plan to take the accomplishments we have achieved through the enhanced exchanges between Luxembourg and Japan and apply them toward the 2007 Grand Region European Cultural Capital.