• 
• 
• 
• 

 
On June 22, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concurrently held the sixth meeting of the “Beauty of Japan” Comprehensive Project Advisory Panel and the third meeting of the Japonismes 2018 Comprehensive Promotion Council at the Prime Minister's Office.
 
At the meeting, there was discussion on Japonismes 2018 and other matters.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for attending this ‘Beauty of Japan’ Comprehensive Project Advisory Panel and Japonismes 2018 Comprehensive Promotion Council meeting today despite your busy schedules.
 
The seeds of a Japan Exposition concept were sown at this Advisory Panel two years ago. This may be putting it too strongly, but no one could have imagined that we would really be able to set up this project in Paris in a little over two years. However, thanks to everyone’s contributions, it has now grown into a large flower and will blossom profoundly in France as Japonismes 2018 from next month.
 
Circumstances permitting, I will attend the opening ceremony to be held in Paris next month together with President Macron and promote to all of France and the rest of the world the beauty of Japan. With the cooperation of Mr. Shingo Katori, the PR Ambassador of Japonismes 2018, I want to thoroughly show the wonders of Japonismes 2018.
 
There will be an exhibition on the theme of ‘FUKAMI (depth),’ which expresses the overall concept of Japonismes 2018, an authentic Shochiku Grand Kabuki performance, the first to be held in Paris in 11 years, and a concert by Hatsune Miku, which is very popular among young people overseas. My heart is beginning to beat with excitement for these projects. I hope to have many people from around the world experience for themselves the aesthetic of Japan, and share with them the emotion that this aesthetic imparts.
 
In 2019, several projects in the United States and Southeast Asia are in the pipeline, following Japonismes 2018 and making use of its momentum. I would like the relevant ministries and agencies, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Japan Foundation, to work together and exert every effort on this.
 
In addition, I have received a proposal from the members of this Advisory Panel. The success of this exposition does not mark the end of our efforts. It will surely spread the wonderful aspects of Japan among many people, including the Japanese people themselves. We will carefully consider how best to make full use of this opportunity to promote these wonders at the grassroots level.
 
And then there is 2020. Today, I have also received a proposal from Chairman Tsugawa on holding a Japan Exposition in Japan, a plan to have people from around the world come to Japan and experience the beauty of Japan in various regions for themselves, as the culmination of our efforts. I would like to ask the relevant ministries and agencies, led by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, to collaborate and advance every possible effort for this. A moment ago, it was pointed out by Council member Hayashi that Japonismes 2018 might not incorporate the perspective of literature into the project. I hope to work thoroughly to ensure that the same will not happen in 2020, and I ask for everyone’s help with this.
 
The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020 will draw interest in Japan from all over the world. I want to use that excellent opportunity to communicate the charms of Japan to the greatest extent possible, and to enable the countless number of people that will visit Japan experience them firsthand. I request the continued guidance of everyone at this Advisory Panel, and for the further cooperation of all relevant companies and organizations. Thank you very much.”