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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the fourth meeting of the “Beauty of Japan” Comprehensive Project Advisory Panel and the first meeting of the Japonisme 2018 Comprehensive Promotion Council at the Prime Minister's Office

At the meeting, reports were made on the results of an exhibition on Japanese statues of Buddha held in Italy; the background to Japonisme 2018; the concept, title, and dates for Japonisme 2018; and the status of the review of the proposed plans for Japonisme 2018.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“I would like to express my gratitude to everyone on the Panel for attending this meeting despite your busy schedules.

Japan has a culture and arts that it is proud to share with the world. This Panel was established based on the proposal of Chairperson Tsugawa who recommended that Japan share the wonders of its culture and arts with the world as a means of diplomacy. The more I hear from the members of the Panel, the more I feel that Japan’s culture and arts possess the great potential for connecting Japan and the world. This is something I strongly feel and the possibilities excite me greatly.

The year 2018 is fast approaching. The year 2018 represents two milestones, namely the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration and the 160th anniversary of friendly relations between Japan and France. It is in this year of milestones that we have decided to start our cultural diplomacy, which was born from this Panel.

Therefore, at this year’s Japan-France Summit Meeting in May, I proposed to President Hollande the holding of the largest project of the 21st century for disseminating Japanese culture in Paris, a city renowned for its culture, and he accepted.

This project is called Japonisme 2018. It demonstrates the government’s commitment to heighten Japan’s presence in the world using the power of its culture. It also represents one of the pillars of the Abe Cabinet.

This project will introduce a wide range of Japanese culture, from the traditional performing arts of kabuki and noh theater, bunraku puppet theater, and gagaku court music and dance, to modern theater and art, as well as concerts featuring the dance performance of Hatsune Miku, exhibitions of manga, literature, and anime, and screenings of Japanese film retrospectives. In addition, we are currently working to hold other exhibitions, such as on the Jakuchu or Rinpa schools of painting, which have recently been popular here in Japan, or on the Jomon Period, which is said to represent the origins of Japan’s culture.

In 2020, Tokyo will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The whole world will be closely watching the Tokyo Games, and as we prepare for them, we are committed to giving rise to a 21st century boom in Japonisme and fostering greater interest in our country. The Government of France has invited me to attend Japonisme 2018 and if the circumstances permit, I hope to travel to France to enliven the festivities.

Japan must work as one to ensure the success of this new initiative. Today, I will establish the Japonisme 2018 Comprehensive Promotion Council for Japonisme 2018 so that the public and private sector can work together to make this project both effective and efficient.

As members of the Comprehensive Project Advisory Panel and of the Comprehensive Promotion Council, I would like you all to share your frank opinions during discussions so as to make Japonisme 2018 a success. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.”