• 
• 

On December 18, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a luncheon for Japanese-speaking ambassadors accredited to Japan, at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“Welcome to the Prime Minister’s Official Residence. This is the third time I have hosted this luncheon with Japanese-speaking ambassadors, and I very much look forward to conversing with you, with whom I do not need to speak through an interpreter.

I always feel that the comments and views of all of you, who deeply understand Japan’s culture and society through your knowledge of Japanese, are immensely heartening and precious to this country. All in all, Japan is not a country that asserts itself very much. I hope that on our behalf you will communicate to the rest of the world about the positive aspects of Japan, and about Japanese culture. 

The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place in two years. I expect that many people will visit Japan from abroad that year. I greatly look forward to visits by so many guests from your home countries. I have high hopes that it will allow even more people to come in contact with Japanese culture, and that the number of people who understand Japan will increase thanks to the interactions visitors will have with Japanese people.

Today, I would like to hear your frank views as true Japanophiles. I hope to hear valuable comments from you, from your perspective as foreign nationals who have come to Japan, about what this country should do more of, or areas in which the Government is lacking. There is still time left until 2020, and I intend to take action based on your many precious opinions. I will fix what needs to be fixed. Thank you very much.”