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On July 2, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a Launch Celebration for “Japonismes 2018: les âmes en resonance (the souls in resonance)” held in Tokyo.
 
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
 
“Thank you all very much for taking time out from your busy schedules to attend the send-off party to celebrate the opening of Japonismes 2018.
 
As the World Cup matches always take place at a late hour, I have recently been suffering from a slight lack of sleep, and I am also wishing they would hold the matches at a more convenient hour. At the same time, I have also been impressed with the great victory of France against Argentina. I have a plan here: if Japan were to win against Belgium tomorrow, and further, win against Brazil as well, we would then meet France at the semi-finals. Furthermore, if Japan were to win in the semi-finals, we would eventually enter the finals.
 
Anyway, we have finally reached the last 10 days before the opening of Japonismes 2018 on July 12. Standing before all of you present here today, who are working on the frontlines of your respective fields, it fills me with immense pride.
 
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the parties involved in the preparations thus far, all the companies that have offered their cooperation, as well as to all our counterparts from France, who have supported the concepts of Japonismes 2018 and the 160 years of friendship between Japan and France and worked together to prepare for this event.
 
Japan’s culture ranges from ancient culture, represented by the brilliant and vivid formative art expressed through the earthenware of the ancient *Jomon period, to contemporary culture such as the latest animation works which draws fans from all around the world today. I would like to spread this culture, which boasts a diversity that is unparalleled in the world, far across the world even more than before. This has been my wish for a long time now.
 
Japonismes 2018, which started with this desire, is now becoming a monumental festival that spreads and communicates Japanese culture on an unprecedented scale with the cooperation of a truly large number of people. It is truly a major project to make culture a pillar of our country’s diplomatic engagement.
 
It is destiny that brought us France as a partner for this commemorative event. As everyone knows well, France and Japan have a long history of culture that is tied through our hearts.
 
In the 19th century, Ukiyo-e art by leading Japanese artists of the time such as Hokusai, stirred the imagination of French artists. It was truly a boom for Japan, called Japonismes in French. At the same time, Japan has also always been enchanted by the prolific artists of France, such as Monet, Rodin, and Hugo. Japan and France have mutually enhanced and boosted their respective cultures through the interaction and exchanges between our souls and spirits.
 
‘Japonismes 2018: les âmes en resonance’ unravels this history, and at the same time, embodies our hopes of creating a new culture.
 
Japonismes 2018, which reflects this vision, offers very attractive line-up. When you simply take a glance at the faces of those who are gathered here today, you will find it out very clearly. This season is our ambitious attempt to promote the appeal of a wide range of Japanese culture altogether, from traditional culture to modern art, theater, animation and Japanese film, as well as traditional festivals, cuisine, and crafts of the various regions of Japan.
 
Today, Mr. Shingo Katori, who has been appointed as the PR Ambassador of Japonismes 2018, is present here today in celebration of this departure. I hope he would successfully show how Japanese culture is blossoming in France through this event to many people in Japan, France, and all over the world.
 
Both President Macron and I will attend the opening ceremony of this event, which will take place in Paris in 10 days. I am looking forward to witnessing the opening scene of Paris being completely dyed with Japanese culture.
 
In closing, I look forward greatly to your active engagement, which will make Japonismes 2018 a great success. Thank you very much.”
 
 
*The period of Japanese history dated between 14,000 -300 BCE.