Evening Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Japan-EU Friendship

On the evening of 5^th February, the Mission of Japan to the EU together with Nihonjinkai, hosted a reception to mark the 50th anniversary of Mission of Japan at Sofitel Europe Brussels. Approximately 150 guests, including from the European Parliament, officials from other European Union institutions, Japanese companies and the media, attended the event.

Upon arrival, Ms Aki Sato played the koto beautifully and then Yorokai opened the ceremony with a dynamic taiko performance. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Aikawa stressed that in these increasingly uncertain times, Japan and the EU share a greater duty to maintain and strengthen the free, open and rule-based international order, and that the partnership between Japan and the EU will continue to grow. He also introduced the official 50th anniversary logo selected through a public contest, and the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which will open in April this year.

A variety of Japanese sake was served, including Zaku from Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten of Mie Prefecture. To showcase the attractiveness of Japanese food, sushi and Wagyu beef dishes were prepared by Chef Arima of the Ambassador's Residence of the Mission to the EU and Chef Ishii of the Ambassador's Residence in Belgium. Akafuku, a special sweet from Ise, Mie Prefecture was also presented.