Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism Kicks Off

Japanese Ambassador Nakayama Yasunori with Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.

The “2024 Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism” kicked off recently paving the way for stronger ties between the two countries through a series of joint initiatives, including Japan’s participation in this year’s Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition in the summer.

The official launch was announced during a reception at the Embassy of Japan in Athens last week on occasion of the 64th birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito.

Attending the event, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni referred to the shared principles and traditions between the two nations and the opportunity through the initiative to increase tourist flows between Greece and Japan and to highlight each country’s cultural offerings.

The “2024 Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism” comes after a visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Japan last year where he met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida during the Japan-Greece Summit. During his Tokyo visit, Mitsotakis invited Japanese investors to discover the wide range of opportunities on offer in Greece.

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni later met with Japan’s Ambassador to Greece Yasunori Nakayama  and discussed a series of joint events, archaeological exhibitions, film festivals, theater performances, concerts, and culinary workshops to take place in both countries as part of the Greece-“2024 Japan Year of Culture and Tourism”.

Earlier this month, the Japanese Film Festival was held at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in Athens.