Wakasa Town, a coastal community in Fukui Prefecture known for the Mikata Five Lakes, the Jomon and Varve museums, umeboshi (Japanese plum) production, and more, had never before hosted a foreign ambassador at this level. The visit came about through my proposal to both the Serbian Ambassador to Japan and Mayor of Wakasa Town to have the two communities meet, marking a significant step in extending Japan-Serbia relations beyond Tokyo and into local communities.
Over the course of three days, Ambassador Kovač and Mayor Watanabe were joined by the Head of the Board of Education, the Women’s Branch of the Wakasa Town Chamber of Commerce, the Chairman of the City Council, and a variety of heads of businesses in the Town representing the agriculture, pharmaceutical, and auto-manufacturing sectors among others to for a series of productive meetings and cultural exchanges. Highlights included a business roundtable, magatama-bead making at the Jomon Museum, a kayak tour in the Tsunegami Peninsula, and public presentation on Expo 2027 and Serbia-Japan relations.
The visit also gave Ambassador Kovač the opportunity to introduce Wakasa Town leaders to Expo 2027, Serbia’s upcoming World Expo set to take place in Belgrade from May 15- August 15, themed around “Play for Humanity”. The exchange highlighted the growing appetite on both sides for deeper ties between Japanese municipalities and Serbia. Mayor Watanabe introduced the Serbian Ambassador to Wakasa ume (plums), wine, the world-class Jomon and Lake Suigetsu Varve museums, and the Mikata Five Lakes showcasing a unique rural portrait of Japan that cannot be found elsewhere.
The visit was highlighted in the local Fukui Shimbun. I was honored to have played a role as a facilitator, creating new relationships and bonds between hitherto separate communities. Looking ahead, there will be opportunities for further exchanges. Connecting communities across borders one visit at a time!
