DAVOS, Switzerland -- Japan Arts Council President Junko Kawamura promoted the nation's arts and culture at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, calling for business leaders the world over to visit the Japan Cultural Expo (Nihonhaku) to be held from 2019 to 2021.
With Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held this year, the government intends to promote the beauty of Japan to the world, using the occasion as one of the means to attract many visitors.
The expo is a "festival of Japanese art and culture," said Kawamura during the "Japan Night" event held by Japanese companies held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos. Kawamura, who also serves as secretary general of the expo, urged people at the venue to visit Japan to enjoy the programs that will be conducted nationwide.
More than 500 businesspeople and leaders gathered at the event. Suntory Holdings Ltd. President Takeshi Niinami and others broke open the lid of a sake barrel in a kagami-biraki ceremony led by Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren).
During the event, participants enjoyed Japanese food, while Noh flute player Isso Yukihiro gave a performance, and a demonstration was held showing how to make sushi.
At the expo, which will start in March, a total of about 370 events, including art exhibitions and stage performances, are expected to be held under the theme "Humanity and Nature in Japan."
"I felt that people of all ages are interested in Japan," Kawamura said, referring to the reaction of people she met in Davos. "I saw many young people there, and I was encouraged as I felt the possibility for the future by meeting all of them."
Kawamura said she plans to continue public relations activities at international conferences.
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