2779 years of history. Anniversaries and culture at the center of bilateral relations
The Italian embassy in Tokyo paid homage to the 2779 years of the foundation of Rome with an institutional ceremony that celebrated the identity of the Capital and its historical projection towards Japan. The high-profile ceremony was dedicated to the double anniversary of the 30th year of the Friendship Pact between Rome and Tokyo and the 160 years of Italian-Japanese diplomatic relations. The event offered the opportunity to renew the historical, cultural and institutional ties that unite the two countries, in a spirit of shared construction that unites Rome and Tokyo. “Celebrating Rome in Tokyo means honoring a bond that goes beyond history and culture,” said the Italian ambassador, Mario Vattani. “The Friendship Pact between our Capitals is today a cornerstone of the strategic partnership between our two countries, an exchange platform that combines urban innovation, sustainability and common cultural roots.” The ceremony was attended by top representatives of the Japanese government, including the Minister of the Environment, the Hon.
Hirotaka Ishihara, the Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Hon. Takehiko Matsuo, and the Deputy Foreign Minister, Hon. Takeshi Akahori. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government was represented by Atsushi Kuwabara, Special Advisor for International Affairs to Governor Koike. Particular emphasis was given to the honorary “Roman citizens” and to the cultural protagonists who act as a bridge between the two nations: Prof.
Masanori Aoyagi (University of Tokyo), archaeologist and author of the recent discoveries in the Villa of Augustus in Somma Vesuviana; the manga artist Mari Yamazaki, author of Thermae Romae and Plinius; Masue Kato, curator of important exhibitions with the Capitoline Museums; the lighting designer Motoko Ishii, author of the special lighting of the Colosseum for the 150th anniversary of bilateral relations, the Italian artist Simone Legno, author of the Italia-chan mascot, at the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, and the teacher Michiko Nojiri, Director of the Urasenke Center in Rome, a contemporary artist who lived in the Capitoline city from 1962 to 2024. To seal the friendship between the two capitals, the evening ended with a spectacular fireworks tribute offered by the City of Ojiya, in Niigata Prefecture, followed by a convivial dinner dedicated to the excellence of the Roman gastronomic tradition, symbol of a thousand-year-old heritage that continues to unite the two friendly countries. “For us, an event focused on culture represents a bond between Italy and Japan”, explains Ambassador Vattani to ANSA. “Obviously we spend a lot on design, on technology, on industry – and this is absolutely right – but we must never forget the cultural leverage in what we do. Bringing together, like a multiplier effect, different worlds of culture – including that of the main contemporary art galleries, as well as numerous Italian brands, generating new ideas, is extremely important”.
