Ceremony Commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Algeria

A ceremony commemorating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Algeria was held at the Mustapha Pacha Palace, located in the heart of the Casbah of Algiers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the presence of Presidential Adviser Youssefi, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Director of the National Museum of Fine Arts, as well as cabinet ministers, senior government officials, university representatives, and members of Japanese companies in Algeria, I had the honor of presenting tea together with Mr. Hideaki Kimura, while Ms. Yuko Okuma gave a demonstration of Japanese calligraphy.

It was, quite literally, a major occasion on which I felt that I was carrying the Japanese flag on my shoulders. It was an immense responsibility, but with the generous support and assistance of my seniors and fellow members of our tea group, I was somehow able to fulfill my role to the very end.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Embassy of Japan in Algeria, the Ministry of Culture of the Algerian Government, COJAAL (Consortium Japonais des Autoroutes Algériennes), and all the many individuals and organizations who have supported the Association Franco-Japonaise pour la Cérémonie du Thé.

It was an honor to represent Japan through tea and traditional culture on such a significant occasion.