Public Diplomacy in the News: Diamond Diplomacy, LA28's Slogan, & NFL in Japan

“Public Diplomacy in the News” is a CPD Blog series by Andrew Dubbins that spotlights noteworthy stories on public diplomacy topics such as cultural diplomacy, nation branding, exchange programs, international events and conferences, digital diplomacy, and strategic global communications.

Diamond Diplomacy: Baseball as a Bridge Between Japan and the United States. Filmmaker Yuriko Gamo Romer’s documentary Diamond Diplomacy, premiering internationally at the Tokyo Film Festival, explores how baseball has shaped more than 150 years of U.S.-Japan relations through cultural exchange, wartime conflict and reconciliation. Developed over 12 years with producer Marc Smolowitz, the film draws on rare archival footage and stories ranging from Babe Ruth’s 1934 Japan tour to the careers of Japanese baseball pioneers and modern stars. Despite losing National Endowment for the Humanities funding under the Trump administration, the filmmakers secured new support, including from U.S.-Japan diplomat Glenn Fukushima, underscoring the documentary’s significance as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy.

Zac Ntim / Deadline

LA28 Unveils “Stars Align” Slogan. Organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games have introduced “Stars Align” as their official slogan, celebrating the intersection of athletic preparation, opportunity and Los Angeles’ identity as the entertainment capital of the world. The campaign emphasizes community participation, recognizing the volunteers, workers and local businesses helping bring the Games to life. The campaign launched with a promotional video featuring Southern California landmarks and music by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

Rory Carroll / Reuters

NFL Eyes Tokyo as International Expansion Accelerates. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the league is considering bringing a regular-season game to Tokyo as early as 2027 or 2028, part of its ambitious strategy to expand American football's global reach. The NFL is playing a record nine international games in 2026, including its first games in Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro and Paris, and is considering increasing that number to ten in 2027. Goodell pointed to the success of the Melbourne game, which drew 100,000 fans, as evidence of the sport's growing international appeal and the league's ability to overcome logistical challenges.

Jeremy Bergman / NFL

Germany’s Automotive Crisis Threatens Its Global Soft Power. Germany’s struggling automobile industry, long a cornerstone of its economic strength and international reputation, faces mounting challenges from Chinese competition, U.S. tariffs and the transition to electric vehicles. Volkswagen, once a symbol of Germany’s postwar recovery and engineering excellence, is undertaking an unprecedented restructuring involving major job cuts and potential factory closures. Historian Katja Hoyer argues that the industry’s decline threatens not only Germany’s economic stability but also its soft power, undermining its global image as a nation defined by innovation, reliability and resilience.

Katja Hoyer / Monocle

UNESCO and Green Climate Fund Partner to Strengthen Global Climate Action. UNESCO has received accreditation from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the world’s largest dedicated climate fund, enabling the organization to help developing countries secure financing for climate resilience projects. The partnership will combine GCF funding with UNESCO’s expertise in science, education, cultural heritage and Indigenous knowledge to address challenges ranging from water security and natural disasters to ecosystem preservation. With climate change threatening UNESCO World Heritage sites and vulnerable communities worldwide, the collaboration aims to accelerate locally driven adaptation efforts, particularly in developing countries and Small Island Developing States.

UNESCO