We arrived yesterday, and the city seems very, very peaceful," said Japanese delegate Yoshiki Oi, who attends the University of Tokyo. "We are going to big cities, but this allows us to have a good perspective of America. If all we saw were the big cities, we would not learn about all of America.

The Ayala Center Cebu Cinema will be hosting Eigasai 2010, a Japanese Contemporary Film Festival from Aug. 3 to 8. “This event is a very good chance for cultural exchange. We are privileged to watch other nations' cultures particularly Japan’s in relation to filmmaking,” said regular film festival movie viewer Prof. Ligaya Rabago...

Tetsuya Watanabe, the official in charge of the Cool Japan section at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, could not hide his shock at the strides being made by South Korea.

Japan has indicated it wants to exit from the system of aiding poor countries. The move comes at a time of weakening US economy, and China’s drive to enlarge its role in the arena of aid politics in both Africa and Asia.

Young Vietnamese artist Hoang Duong Cam will join his Japanese colleague Takayuki Yamamoto in an exhibition of their joint works in Hanoi from July 23 to August 5. The exhibition entitled “On each kilometre” is part of the arts cooperation assistance project of the Japan Culture Exchange Centre in Vietnam.

Asako Kato, one of the volunteers serving as a teacher at the Kimironko-based centre, said that the event particularly targeted local communities interested in understanding the relationship between the Rwandan and Japanese cultures.

Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari has reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to become a knowledge-based economy. The minister said Saudi universities have established partnerships with leading institutions of higher learning in the world, including those in Japan, to develop a knowledge-based society. “We want greater cooperation with Japan in this respect,” he added.

Two works by Cuban artist Raul Hermina were displayed at the recently concluded 15th International "Art Mirai" Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan, as one of the representatives of Latin American art.