The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 by an Act of the National Diet as a special legal entity to undertake international dissemination of Japanese culture, and became an Independent Administrative Institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 1 October 2003 under the "Independent Administrative Institution Japan Foundation Law".
Building of the "Japanisches Kulturinstitut" in Cologne, Germany
The Japan Cultural Institute in Paris, France
Delegates of 3rd Asian Cartoon Exhibition, held at Tokyo, in July 1997, organized by The Japan Foundation Asia Center
Cultural diplomacy is a type of public diplomacy and soft power that includes the "exchange of ideas, information, art, language and other aspects of culture among nations and their peoples in order to foster mutual understanding". The purpose of cultural diplomacy is for the people of a foreign nation to develop an understanding of the nation's ideals and institutions in an effort to build broad support for economic and political objectives. In essence "cultural diplomacy reveals the soul of a nation", which in turn creates influence. Public diplomacy has played an important role in advancing national security objectives.
A meeting of Japan, China, and the West by Shiba Kokan. c. late 18th – c. early 19th century
Migrant Mother (1936), Dorothea Lange
Fulbright Fellow Riccardo Giacconi was a pioneer of X-ray astronomy.
The Beatles
