On August 21, 2026, Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), attended a reception commemorating the 217th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Ecuador. The reception was hosted by H.E. Mr. César Montaño, Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to Japan.

The celebration brought together representatives of the Government of Japan, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, academics, and friends of Ecuador to commemorate the country’s independence and reaffirm the growing friendship between Ecuador and Japan.

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Montaño reflected on the historic significance of Ecuador’s independence and welcomed the distinguished guests attending the celebration.

Representing the Government of Japan, Mr. Yohei Onishi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered congratulatory remarks following Ambassador Montaño. He described Japan and Ecuador as important partners that share common values and principles. He also highlighted the growing momentum in bilateral relations following President Daniel Noboa’s visit to Japan in 2025 and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi’s visit to Ecuador in August 2026.

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Onishi expressed his expectation that the Japan-Ecuador Economic and Trade Committee would hold meaningful discussions on ways to deepen bilateral economic relations across a wide range of fields. He also reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to further strengthening the partnership.

The reception took place shortly after the Japan-Ecuador Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Ecuador on August 6, 2026. During the meeting, the two countries discussed the possibility of establishing a bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). They agreed to continue broad economic discussions through the Economic and Trade Committee, which will report its findings to the two foreign ministers by the end of 2026.

Minister Motegi also explained Japan’s updated vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), which promotes the rule of law, open and secure sea lanes, resilient supply chains, sustainable development, and international cooperation. Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Roberto Kury Pesantes expressed his country’s support for the initiative. As a Pacific-facing Latin American country, Ecuador is well positioned to serve as an important bridge between South America and the wider Indo-Pacific region. Its support for FOIP reflects the expanding strategic dimension of relations between Ecuador and Japan.

On behalf of JAPOLAC, Dr. Diaz conveyed his warm congratulations to Ambassador Montaño and to the Government and people of Ecuador on the occasion of the 217th Anniversary of Ecuadorian Independence. He also reaffirmed JAPOLAC’s commitment to supporting the Embassy of Ecuador’s initiatives in Japan and promoting greater awareness of Ecuador’s culture, economy, and business opportunities.

On August 18, Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), held a meeting with Her Excellency Sandy Dávila Sandoval, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Nicaragua to Japan.

During the meeting, Dr. Díaz expressed his appreciation to Ambassador Dávila for the Embassy of Nicaragua in Japan joining JAPOLAC as an Honorary Member, noting that its membership contributes to strengthening the Association’s ties with the diplomatic missions of Latin America and the Caribbean accredited to Japan.

Ambassador Dávila, for her part, expressed her appreciation for JAPOLAC’s support in coordinating a lecture on Nicaragua at Chiba University in May of this year, an initiative that provided university students with an opportunity to gain a closer understanding of the country and helped promote greater awareness of Nicaragua in Japan.

The Ambassador also expressed her appreciation for the reports prepared by JAPOLAC on Japan’s political, economic, social, and international situation, highlighting their usefulness as a source of information for understanding and monitoring the country’s main developments and trends.

Dr. Díaz noted that the participation of embassies as Honorary Members is an important component of JAPOLAC’s mission to serve as a practical platform connecting Japan with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting information exchange, education, culture, and trade facilitation.

He also reiterated JAPOLAC’s readiness to continue supporting the Embassy of Nicaragua’s activities aimed at raising awareness of Central America in Japan and strengthening exchanges between Nicaragua and Japan.

The incorporation of the Embassy of Nicaragua as an Honorary Member represents another step in strengthening JAPOLAC’s institutional network. It reaffirms the Association’s commitment to working closely with Latin American and Caribbean diplomatic missions accredited to Japan to promote initiatives that foster closer ties and mutual benefit between Japan and the region.

On August 3, Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), participated in the opening reception of the photographic exhibition “The Soul of Panama Coffee Farms,” organized by the Embassy of Panama in Japan at JICA Global Plaza in Tokyo.

During the opening reception, Dr. Díaz expressed his appreciation to Mrs. Zaradeeth Del Real Tam, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Panama in Japan, for the kind invitation and congratulated the Embassy of Panama on promoting an initiative that brings Panama’s coffee culture and the people behind it closer to the Japanese public.

The exhibition, which ran from August 3 to 15, 2026, featured the work of Japanese photographer Satoko Nishioka and was organized in cooperation with the Panama Tourism Authority and with the support of JICA’s Latin America and Caribbean Department. Through photography, it presents the landscapes, producers, and traditions of Panama’s coffee-growing regions, while highlighting varieties such as Geisha, Catuai, Caturra, and Typica. It also showcases sustainable production practices and the combination of tradition and innovation that characterizes Panama’s specialty coffee industry.

The exhibition also provides an opportunity to showcase one of Panama’s most internationally recognized agricultural products. Panamanian specialty coffee, particularly Geisha coffee, holds a prestigious position in high-end international markets and is renowned for its exceptional quality and distinctive flavor profile. In 2025, a washed Geisha from Panama’s Hacienda La Esmeralda achieved a record price of US$30,204 per kilogram at the Best of Panama auction, demonstrating the extraordinary value that the finest Panamanian coffees can command in the global specialty coffee market.

JAPOLAC welcomes initiatives such as “The Soul of Panama Coffee Farms,” which use culture, photography, and distinctive national products to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the ties between Panama and Japan.

Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of meeting many distinguished entrepreneurs. Some have built highly successful companies; others have accumulated great wealth. Yet only a select few leave behind a legacy that transcends business and genuinely enriches society. Kiyoshi Kimura, President of Kiyomura Corporation and founder of Sushi Zanmai, belongs to this rare and inspiring group of leaders who believe that the true purpose of business is not merely to generate profits or satisfy investors, but to improve people’s lives, create happiness, and contribute to the well-being of society.

Although he is internationally recognized as the “Tuna King” for his record-breaking purchases at Tokyo’s renowned tuna auctions, that title captures only a small part of who he truly is. Behind the celebrated businessman stands a man of profound humanity whose philosophy is rooted in friendship, generosity, human development, international cooperation, and the conviction that commerce can become one of the world’s most effective instruments for peace.

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On July 27, Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), attended the reception commemorating the 205th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Peru, hosted by the Embassy of Peru in Japan at a prestigious Tokyo hotel.

The reception brought together senior Japanese government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the business community, academics, and members of the Peruvian community in Japan to celebrate Peru’s National Day and reaffirm the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between Peru and Japan.

Representing the Government of Japan, Dr. Ayano Kunimitsu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered congratulatory remarks in which she described Peru as Japan’s longest-standing diplomatic partner in Latin America and emphasized that the two countries are strategic partners that share common values and principles. She also highlighted the important contribution of the approximately 200,000 members of the Nikkei community in Peru, recognizing them as a vital bridge that continues to strengthen bilateral relations.

During the reception, H.E. Mr. Francisco Tenya Hasegawa, Ambassador of Peru to Japan, welcomed the distinguished guests and reaffirmed Peru’s commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation with Japan in a wide range of fields, including trade, investment, infrastructure, education, and cultural exchange.

On behalf of JAPOLAC, Dr. Ritter Diaz conveyed his congratulations to Ambassador Tenya Hasegawa on the occasion of Peru’s National Day and reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to supporting the Embassy of Peru’s initiatives to promote Peruvian culture and strengthen mutual understanding between Peru and Japan.

Peru and Japan continue to enjoy one of the most dynamic and enduring bilateral relationships between Asia and Latin America. Current priorities include the implementation of the Peru–Japan Roadmap 2024–2033, the expansion of economic cooperation, growing Japanese interest in Peru’s logistics and critical minerals sectors, and enhanced collaboration in education, food security, science, technology, and cultural exchange.

One of JAPOLAC’s principal objectives is to support the activities of the embassies of Latin America and the Caribbean accredited in Japan by promoting greater awareness and understanding of the region among the Japanese public through educational, cultural, academic, and business initiatives that strengthen the longstanding ties between Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean.