H.E. Kansuke Nagaoka

People want to express themselves and exchange ideas

Text: Martina Hošková and M. Zisso; Photo: Archive

Can you tell our readers about your professional background?

I joined the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1989, right after graduating from university. During my high school and university studies, the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia and other African countries drew a lot of attention in Japan, and this is one of the reasons why I came to be interested in working for any institution that deals with international affairs. Plus, I always wanted to live and work abroad, even when I was a small child. The entrance examination for the Ministry was very tough, but I was lucky enough to be accepted. Since then, I have pursued my diplomatic career, both in Tokyo and abroad, and have engaged with many issues – from economic cooperation and nuclear disarmament to Middle East affairs, to name a few. My most recent position in Tokyo was Director-General of the Middle East and African Bureau, and after having served in that position for over two years, I was appointed as Ambassador to the Czech Republic in February 2024.

How many countries have you served in so far?

The first country I served in was Syria where, I, as a diplomatic attaché, did virtually nothing but learn Arabic. I then moved to the UK to pursue higher education at a university. The next step was working for our Embassy in the United Arab Emirates for two years. After spending almost 10 years in the headquarters, I was sent to Israel in 2005, and then transferred to Iraq. I returned to Iraq in 2013 for another two-year assignment, after which I was transferred to our Permanent Mission in Geneve, Switzerland. Altogether, I have served in seven countries so far, including the Czech Republic.

You arrived in the Czech Republic a year ago. Will you share your impressions with us?

Architecture and buildings are some of the most vivid differences between Japan and Czechia. In Japan, almost all the old buildings were made of wood and paper, and as such they could not survive for many centuries, except the important shrines and temples in Kyoto, Nara, and other cities. Here in the Czech Republic, people continue to live and work in stone-made centuries-old buildings which are an integral part of life today. Many tourist guidebooks published in Japan describe Prague as a city of one hundred spires, and I was aware of this even before my arrival. Nonetheless, when I started living here, I became overwhelmed with, not just the number of old buildings, but also their natural and smooth fit into people’s daily life. I was truly impressed with the nice coexistence of the old and the new. Another strong impression I got soon after my arrival was the wonderful coexistence between the manmade and the natural. I came to Prague as a tourist five or six years ago, and at that time I spent a few days only in the old town area. I did not realize that the city is so rich with many spacious gardens. If I go down to the parks along the Vltava River, I sometimes forget I live in one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, as I can enjoy the calm and beautiful atmosphere.

Besides enjoying the calmness of Prague parks, what else do you personally find pleasant here?

As I said, I love to spend my free time in the beautiful Prague parks. Nice walks, with the occasional jog or run, relieve my fatigue and stress. I also enjoy watching nature change through the colours of leaves and other plants. I may even encounter small animals, such as rabbits and squirrels. Unfortunately, in the winter season, it is rather difficult to spend hours in the parks, so I started to enjoy opera and classical music. Prague is probably one of the best cities in the world, with many choices available when it comes to music.

Many Czech people would like to visit Japan. What strategies do you use to promote your country abroad?

In 2023, approximately 14,000 Czech people visited Japan, almost the same number as we had recorded before COVID-19, and an even higher number is expected for 2024.

To achieve a further increase in the number of Czech tourists to Japan, we are striving to:

• Organize many cultural events in Prague and other cities, together with the Czech-Japan Friendship Association and other groups.
• Provide necessary information on Japan as a tourist destination to the Czech people interested in Japan but who have never visited there through, for instance, organizing seminars at our Embassy’s cultural centre.
• Promote certain aspects of Japanese culture with our events, such as the one to promote sake.
• Distribute periodical cultural magazines whose every issue features a specific topic on Japanese culture, such as food, hot springs, festivals, etc.
• Make the bilateral air-service agreement entry into force as soon as possible so that the legal basis for future direct flights will be established.

With EXPO 2025 just around the corner, can you tell us a few words about this major event?

When we celebrate our National Day (23rd February), we will only have less than 50 days until the opening of the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The first Universal Exposition after the COVID-19 pandemic starts on 13th April 2025. People around the world are longing for such an event where they can express themselves, exchange ideas, and learn about the latest human creations.

The preparations for the EXPO are steadily progressing. For instance, the Grand Ring, the symbol of the EXPO 2025 site and one of the largest wooden structures in the world with a 2km “Skywalk”, is already ready to welcome visitors. Construction of participating countries’ impressive pavilions is moving forward.

161 countries and regions have confirmed their participation, and EXPO 2025 will welcome 28 million visitors in six months. For each and every participating country, EXPO will provide an ideal opportunity to introduce its unique culture, technology, and business opportunities to visitors from all over the world.

The world business community is facing multifaceted challenges today: disruption of supply chains, world health issues, climate change, and many more. To effectively address these unprecedented challenges, we must change our society. New technologies and innovations are key to our success in this endeavour, and EXPO 2025 will showcase such innovative technologies. We are thrilled to be able to see many people not just touch and feel these, but also exchange new ideas on how to use them with other visitors.

In the previous two Expos that Japan hosted, the Czech pavilion attained great success. This time, the Czech pavilion stands in a very attractive location within the EXPO site, as it is close to the seaside and in front of the main avenue. Visitors will surely admire and enjoy its unique structure, which is constructed by Czech wooden and glass panels. Japan, the third largest economy in the world with a population of 130 million, can offer various business opportunities for Czech companies. And the EXPO will provide important opportunities for Czech companies and businesspeople to introduce their products and get in touch with their Japanese business partners.

What is your assessment of the current status of Czech–Japanese relations?

Japan and the Czech Republic, as strategic partners, have very good relations in the political, business, economic, and cultural fields. If you were to draw a diagram of these relations, it would look like an equilateral triangle. My first task is to further expand and deepen this triangle. I also hope to build new pillars of cooperation, and I would like to strengthen cooperation in the fields of security, science, and technology. With geopolitical risks on the rise, I believe that cooperation in these fields between Japan and the Czech Republic, which share the same values, is extremely important for both countries.

Would you mind giving some advice to the next generation of ambassadors?

My career is perhaps rather different from other diplomats, even within the Japanese Foreign Ministry, as I have spent many years in conflict situations. Nevertheless, I believe the following pieces of advice may be useful for younger diplomats:

• Learn not just about the history of the country you serve in but also about the geography. Any diplomat tries to learn the history of the country when he or she is assigned for the first time. They, however, pay less attention to its geography. From my experience, geography tells a lot about the country, as well as about its relations with its neighbours, in particular when they are connected with land.
• Go out and talk to people. We now have many sources of information, from the public domain and social media, but even so, it remains important to go out to visit places of interest and speak with the local population. Ideally, it is much more effective to talk with them directly in their language.
• Try to foresee future developments and then verify whether you are right or not. When you face a new significant political, economic, or other development, you should not just consider how and why this happens but also try to foresee what will happen in the foreseeable future. Your assessment may be wrong, and if so then it is important to find out the reasons behind that failure.

To conclude the interview, can you make a wish for 2025?

Their Majesties Emperor and Empress frequently visit the areas that have been severely affected by recent natural disasters, such as the great earthquake that hit Noto area last January, in order to console the affected population and encourage them to rebuild their communities. I also strongly wish for a speedy recovery of these areas. We may not prevent such natural disasters, but I hope that we will be able to make our country more resilient to them in the near future. I do hope that the year 2025 will be successful in making our bilateral relations stronger, as we hope to receive many Czech people to visit the EXPO, including Ministers and business delegations.