With the official opening Friday of Japan House in Los Angeles, the last of three planned facilities worldwide, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government will
LOS ANGELES – With the official opening Friday of Japan House in Los Angeles, the last of three planned facilities worldwide, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government will now step up efforts to further extend the country’s soft power and strengthen its “strategic” global communication.
Along with familiarizing foreign people with Japan, Abe’s government plans to use the facilities in Sao Paulo, London and Los Angeles to better communicate with the world on sensitive issues such as Japan’s perception of wartime history and its position on territorial disputes with China, South Korea and Russia. The LA facility — which, unlike an embassy or other diplomatic establishment, can be accessed by anyone without prior appointment — is a cultural promotion center with exhibits featuring the nation’s cutting-edge technology, arts and regional specialties, as well as a library, hall and restaurant serving Japanese food and sake.
There aren’t any exhibits or planned events linked to history and territory — at least for now.
“A starting point is to provide visitors with various information about Japan, be it business, animation, J-pop or washoku Japanese cuisine,” said a Foreign Ministry official involved in the Japan House project.
“The initial goal is to get many people to develop an interest in Japan and broaden the base of international understanding on the country, especially in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” the official said, requesting anonymity. “We hope Japan’s position and views on history and territory, which can be easily misunderstood, will be known around the world as a result.”
In an address at Friday’s opening ceremony for the Los Angeles facility, Foreign Minister Taro Kono said, “With Japan House LA, we would like to bring everything Japanese — its history, its culture and hopefully its people, as well.”
American scholars regard the project as an acknowledgment by the Abe government that Japan is not successfully responding to alternative narratives about the nation being advanced by other countries, especially China and South Korea, as well as some Americans and others.
