JAKARTA - Efforts to strengthen Indonesian-Japanese cooperation in cultural dialogue, including through cultural exchanges, education, and people-to-people contact, continue to be developed.
Through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (Kemitraan Komprehensif Strategis) framework, both countries continue to strengthen social-cultural relations, one of which is through exploring cooperation to develop the Asian-African Conference Museum (MKAA) Historic Area.
This was stated by the Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy (Dirjen IDP), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) RI, Ambassador (Dubes) Heru Subolo during a working visit in Tokyo, Japan, June 17-19, 2026.
"We have held a number of meetings with the Japanese side, ranging from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Japan Foundation (JF), National Archives of Japan (NAJ), and Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR)," he explained, launching the statement of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo (23/6).
"With MoFA, we exchanged views on the management of public information and communication in the digital era, and the strengthening of cooperation in Indonesian-Japanese cultural diplomacy as part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. With JF, we discussed strengthening the relationship between the two countries through cultural exchange programs, Japanese language education, Japanese studies, and global partnerships. It was also discussed the development of the Asian-African Conference Historic Area (KAA) in Bandung. We also met with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Tokyo National Museum (TNM)," said Ambassador Heru.
"NAJ and JACAR welcome the opportunity to cooperate with Indonesia, especially regarding the preservation, digitization, and utilization of the KAA archives for the benefit of research, education, and public diplomacy," he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of the KAA Museum, Noviasari Rustam, explained that the Japanese welcomed the plan to develop the KAA Museum Historic Area and future collaborative programs.
"The development of the KAA Museum has received a positive response from the Japanese side. They support the plan to develop the capacity of the KAA Museum from the perspective of human resources. They will also connect the KAA Museum with the network of museums in Japan. The KAA Museum will also cooperate with NAJ and JACAR regarding digitization, and the use of KAA archives for the benefit of education, and public diplomacy," he explained.
"With the Tokyo National Museum, we hope to be able to carry out some technical cooperation with the KAA museum. Including sharing information about public programs at the Tokyo National Museum," he added.
Noviasari Rustam explained that the main challenges faced by the KAA Museum were infrastructure, facilities and human resources.
The KAA Museum, according to him, also strives to maximize the provision of accurate information access for the public not only in Indonesia but also for foreign tourists.
GastrodiplomacyStill in the series of activities, the Director General of IDP at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Heru Subolo, held a discussion on Indonesian Gastrodiplomacy with a number of Indonesian restaurant business actors in Tokyo.
The discussion, which took place at the Cinta Jawa Restaurant located in Shibuya, Tokyo, was used to exchange experiences regarding the challenges and dynamics that take place in developing Indonesian restaurants in the Sakura country.
"Indonesian cuisine is one of the entry points for introducing Indonesia in Japan. The existence of Indonesian restaurants in Japan is an effective bridge of cultural diplomacy between the two countries," he explained.
"This forum can at least be a common platform in identifying challenges, as well as formulating a common strategy to increase the visibility and attractiveness of Indonesian cuisine in Japan," said Ambassador Heru.
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