Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon is concluding her visit to Japan. On the second day, she met with Kazuchiko Iwata, Japan's Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, as well as representatives of Japan's largest business federation Keidanren, namely the CEO of Hitachi Corporation Toshiaki Higashihara and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SMBC, Japan's second largest bank.

In Japan, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa discussed bilateral relations and cooperation in the UN Security Council, particularly in view of the many conflicts that require decisive action by the international community. On the first day of her visit to Tokyo, Minister Fajon addressed the Japan-Slovenia Business Council and gave a lecture at Keio University.

On October 12th, 2023, His Excellency Mr. Jurij Rifelj presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty the Japanese Emperor Naruhito at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. With this, he assumed the duties of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to Japan.
Ambassador Rifelj and His Majesty have confirmed excellent relations between Slovenia and Japan and discussed possibilites for further strengthening of the bilateral cooperation.

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Igor Papič met with representatives of various Japanese institutions and attended the STS Forum in Kyoto during his working visit in Japan. He was accompanied by Ambassador Mr Jurij Rifelj.

On the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly, Minister Tanja Fajon held a series of bilateral talks, including with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Foreign Minister of Ecuador Gustavo Manrique Miranda, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Enrique Manalo.

Ms Irena Šinko, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MAFF), met with the Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Tetsuro Nomura. During her visit to Japan, the Minister held several meetings with representatives of different institutions, taking also a field tour of several show cases of good practices in agriculture and in fisheries.

Ms Irena Šinko, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MAFF), is participating in the formal opening of the 48th FOODEX Japan 2023, the largest international food and beverages show, jointly with a delegation of Slovenian industrial and economic operators. At the show, regarded as the leading food and beverage show in Asia, 11 Slovenian companies are presenting themselves.

On 8 February 2023, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo organised a celebration of the Slovenian Cultural Day at the Embassy's premises.

On Monday, December 12, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo participated in the charity event Ikebana International Fair. The honorary patron of the event is Japanese Imperial Princess Takamado. She traditionally addresses the participants and officially opens the fair. Before opening ceremony, she pays a courtesy visit to the exhibitors and symbolically participates to the event proceeds by purchasing different products.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of relations between Slovenia and Japan on December 15 2022 Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo organised a poetry recital for Slovenians and friends of Slovenia in memory of the life and work of Father Dr Vladimir Kos.

On Tuesday, 13 December 2022, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo organised a working honey breakfast entitled "Bee x Education". The main topic was the importance of educating beekeepers, educating the general public about bees and apitourism.

On International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2022, Slovenia launched the Our Rights project in Japan. Ambassador Blanka Jamnišek, responsible for the project, participated in the Youth Forum organised by Soka Gakkai International, shared her experience about the project and conducted training for 40 teachers on the use of tools to teach children about their rights. Prior to the Forum, she was interviewed by the pupils and students from SGI schools for the newspaper Seikyo Shimbun.

The President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, Alojz Kovšca, paid an official visit to Japan from 6 to 11 November 2022, upon the invitation of the Speaker of the Senate of Japan, Hidehisa Otsuji. President of the National Council Alojz Kovšca was accompanied by the State Councillors, Bojan Kekec and Mitja Gorenšček.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar addressed the participants at the opening ceremony of the Consulate of the Republic of Slovenia in Fukui, Japan, along with Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovenia Tetsuji Shindo and senior representatives of national, regional and local authorities. During his visit, the State Secretary participated in a business seminar on IT solutions and space technologies.

As part of his visit to Japan, State Secretary Samuel Žbogar held political consultations with Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada and Director-General Masashi Nakagome. During the talks, the two sides discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation between Slovenia and Japan, talked about EU-Japan relations and exchanged views on the situation in the two regions.

This year's Biwako Biennale is entitled "Origin". With this title, it returns to the origins of the world. The Slovenian artist Ms Eva Petrič is also exhibiting at the Biennale with the artwork "Incubator of E@motions, we all come from this heart...". The heart as the centre of all networks, surrounded by a tree made of Slovenian lace.

During his visit to Japan, Minister of Education, Science and Sport Dr Igor Papič participated at the Science and Technology in Society Forum, which took place from 1 - 4 October 2022.

The President of the National Assembly, Ms Urška Klakočar Zupančič visited Japan from 26 to 30 September 2022, where she attended the funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On behalf of the Republic of Slovenia, she expressed condolences to Prime Minister Kishida, Foreign Minister Hayashi, and Mrs. Akie Abe. The funeral ceremony was also attended by the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Miroslav Cerar.

On 12 September 2022, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo joined the first virtual meeting of Slovenians, who have been educated abroad and live in Japan. The meeting was organised by Društvo VTIS.

Ms. Tina Vodnik, Chargé d'affaires a.i. at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, met with Mr Ichiro Aisawa,
Chairman of Japan-Slovenia Parliamentary Friendship Association in the Japanese Parliament, on 8 September 2022.
The meeting took place in the context of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Slovenia and Japan, which the two countries are celebrating this year.