H.E.Mr.Herman Van Rompuy came to Japan and paid a courtesy visit to former Prime Minister Kishida and Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Tokura

Herman Van Rompuy (Haiku Ambassador for Japan-EU Friendship and Honorary President of the EU), who visited Japan as the leader of the Belgian delegation to EXPO2025 OSAKA, paid a courtesy visit to former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (Chairman of the Parliamentary League for Haiku UNESCO Registration Support) for the HIA and the Council for the Promotion of the Registration of Haiku as UNESCO.

Van Rompuy requested further support from the Parliamentary League for the UNESCO registration, to which Kishida replied, “We will make efforts to make it happen.”

And, he also held discussions with Shunichi Tokura, Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, regarding the registration of intangible cultural heritage, a prerequisite for UNESCO recognition. The Commissioner acknowledged Van Rompuy’s passion for haiku and expressed his intention to accelerate the registration process.

Van Rompuy was appointed Haiku Ambassador for Japan-EU Friendship by then-foreign Minister Kishida in 2015. His term has been extended for another two years starting this year, marking his 12th year as Ambassador.