On June 1, 2019, The Symposium on the History of Bulgaria-Japan Exchanges was held at Josai International University’s Kioicho Campus, in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward.

The symposium, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria and The Japan Bulgaria Foundation Inc., was dedicated to the triple anniversary in BulgariaJapan relations: 110 years since first official contact, 80 years since the first establishment of diplomatic relations and 60 years since the restoration of diplomatic relations. The symposium was sponsored by Josai University Educational Corp. and Meiji Co. with support from the Japan-Bulgaria Society.

The panelists were Bulgarian diplomat and Japanese literature translator Vera Stefanova, Sofia University professor and expert on East Asia Evgeniy Kandilarov, Nishogakusha University honorary professor Junko Sugahara and Japan Women’s University professor Makoto Kimura whose research involves international relations and Bulgarian studies.

Symposium attendees included Bulgarian Ambassador Borislav Kostov, his wife Manya Kostova and Director-General of The Japan Bulgaria Foundation Inc. Akiko Igaya.

Regarding the Bulgaria-Japan relations, Stefanova — former counselor of the Bulgarian embassy in Tokyo — co-authored “Bulgaria and Japan: Politics, Diplomacy, Figures & Events” and was also part of a team tasked with identifying the year bilateral relations were established. The team, set up by foreign ministers of the two countries in December 2014, deduced the beginning of the bilateral exchanges was 1909 and the establishment of diplomacy was 1939.

Bilateral diplomacy was then suspended from 1944 amid World War II and the subsequent Cold War before being restored in September 1959 during Japan’s process of normalizing relations with previously communist countries.

Stefanova shared that bilateral relations have developed further since 1989 as Bulgaria accelerated its democratization and introduced a market economy after the collapse of Berlin Wall and the end of Cold War. She also added the country’s relationship with Japan has broadened after Bulgaria became part of the European Union in 2007.

“We pay great respect to all the Bulgarians and Japanese who contributed to establishment of the bilateral relations. Our mission is to continue to improve the relations in the future,” she said.

Kandilarov discussed exchanges between the two countries, including Japanese Imperial Army Gen. Maresuke Nogi who visited Bulgaria in 1911. He also mentioned exchanges between royal and imperial families of the two countries.

“Even though Bulgaria and Japan have gone through difficult situations, the two countries maintain amicable relations. That’s because we have strong bonds at the civilian level,” he said.

Sugawara and Kimura discussed academic and civil bilateral exchanges, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the two countries.

In a related event, an art exhibition was held at the Art Gallery of the Mizuta Memorial Museum on JIU’s Kioicho Campus, from June 3 to 15, displaying works that are kept at the Bulgarian embassy.