JAPAN - BEAUTIFUL HARMONY
INTERVIEW
H.E. TAKAHIKO KATSUMATA, AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN TO SERBIA
Hope And Encouragement
FROM TOKYO
We know that it is challenging to host the Olympic Games under such circumstances, but this is precisely why we intend for these 2021 Games to prove that humanity has defeated the virus Takahiko Katsumata Serbia. Ambassador Katsumata is witnessing increased interest in Serbia among Japanese investors, which he says is reflected in the recent arrival of the Toyo Corporation in Inđija.
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eturning to Belgrade after a gap of almost four decades, new Japanese ambassador Takahiko Katsumata notes that the city has been modernised, but says that he can still find good cafes, contemporary art and recognisable historical monuments like the ones he remembers from back in 1984, when he first found himself in Serbia as a young diplomat. In this his first interview for CorD Magazine, the ambassador says that he’s been working enthusiastically on the commemorating of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and 8
Your Excellency, you arrived to take on the role of the new ambassador of Japan to Serbia this past December, stating at the time that you were returning to Belgrade 37 years after your first visit. How are your impressions today? - I have been to Belgrade, then the capital of the former Yugoslavia, in the summer of 1984. That young diplomat from Japan was very impressed with the magnificent landscape of green hills with a castle over the grand Danube and Sava rivers. The warm hospitality of the people was also unforgettable. I am so happy to be here again as the ambassador of Japan. My first impression after 37 years has not changed at all. I see that Belgrade looks far more modernised compared to my first visit. However, it remains rich in various kinds of cultural elements, such as kafana taverns, modern arts or historical heritage. People in Belgrade remain kind, with much hospitality. The Serbian culinary culture is also interesting to me. It is a pity that I so far haven’t been able to try well-known specialities of Serbian cuisine in local restaurants due to the sanitary measures related to COVID-19. Fortunately, I’ve already had some opportunities to visit local cities of Serbia. I went to Inđija for the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Toyo Tires factory and I also went to Golubinci for a visit to a tobacco farm that’s a supplier to the JTI company that made Japan’s first ever direct investment in Serbia. On the way to these places in Vojvodina, I saw the beautiful landscape of the suburban districts with traditional architecture and lifestyle. I hope to visit as many of Serbia’s cities and villages as possible during my term. Your term began during the time of the global struggle against COVID-19, which also seems to be dictating the topics of in-
