Joined the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) as an Observer

Joined the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement as an Observer

In conformity with the Resolution (96)37 adopted at the 578th session of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies, Japan obtained Observer Status in the Council of Europe

The Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office obtained Observer Status at the Steering Committee for equality between women and men (CDEG).

Ratified the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons

Ratified the Convention on Cybercrime

Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters

Mr Yasutomo SUZUKI, the Mayor of Hamamatsu City, participated in the 5th edition of the World Forum for Democracy

Judge Masayuki IKEGAMI of the Supreme Court of Japan made an official visit to Mr Guido RAIMONDI, the then-President of the European Court of Human Rights

The City of Hamamatsu joined the Intercultural City Network

Mr Masazumi GOTODA, a Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives of Japan, participated in the 6th edition of the World Forum for Democracy

Supported a seminar on enforced disappearances organized by the René Cassin Foundation and invited Professor Kimio YAKUSHIJI, the Professor Emeritus at Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto, Japan)

Organized the Human Rights Seminar #1 “How a Japanese Samurai understood the idea of Human Rights” by Professor Yasuzo KITAMURA, the Professor of International Human Rights Law at Chuo University (Tokyo, Japan)

Ms Naoko UEDA, the Deputy Director of the OECD Development Centre, participated in the 7th edition of the World Forum for Democracy

Organized a panel exhibition regarding Japanese policies on women empowerment during the PACE plenary session. Prof. Asako OSAKI, a visiting professor at Kwansei Gakuin University (Hyogo, Japan), made the opening remark at the exhibition as well as the keynote speech at the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

Organized the Human Rights Seminar #2 “Gender-based Violence against Women : Japanese responses and international human rights” by Ms Yoko HAYASHI, a lawyer specialized in gender problems and former member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Organized the Human Rights Seminar #3 “Success Factors of the Japanese Juvenile Justice System” by Prof. Koichi HAMAI, a Professor of Criminology at Ryukoku University (Kyoto, Japan)

Organized the Human Rights Seminar #4 “The Social Inclusion of Refugees and Foreigners” by Prof. Emiko NAKASAKA, a Professor of International Law at Chuo University (Tokyo, Japan)

Mr Kazushi ONISHI, the Mayor of Kumamoto City, participated in the 37th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Organized the roundtable “Asia and the Budapest Convention” during the Octopus Conference and invited Mr Chitaru SHIMIZU, Director of International Safety and Security Cooperation Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, to deliver a keynote speech

- Mr Jun TAKAO, Director at NHK Europe, participated in 8th edition of the World Forum for Democracy

Organized the seminar “Filling the gender gap together with men and women” and invited Ms Renge JIBU, a journalist and a visiting researcher at Showa Women's University (Tokyo, Japan), and Prof. Asako OSAKI, a visiting professor at Kwansei Gakuin University (Hyogo, Japan)

Organized the seminar “Women’s rights in the 21st century” in collaboration with the European Court of Human Rights and René Cassin Foundation and invited Ms Yoko HAYASHI, a lawyer specialized in gender problems and former member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to deliver the keynote speech

Invited Ms Arisa EMA, a Project Assistant Professor at the University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan), to the seminar “AI Breakfast” organized by the Council of Europe and the University of Strasbourg

Supported the development of CAHAI publication “Towards regulation of AI systems”. Ms Arisa EMA, a Project Assistant Professor at the University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan), contributed to the publication with her article entitled “AI Governance in Japan”
↳ https://www.coe.int/en/web/artificial-intelligence/-/-toward-regulation-of-ai-systems-

Supported an online international panel “Ensuring a democratic governance of AI – challenges and perspectives” organized by CAHAI. Mr Hiroaki KITANO, the President & CEO of Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc., participated as a guest speaker
↳ https://www.coe.int/en/web/artificial-intelligence/-/cahai-online-international-panel

Supported the production of the CAHAI 1st anniversary video. Prof. Akiko Ejima, a professor at Meiji University (Tokyo, Japan), made an intervention
↳ https://youtu.be/107q_0JQjIY

Invited Professor Yasuzo KITAMURA (Chuo University, Japan), Professor Akiko EJIMA (Meiji University, Japan) and Professor Maki NISHIUMI (Chuo University, Japan) to a webinar entitled “Societal Inclusion through Acknowledgement of Cultural Diversity” organized in collaboration with the Steering Commsittee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI) and at the Secretariat of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
↳ https://www.strasbourg.fr.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100187183.pdf

Supported the development of CoE publication “An Introduction to the Intercultural City for Local Governments in Japan” by Professor Keizo YAMAWAKI (Meiji University, Japan) and Lecturer Takahiko UENO (Toyo University, Japan). This booklet is available in English and Japanese.
↳ https://rm.coe.int/an-introduction-to-the-intercultural-city-for-local-gvts-in-japan/1680a1cd3f

Organized a webinar entitled “Intercultural Cities and Japan – Lessons Learned from Policies in the Cities of Hamamatsu and Kobe” in collaboration with CoE Intercultural Cities Division, and invited Professor Keizo YAMAWAKI (Meiji University, Japan) and Lecturer Takahiko UENO (Toyo University, Japan) as well as representatives from the Cities of Hamamatsu and Kobe.
↳ https://www.strasbourg.fr.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100202523.pdf

Organized a webinar entitled “Intercultural Cities in the Asia-Pacific - Local Experiences, Regional Cooperation” in collaboration with CoE Intercultural Cities Division, and invited Professor Keizo YAMAWAKI (Meiji University, Japan) and Lecturer Takahiko UENO (Toyo University, Japan).
↳ https://www.strasbourg.fr.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100202524.pdf

Supported a CAHAI Online International Panel on Service Robotics and Human Rights. Japanese specialist, Hiroaki KITANO, Ph.D. (Japan), President and CEO of Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc., and CEO of Sony AI, Inc., participated.
↳ https://youtu.be/UT62iIaSk08

Supported, along with The Japan Foundation, the organization of a "Japan Session" by the René Cassin Foundation. Ms. Yoko HAYASHI, lawyer and former Chairperson of the CEDAW Committee (United Nations Human Rights), Ms Yumiko NAKANISHI, Professor at Hitotsubashi University, Ms Akiko EJIMA, Professor at Meiji University, took part in the event.
↳ https://www.facebook.com/JaponStrasbourg/posts/951364648761714