Cote d'Ivoire Ambassador Jerome Kloh Weya (third from left) is joined in a cake-cutting ceremony by (from left) Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Parliamentary Secretary Hidemichi Sato; House of Representatives member Asahiko Mihara; Japan-AU Parliamentary Friendship Association Chairman Ichiro Aisawa; State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Daishiro Yamagiwa; and Former Japanese Ambassador to Cote d'lvoire and Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of Founding the Japan-Cote d'lvoire Friendship Association Yuji Kurokawa during a reception to celebrate the 55th Cote d'lvoire Independence Anniversary (Aug. 7) at the Palace Hotel Tokyo on Sept. 17. | NAOTO YAGI
From left, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takashi Uto; boxer Manny Pacquiao; Maria Teresa, the Philippine Ambassador's wife; Philippine Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez; Jenavilla Shigemizu, chairperson of the Philippine Festival 2015; Nobuteru Ishihara, vice chair of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians Friendship League; and Miss Universe Tokyo 2014 First Runner Up and Miss Philippines-Japan 2013 Mayu Eustaquio Murakami following the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Philippine Festival 2015 at Yoyogi Park event square on Sept. 19 | YOSHIAKI MIURA
The New York Times Company Chief Executive Officer Mark Thompson shakes hands with The Japan Times President Takeharu Tsutsumi, Sept. 25. Following a meeting at The Japan Times offices, both expressed great satisfaction with their ongoing publishing tie-up. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Armenian Ambassador Grant Pogosyan (third from right) and his wife, Natalia prepare to toast with, from left, Sumio Edamura, chairman of Japan-Armenia Friendship Association; Takeshi Matsumoto, former foreign minister; State Minister for Foreign Affairs Minoru Kiuchi; and Seishiro Eto, chairman of Japan-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship League during a reception to celebrate the 24th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on Sept. 24. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Uzbekistan Ambassador Farrukh Tursunov (center), and his wife, Madina welcome Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonoura (right), during a reception to celebrate the country's independence day at the Hotel Okura, Tokyo on Sept. 25. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Australian Ambassador Bruce Miller (right) and Hisaaki Takei, Senior Corporate Executive Officer of Prince Hotels, Inc., shake hands at the opening ceremony of the Australia Food & Wine Fair at the Prince Park Tower Tokyo on Sept. 28. The fair will be held at 43 restaurants in seven Prince Hotels in the Tokyo Metropolitan area through November. | HIROKO INOUE
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