Kazakhstan Ambassador Akylbek Kamaldinov (second from right) and his wife, Olga (second from left) raise their glasses with Aiko Shimajiri, state minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, minister in charge of science and technology, space policy and territorial issues (left) and Michihiko Ota, co-chairman of the Japan-Kazakhstan Economic Committee and vice chairman of Marubeni Corp., during a reception celebrating the country's Independence Day at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on Dec. 14. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Kazakhstan Ambassador Akylbek Kamaldinov (second from right) and his wife, Olga (second from left) raise their glasses with Aiko Shimajiri, state minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, minister in charge of science and technology, space policy and territorial issues (left) and Michihiko Ota, co-chairman of the Japan-Kazakhstan Economic Committee and vice chairman of Marubeni Corp., during a reception celebrating the country's Independence Day at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on Dec. 14. | YOSHIAKI MIURA


Opening remarks of Tunisian Ambassador Kais Darragi speaks during a conference on the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet on Dec. 10 at the Japan National Press Center, Tokyo. |  TUNISIAN EMBASSY
Opening remarks of Tunisian Ambassador Kais Darragi speaks during a conference on the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet on Dec. 10 at the Japan National Press Center, Tokyo. | TUNISIAN EMBASSY

Conference panelists at the event |  TUNISIAN EMBASSY
Conference panelists at the event | TUNISIAN EMBASSY


The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain Khalil Hassan (third from left) hosted a luncheon in Roppongi in Tokyo's Minato Ward on Dec.14 for (from left) Executive Representative of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Japan Office Kazuo Imahira; Representative Director, Executive Officer and COO of SBI Pharmaceuticals Co. Satofumi Kawata; former Chairman of the Japan Bahrain Parliamentary Friendship League Tsutomu Takebe; Chairman Emeritus of JGC Corporation Yoshihiro Shigehisa; Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Tsukasa Uemura; and Assistant to the General Manager of IPP and IWPP No. 2 of Sumitomo Corporation Shinya Nakamura. | BAHRAIN EMBASSY
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain Khalil Hassan (third from left) hosted a luncheon in Roppongi in Tokyo's Minato Ward on Dec.14 for (from left) Executive Representative of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Japan Office Kazuo Imahira; Representative Director, Executive Officer and COO of SBI Pharmaceuticals Co. Satofumi Kawata; former Chairman of the Japan Bahrain Parliamentary Friendship League Tsutomu Takebe; Chairman Emeritus of JGC Corporation Yoshihiro Shigehisa; Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Tsukasa Uemura; and Assistant to the General Manager of IPP and IWPP No. 2 of Sumitomo Corporation Shinya Nakamura. | BAHRAIN EMBASSY


Model and TV personality Rola (center) holds
Model and TV personality Rola (center) holds "Rola Sweets factory PREMIUM" gateau chocolat and white chocolate cakes during a press conference announcing their release, with collaborating company, ROPIA Ltd., President Eiji Takai (left) and Managing Director Hajime Kawai at Arkangel Daikanyama in Tokyo on Dec. 15. (www.rolasweetsfactory.jp) | YOSHIAKI MIURA