Georgian Ambassador Levan Tsintsadze (left) shares a drink with former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (center) and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masakazu Hamachi during a reception to celebrate the country's Independence Day at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on May 26. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Georgian Ambassador Levan Tsintsadze (left) shares a drink with former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (center) and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masakazu Hamachi during a reception to celebrate the country's Independence Day at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on May 26. | YOSHIAKI MIURA


From left: Director of Instituto Cervantes, Tokyo Antonio Gil de Carrasco; professors Norio Shimizu and Ema Nishida; Spanish poet Carlos Marzal; Nicaraguan professor Jorge Eduardo Arellano; and Nicaraguan Ambassador Saul Arana Castellon pose at the
From left: Director of Instituto Cervantes, Tokyo Antonio Gil de Carrasco; professors Norio Shimizu and Ema Nishida; Spanish poet Carlos Marzal; Nicaraguan professor Jorge Eduardo Arellano; and Nicaraguan Ambassador Saul Arana Castellon pose at the "100th Anniversary of the death of the immortal Nicaraguan poet Ruben Dario (1867-1910)" symposium at the Instituto Cervantes, Tokyo on May 26. | YOSHIAKI MIURA


Representatives from the eight countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain) taking part in the event pose at the Italian Cultural Institute in Tokyo on May 27. The event unites an array of poets, musicians and performers for a unique poetic and multimedia journey bridging borders, languages, eras and styles. | YOSHIAKI MIURA  MACIEJ KOMOROWSKI / IPTOKIO
Representatives from the eight countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain) taking part in the event pose at the Italian Cultural Institute in Tokyo on May 27. The event unites an array of poets, musicians and performers for a unique poetic and multimedia journey bridging borders, languages, eras and styles. | YOSHIAKI MIURA MACIEJ KOMOROWSKI / IPTOKIO

Participants pose at the event | YOSHIAKI MIURA  MACIEJ KOMOROWSKI / IPTOKIO
Participants pose at the event | YOSHIAKI MIURA MACIEJ KOMOROWSKI / IPTOKIO

Performers on stage at
Performers on stage at "The Art of Poetry" inaugural event | YOSHIAKI MIURA MACIEJ KOMOROWSKI / IPTOKIO


Jordan Ambassador Demiye Haddad (right), and his wife, Shifa (left), share a toast with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masakazu Hamachi during a reception to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the country's Independence Day and The Centennial of the Great Arab Revolt, at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on May 25. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Jordan Ambassador Demiye Haddad (right), and his wife, Shifa (left), share a toast with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masakazu Hamachi during a reception to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the country's Independence Day and The Centennial of the Great Arab Revolt, at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on May 25. | YOSHIAKI MIURA


Ethiopian Ambassador Cham Ugala Uriat (second from right) joins, from left, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Tsuyoshi Hoshino; Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masakazu Hamachi; and Ashenafi Yirga, Japan area manager for Ethiopian Airlines, during a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Ethiopian National Day and the 70th Anniversary of Ethiopian Airlines at the Marriott Hotel on May 30. | HIROKO INOUE
Ethiopian Ambassador Cham Ugala Uriat (second from right) joins, from left, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Tsuyoshi Hoshino; Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masakazu Hamachi; and Ashenafi Yirga, Japan area manager for Ethiopian Airlines, during a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Ethiopian National Day and the 70th Anniversary of Ethiopian Airlines at the Marriott Hotel on May 30. | HIROKO INOUE


Azerbaijan Ambassador Gursel Ismayilzada (center), and his wife, Rana, welcome Chief Secretary General of the Japan-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship League Kenji Kosaka during a reception to celebrate the country's Republic Day at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on May 30. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Azerbaijan Ambassador Gursel Ismayilzada (center), and his wife, Rana, welcome Chief Secretary General of the Japan-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship League Kenji Kosaka during a reception to celebrate the country's Republic Day at the Hotel Okura Tokyo on May 30. | YOSHIAKI MIURA


Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (right), speaks at the opening of the newly constructed Embassy of Bangladesh as State Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Kihara (left) and Bangladesh Ambassador Rabab Fatima (second from right) look on at the new embassy in Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku on May 28. |  YOSHIAKI MIURA
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (right), speaks at the opening of the newly constructed Embassy of Bangladesh as State Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Kihara (left) and Bangladesh Ambassador Rabab Fatima (second from right) look on at the new embassy in Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku on May 28. | YOSHIAKI MIURA