Saulius Skvernelis (center), prime minister of Lithuania, joins Hirofumi Nakasone (left), chairman of the Japan-Lithuania Friendship Diet Member's League, and Gediminas Varvuolis (right), Lithuanian ambassador to Japan, during a reception to celebrate the centenary of the restoration of the State of Lithuania at Hotel Okura on Oct. 9. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Saulius Skvernelis (center), prime minister of Lithuania, joins Hirofumi Nakasone (left), chairman of the Japan-Lithuania Friendship Diet Member's League, and Gediminas Varvuolis (right), Lithuanian ambassador to Japan, during a reception to celebrate the centenary of the restoration of the State of Lithuania at Hotel Okura on Oct. 9. | YOSHIAKI MIURA

Gonzalo de Benito (second from right), Spanish ambassador to Japan, and his wife, Esther (right), raise a toast with Kenji Yamada (left), parliamentary vice-minister for foreign affairs, and Takuya Hirai (second from left), minister in charge of science and technology policies, during a reception to celebrate the national day of Spain on Oct. 12. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Gonzalo de Benito (second from right), Spanish ambassador to Japan, and his wife, Esther (right), raise a toast with Kenji Yamada (left), parliamentary vice-minister for foreign affairs, and Takuya Hirai (second from left), minister in charge of science and technology policies, during a reception to celebrate the national day of Spain on Oct. 12. | YOSHIAKI MIURA

Gurban Elyasov (right), Turkmenistan ambassador to Japan, joins Kentaro Sonoura (left), a member of the House of Representatives and special adviser to the prime minister, during a reception to celebrate the 27th anniversary of Turkmenistan independence at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo on Oct. 12. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Gurban Elyasov (right), Turkmenistan ambassador to Japan, joins Kentaro Sonoura (left), a member of the House of Representatives and special adviser to the prime minister, during a reception to celebrate the 27th anniversary of Turkmenistan independence at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo on Oct. 12. | YOSHIAKI MIURA

Fabio Lazzerini (second from right), chief commercial officer of Alitalia, poses with Shuichi Fujimura (second from left), executive vice president of international affairs for All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., and Giorgio Starace (center), Italian ambassador to Japan, during a reception at the Italian Embassy on Oct. 15. Starting on Oct. 28, the two carriers began codeshare operations on Japan-Italy and domestic routes. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Fabio Lazzerini (second from right), chief commercial officer of Alitalia, poses with Shuichi Fujimura (second from left), executive vice president of international affairs for All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., and Giorgio Starace (center), Italian ambassador to Japan, during a reception at the Italian Embassy on Oct. 15. Starting on Oct. 28, the two carriers began codeshare operations on Japan-Italy and domestic routes. | YOSHIAKI MIURA