The Welsh government held an event on January 9 to celebrate the launch of the “Wales and Japan 2025” campaign.

Japan was chosen for Wales’s series of year-long, country-focused campaign in part due to the World Expo that will be held in Osaka this year.

First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan sang Japan’s national anthem in Japanese at the launch event.

The performance reflects the viral video of the Japanese ambassador to the United Kingdom Suzuki Hiroshi singing the Welsh anthem in Welsh.

S/ Eluned Morgan, First Minister of Wales/ There are real opportunities for us now to build and to see what we can achieve together and build those stronger links.

Ambassador Suzuki attended the event and said that this is a great opportunity for relations between Japan and Wales to deepen.

Japanese companies began settling in Wales around 50 years ago with over 50 companies in Wales today.