Actor Yoko Minamino has been appointed as a goodwill ambassador by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote exchanges between Japan and Cambodia, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Foreign Minister Hayashi met with Mr. Minamino at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 18th, and handed him a letter of commission as a goodwill ambassador, stating, "Diplomatic relations with Cambodia are important, so please build momentum."
Mr. Minamino will act as a goodwill ambassador until the end of this year, and will visit the capital Phnom Penh next month to attend an event commemorating the 70th anniversary.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Minamino created a friendship through his visits to Cambodia in 1989 and 2013, and last year he wrote a song about his feelings for Cambodia.
Mr. Minamino said, "I can't forget the sights I saw and the people I met in Cambodia, and I always wanted to go there again. I want to tell people about the good things about Japan and how Cambodia is a wonderful place. I want to tell the Japanese people,” he said.