Hello everyone, this is Chisato Tateno, 2025 Miss SAKE Japan.
From Friday, August 1 to Tuesday, August 12, I traveled to Romania in Eastern Europe, where we held the Japan–Romania High School International Exchange Program “REC PROGRAM.” As part of the program, we also paid courtesy visits to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Japan in Romania.
About REC PROGRAM
REC PROGRAM was carried out as a Japan–Romania high school international exchange initiative, jointly organized by the General Incorporated Association Lien Culture (Representative Director: Chisato Tateno) and the General Incorporated Association Torakoya (虎小屋). The program aims to foster intercultural exchange and mutual understanding among the younger generation in Romania, a country located far away from Japan in Eastern Europe.
As the program director, I accompanied the participating students to Romania, where I also hosted an “Amazake Handmade Workshop” in my role as 2025 Miss SAKE Japan. In addition, we had the privilege of paying courtesy visits to government and educational institutions as part of the program.
→ Please see the following article for details of the Amazake Handmade Workshop held under REC PROGRAM:
https://www.misssake.org/amazake-handmade-workshop-romania/
In REC PROGRAM 2025, five Japanese high school students were selected from among many applicants nationwide, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. During their 12-day summer program in Romania, they engaged in cultural exchange with local students across a wide range of fields, including traditional crafts, cuisine, folk costumes, dance, and career perspectives.
The program also included opportunities for the students themselves to present on themes they selected, sharing insights into Japanese culture and reflecting on how to approach intercultural encounters through firsthand experiences. Moving forward, the entire process will be documented and shared as a documentary film, with the aim of communicating the importance of intercultural understanding and the value of personal growth to a broader international audience.
Supported by the Embassy of Romania in Japan and the “Angela Hondru” Romanian–Japanese Studies Center at the Romanian–American University, the program strives to cultivate future global leaders capable of contributing to international cooperation, while also deepening long-term Japan–Romania relations.
For further details, please visit the REC PROGRAM official website: https://rec.pics/
Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, we had the honor of paying a courtesy call on Ms. Ana Cristina Tinca, State Secretary for Strategic Affairs.
In our discussion, we actively exchanged views on the similarities and differences between Romania and Japan. Secretary Tinca also shared valuable insights from various perspectives, including career choices for diplomats working on the global stage, the mindset required for international leadership, and efforts to promote gender equality.
For the high school students, the meeting was a profound learning experience, highlighting how essential intercultural understanding and dialogue are in building trust between nations. It also offered meaningful guidance as they think about their future career paths.
Through this visit, the students were able to gain a deeper appreciation of the importance of communication, mutual understanding, and leadership in today’s global society, drawing directly from the expertise and experiences of professionals at the forefront of diplomacy.
We were also accompanied by Mr. Șerban Georgescu, Director of the “Angela Hondru” Romanian–Japanese Studies Center at the Romanian–American University.
Embassy of Japan in Romania
During this visit, we had the valuable opportunity to visit the Embassy of Japan in Romania and meet with Mr. Hiroshi Kudo, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Ms. Mayuko Sato, First Secretary in charge of Public Diplomacy and Economics, and Mr. Minato Kuriyama, Dispatched Officer.
Beyond consular services, the Embassy actively works to strengthen bilateral relations through cultural exchange and cooperation in politics, security, economics, and development. In March 2023, at the Japan–Romania Summit Meeting, the two countries elevated their relationship to a “Strategic Partnership,” underscoring the importance of collaboration across politics, security, cultural exchange, economics, and development.
Under this policy, the Embassy has supported various initiatives, such as the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS), film festivals, cultural workshops introducing Japanese traditions, economic forums, and assistance projects for Ukrainian refugees. Every spring, a cherry blossom event is also held at the Japanese Garden in Mihai I Park (Herăstrău Park) in Bucharest, featuring performances and hands-on experiences of Japanese culture, including taiko drumming, tea ceremony, ikebana, and archery.
During our visit, the high school students shared their reflections on Romanian culture and national character, observed through daily meals, architecture, and interactions during their stay. We also heard about the growing popularity of Japanese food and culture in Romania, from a local perspective.
Finally, we discussed the role of sake, one of Japan’s traditional cultural assets, in the context of diplomacy and its rising profile internationally. This reinforced our understanding of the powerful role that Japanese culture plays in global outreach.
The visit provided an invaluable opportunity to learn how Japanese culture is received abroad and how it is applied in diplomatic contexts. The students came away with a renewed appreciation of the importance of international exchange and of reexamining their own culture. It was also a meaningful step in preparing for their future as globally engaged individuals.
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Through these courtesy visits to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Japan in Romania, we were able to learn the significance of dialogue and cooperation in the international community. For the high school students in particular, hearing directly from professionals on the frontline about the growing interest in Japanese food and culture, as well as the critical role of mutual understanding in today’s global society, was an inspiring and formative experience.
For myself, witnessing how Japanese culture has taken root in the daily life of a country so far from Japan, and how it serves as an important bridge in diplomacy and international exchange, reaffirmed the value of our cultural heritage. It also strengthened my own awareness of the responsibility to cultivate international knowledge and consciousness.
REC PROGRAM aims to create opportunities for the younger generation to deepen their intercultural understanding and to grow into future leaders who can share their own culture with the world, based on these firsthand experiences. As Miss SAKE, I am determined to continue devoting myself to sharing the beauty of Japanese culture and the power of sake, building bridges across borders through cultural exchange.
Chisato Tateno
2025 Miss SAKE Japan
