Japan to Highlight African Diplomacy at TICAD 9

The Foreign Press Center Japan (FPCJ) has announced an upcoming online press briefing ahead of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), scheduled to take place in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025. This year’s conference is being positioned as Japan’s most significant diplomatic initiative with the Global South.

The FPCJ briefing, set for Thursday, May 22, will feature Mr. Kenju Murakami, Deputy Director-General and Deputy Assistant Minister of the International Cooperation Bureau and African Affairs Department at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under the theme “Strengthening Japan's Relations with Countries in the Global South through TICAD 9,” Mr. Murakami will present Japan’s evolving Official Development Assistance (ODA) strategy in response to shifting global dynamics.

TICAD, launched in 1993, has long been a key forum for Japan-Africa engagement. With African nations becoming more prominent on the global stage, TICAD 9 comes at a pivotal moment. Mr. Murakami is expected to outline how Japan plans to reinforce partnerships across the continent, emphasizing development cooperation, economic growth, and strategic diplomacy.

The press briefing will be held in Japanese with consecutive English interpretation and will include a Q\&A session exclusively for members of the foreign press. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance by Thursday, May 15, at 12:00 JST.