Italy and Japan celebrate 150 yrs of diplomatic relations

(AGI) Rome, Jan 19 - A fan displaying the Italian flag with the red Rising Sun on the white rim is the logo chosen for the official celebrations of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Japan. Relations date back to 1866, the year in which the two countries signed the Friendship and Trade Treaty. Celebrations will include more than 80 main events and will be hosted in Italy this year, Kazuyoshi Umemoto, Japanese Ambassador in Rome, explained at a press conference. "The countries' prime ministers, Mr Abe and Mr Renzi, have already held five bilateral meetings, thus consolidating a common relationship in an effort to haul their respective countries out of the difficult economic cycle by implementing reforms," said Ambassador Umemoto. Italians are currently dedicating more attention to Japan and in 2015 the number of Italian visitors to Japan exceeded the 100,000 mark for the first time. Those who could not travel to Japan, said the ambassador, probably joined the long queues in front of the Japanese pavilion at the Milan Expo, which lasted up to nine hours.. .