Embassy of Japan in Malta

On June 4, Mr. KOBAYASHI Ryuichiro, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. received a courtesy call by Ms. MINAMIDA Mayumi, who is active as a vocal coach and musician🎤🎹.

Ms. Minamida has been engaged in vocal training for many years through her own studio and a well-known music agency, and has trained numerous well-known artists, including performers who have appeared on NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen, Japan’s most prestigious annual New Year’s Eve music television program, Japan Record Award winners, popular voice actors, and rock, jazz and R&B singers ✨.

Chargé d’Affaires a.i. exchanged views with Ms. Minamida on various ideas for further promoting exchanges between Japan and Malta through music 🇯🇵 🎼 🇲🇹

On the 27th of May, Mr. KOBAYASHI Ryuichiro, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., visited Clubclass, a local English language school 🗣️🏫, guided by Ms. Mariko Darley who takes care of Japanese students.

Together with Mr. Daniel Vella, the CEO, Mr. Kobayashi observed students enthusiastically studying English and exchanged views with Japanese students enrolled at the school 🇯🇵. During the discussion, he briefed them on the long history shared by Japan and Malta 🇯🇵 🇲🇹, as well as on the consular services provided by the Embassy.

On the 26th of May, Mr. KOBAYASHI Ryuichiro, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., met with Ms. Antonella Vassallo (Presenter and producer at the national broadcaster TVM) to discuss ways to further promote exchanges between Japan and Malta 🇯🇵 🇲🇹.

They discussed the possibility of using broadcast media to convey the attractions of Japan to Malta, and the attractions of Malta to Japan 🇯🇵 🇲🇹. As Malta and Gozo are roughly comparable in size to Awaji Island and Shodoshima in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea 🗾, the conversation also touched upon the possibility of mutual promotion between Malta and the Seto Inland Sea region. The meeting was warm and enjoyable throughout🌸.

Ms. Antonella Vassallo is one of Malta’s most prominent television presenters, anchor-persons, and producers, and has a strong interest in Asia, including Japan 🇯🇵.

On the 21st of May, Mr. KOBAYASHI Ryuichiro, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., met with Mro. Mark Agius of St Paul Metropolitan Orchestra 🎼 and exchanged views on cooperation in the cultural sphere 🎷🎻🇯🇵🇲🇹

On the 19th of May, Mr. KOBAYASHI Ryuichiro, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., paid a courtesy call on Mr. Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism.

During the call, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Mr. Kobayashi exchanged views with Permanent Secretary Mr. Cutajar on concrete ways to further strengthen and broaden the bilateral relationship between Japan and Malta in a wide range of fields, building on the historic friendship between the two countries 🇯🇵 🇲🇹.

They also discussed the Working Holiday Arrangement, which was launched this year and is expected to further promote youth exchanges 🙋🙋‍♂️ between Japan and Malta. In particular, they exchanged views on how to explain the scheme more widely to the people of both countries, with a view to increasing the number of its users.

The Working Holiday Arrangement is open to Japanese and Maltese nationals aged between 18 and 30, and allows them to stay in the other country for up to 12 months. Under the scheme, young people from both countries may use this 12-month period primarily for holiday and cultural experience 🍣🗻🏯⛩️, while also engaging in temporary work to supplement their travel funds 👜.

The purpose of the scheme is to provide the younger generations of Japan and Malta with an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the other country through tourism, everyday life experience, language learning, and cultural understanding. It can be regarded as a new pillar of people-to-people exchange between the two countries 🇯🇵 🇲🇹.

For Maltese people, please find the application details on the Embassy's website: https://www.mt.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/WorkingHolidayVisa.html

On the 15th of May, Mr. KOBAYASHI Ryuichiro, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Angelo Gafà.

During the meeting, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. received a briefing on the Malta Police Force's Corporate Strategy 2025-2030 as well as recent trends in crime statistics and types of offenses.

The Republic of Malta is one of the safest countries in the world, and this meeting served as a valuable reminder that such safety is made possible through the daily dedication of the Malta Police Force and the understanding and cooperation of the public🤝.

The Embassy of Japan looks forward to further strengthening its relationship of trust and cooperation with the Malta Police Force 🇲🇹👮‍♂️.

On the 14th of May, Mr. KOBAYASHI Ryuichiro, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., paid a courtesy call on Mr. William Spiteri-Bailey, President of The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry 🏢.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce has a long history dating back to 1848, and Mr. Spiteri-Bailey serves as its 73rd President. In 2009, the Chamber merged with the Malta Federation of Industry, and has since been actively contributing to policy-making in Malta and at the EU 🇪🇺 level, while also deepening exchanges with chambers of commerce and business missions from various countries. The Chamber has been a driving force behind the development of Malta as a maritime trading nation in the Mediterranean ⚓️.

During the courtesy call, both sides reaffirmed the many commonalities shared between Japan 🇯🇵 and Malta 🇲🇹 as fellow maritime trading nations. They also shared their wish to further strengthening bilateral economic relations across a wide range of fields 🤝.

On the 12th of May, Mr. KOBAYASHI Ryuichiro, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., paid a courtesy visit to the UNODC Malta office🌎, one of the international organisations based in Malta.

During the meeting, Mr. Shanaka Jayasekara, Head of the UNODC Malta Office, briefed on the Malta Initiative, an effort led by UNODC in partnership with the Government of Malta 🇲🇹 to build the capacity of port and flag states, including addressing the evasion of UN sanctions at sea.

As part of Japan🇯🇵's support to UNODC, workshops and other events related to the implementation of maritime sanctions 🛥️ were held in Malta in November 2024, and are scheduled to be held in Bangkok at the end of May 2026.