Consul General Takahashi’s Visit to Kyoto and Osaka (December 18-19, 2025)

Consul General Takahashi visited Kyoto and Osaka Prefectures from December 18 to 19.

On December 18, Consul General Takahashi visited Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture, a sister city to the Town of Arlington, Massachusetts. He met with Mayor Kengo Nakakoji. During their meeting, they affirmed their commitment to further strengthening the friendly ties between Nagaokakyo and Arlington, particularly through student exchange programs. The cities celebrated the 40th anniversary of their sister city partnership last year.

Subsequently, the Consul General proceeded to Kyoto City, a sister city to Boston, Massachusetts, where he met with Mayor Koji Matsui. They discussed promoting innovation and academic exchanges and agreed to further strengthen relations with the City of Boston, which will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its sister city partnership in 2029.

Additionally, the Consul General held discussions with representatives from the Startup and Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Division of the Kyoto City Industry Tourism Bureau, officials from Kyoto Prefecture and City of Kyoto, and the IVS KYOTO Executive Committee. They discussed advancing cooperation to promote innovation in the Greater Boston area and across Kyoto Prefecture and City.

Furthermore, Consul General Takahashi met with Mr. Hideaki Ogawa, Chairman of Ogawa Coffee Co., Ltd., and Mr. Tetsuji Kinoshita, a member of the Rotary Club of Kyoto South. Both individuals have significantly contributed to the Boston-Kyoto sister city exchange at the grassroots level for many years.

On December 19, Consul General Takahashi met with Kyoto Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki. They exchanged views on strengthening economic ties and promoting innovation, agreeing to further cooperation. The Consul General then visited Kyoto University's iCAP, where he exchanged views with stakeholders on innovation and startups.

Later the same day, the Consul General traveled to Osaka Prefecture. There, he met with Professor Toshihiro Tanaka, Senior Executive Vice President of Osaka University, and Professor Masaru Ishii, Dean of the Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine. He observed the Osaka University Cross-Innovation Initiative.

He also visited Nakanoshima Qross, operated by the Future Medicine Promotion Organization, a general incorporated foundation based in Osaka Prefecture. During this visit, he exchanged views on open innovation ecosystems with Future Medicine Promotion Director Okumura of Osaka Prefecture, and other stakeholders from the Organization and CIC Tokyo/Nakanoshima Base.