Germany plans its first fusion reactor by the 2030s. Such cutting-edge tech requires close global cooperation. Thank you to the QST Fusion Institute in Rokkasho for the impressive presentation. Looking forward to what the future holds!

From bear safety in Aomori to wolf management in 🇩🇪: balancing nature & safety is a shared challenge. Lots to learn from each other! Also got to meet one of Aomori’s many impressive cattle farmers and learn about theirstrong dedication to quality.

A highlight of my Aomori visit: the Nebuta Matsuri! 🏮 Deeply impressed by the massive floats—a testament to incredible craftsmanship and countless hours of work. The energy of the procession created an unforgettable atmosphere throughout the city—one that I won’t forget anytime soon.

Thank you Vice Governor Okuta and Mayor Nishi for welcoming me on my first trip to Aomori. Aomori shows immense potential in renewable energy and a thriving tourism sector that drives the local economy. Looking forward to further cooperation

It’s been 2 years since I arrived in Japan! 🇩🇪🇯🇵 In this Q&A, I share my favorite Japanese words and foods, as well as some "challenges" I’ve faced. See how my answers have changed since last year! 日本に着任してから2年が経ちました🇩🇪🇯🇵 好きな日本語の言葉や食べ物、苦労したことなどを、Q&A形式で語りました。昨年の回答との比較にもご注目ください！

What happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. The destructive force unleashed and the immeasurable suffering caused by the dropping of these bombs on people in both cities remain a grave reminder to us all– ↓

Huge thank you to Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Gifu Works for the inspiring discussions, and an outstanding factory tour. This visit underscored the deepening Germany-Japan partnership—and KHI’s long-standing success in working with German industry. Excited to see this cooperation grow even stronger!

Dortmund shines in Japan — all the way to the Residence! 🌟⚽️🇯🇵 Thanks for the visit, including Patrick Owomoyela and Roman Weidenfeller, goalkeeper legend of Germany’s 2014 World Cup team.

Honoured to pay a courtesy call on Minister of Justice Hiroshi Hiraguchi. A valuable opportunity to build on our rich tradition of legal cooperation and reaffirm our shared commitment to the rule of law. Thank you for the warm welcome and exchange.

Fascinating insights into the Japan’s remarkable aerospace history at the Gifu Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum! From early aircraft to today’s cutting-edge space and aerospace achievements, with unique prototypes and experimental designs, this is truly a must-visit for aviation enthusiasts!

Kyoto is a hub for traditional and modern culture. Grateful to Mayor Koji Matsui for emphasizing the important role that Goethe Institute and the Villa Kamogawa play in the exchange of artists! Also got to visit to the Netsuke Museum to admire the art’s rich history!

Bringing offshore wind power through to Germany and Japan by cables from Sumitomo Electric Industries! We visited their factory and discussed cooperation and large-scale investments in DEU—highlighting the vital role of Kansai companies in Germany’s energy transition.

Glad to meet Gouverneur Hirofumi Yoshimura and Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama again and thank them again for their outstanding support during last years EXPO. Excited to deepen our economic ties, Hamburg-Osaka partnership, and joint push for startup innovation.

Osaka’s Nakanoshima Qross is a global hub for next-gen healthcare! We’re thrilled by growing DE-JP collaborations here, including Dr. Sawas’ personal interest in Germany, fueled by his time at Max Planck. Even our German EXPO pavilion model is now on display here!

From wartime resilience to AI innovation: Juchheim, Japan’s first Baumkuchen maker (founded by a German POW in 1919), now blends tradition with tech using THEO—the world’s first AI Baumkuchen robot! A delicious taste of 🇩🇪-🇯🇵 collaboration.

Finally in Kobe, visiting the Kazamidori-no-Yakata—a 1909 gem designed by German architect Georg de Lalande for Merchant Gottfried Thomas. A living symbol of DE-JP cultural ties! Grateful to Mayor Kizo Hisamoto for continuing to nurture our strong economy, science & environment partnerships.

🇩🇪 and 🇯🇵 have significant potential to deepen cooperation in AI—combining industrial strength, trusted innovation and a shared commitment to secure and human-centric technologies. Looking forward to advancing this agenda together. Thank you for this excellent exchange, Diet Member Akihisa Shiozaki.

Economic security and beyond: excellent exchange with Diet Member Keitaro Ono on resilience — economic as well as security-related. 🇩🇪&🇯🇵 are natural partners in both fields. The potential for deeper cooperation is substantial, from economic security and supply chains to broader strategic resilience.

Lufthansa is more than just an airline for Germans. It’s a true icon, connecting us with the world for 100 years now. For 65 of those, its Frankfurt-Tokyo flights have not only carried passengers, but business, culture and countless personal stories. A key facilitator of today’s 🇩🇪-🇯🇵 relationship!

Excellent meeting with Yoshiro Horikawa, new President of SAP Japan. Trusted digital infrastructure is a strategic asset. As the world’s leading provider of cloud solutions and enterprise resource planning software, 🇩🇪 company SAP is pivotal in enabling digital sovereignty for Japanese companies.

What an incredible honor to meet Mrs. GREEN APPLE and witness their mesmerizing performance! Many of their songs like “Aufheben” are deeply rooted in German philosophy, yet they reinterpret them with such authenticity and passion. Truly inspiring to see their genuine appreciation for German culture!

Strengthening our digital sovereignty and reducing technological dependencies is one of the defining geopolitical imperatives of our time. Excellent exchange with Minister Matsumoto on AI, the use of cloud technologies in public administration, and broader digital policy challenges.

Last week at Suntory Hall, you could feel how the Dresdner Philharmonie and Chief Conductor Sir Donald Runnicles fell for their Japanese audience—and vice versa. Extra magic from Berlin-based violinist Daishin Kashimoto. A city could not wish for better cultural ambassadors.

Enjoyed sitting on German design icons with Kazuo Tanaka of GK Design Group & the Japan Industrial Design Association. This Wilkhahn bench, once used at Munich’s Olympic Stadium, embodies history and innovation. Stay tuned for our exchange on German–Japanese design.

I also visited the German House in Naruto and the former Bandō POW camp. A place where wartime captivity turned into respect, humanity, and deep cultural exchange between German prisoners and the local community.

Otsuka is a driving force in Tokushima’s pharmaceutical industry, growing from a local company into a global leader in health innovation. What impressed me most is its clear sense of purpose — innovation with responsibility.The Otsuka Museum of Art reflects this spirit.

Just returned from my first visit to Tokushima in wonderful Shikoku and can’t stop thinking about its tasty sudachi. Thank you for the warm welcome, Governor Gotoda! Also got to see the amazing Uzushio whirlpools firsthand and discovered the unique spirit of Awa Odori!

Congratulations to the newly elected and re-elected members of the AHK Japan board. Wish the President and his team every success in strengthening DEJP business ties and welcome particularly the newcomers Goro Naito, Peter Otten and Eri Nakatani.

Strong “Team Germany” at the AHK Japan Annual Meeting. Grateful for its vital role in driving 🇩🇪🇯🇵 trade & investment—and for the address by Minister Alois Rainer. Together we build resilience and innovation. The best is yet to come.

A pleasure to welcome Kathleen Reinhardt, curator of the German Pavilion at the Venice, and artist Sung Tieu, whose work is featured in this year’s Pavilion, to the Residence!