Bulgaria's Ambassador Georgi Vassilev (right) receives a sakura print from Toshimitsu Motegi, chairman of Japan-Bulgaria Parliamentary Friendship League and Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council, during a farewell reception for Vassilev at the ambassador's residence in Tokyo on Sept. 29. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Bulgaria's Ambassador Georgi Vassilev (right) receives a sakura print from Toshimitsu Motegi, chairman of Japan-Bulgaria Parliamentary Friendship League and Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council, during a farewell reception for Vassilev at the ambassador's residence in Tokyo on Sept. 29. | YOSHIAKI MIURA

Botswana's Ambassador Jacob Dickie Nkate (second from right) shares a toast with (from left) acting Chairman of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship Association Asahiko Mihara; Botswana Tourism Marketing Manager Obenne Mbaakanyi; Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shunsuke Takei; Japan National Tourism Organization President Ryoichi Matsuyama; and Chairman of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship Association Ichiro Aisawa during a reception to celebrate Botswana's 50th National Day at Tokyo Marriott Hotel on Sept. 30. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Botswana's Ambassador Jacob Dickie Nkate (second from right) shares a toast with (from left) acting Chairman of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship Association Asahiko Mihara; Botswana Tourism Marketing Manager Obenne Mbaakanyi; Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shunsuke Takei; Japan National Tourism Organization President Ryoichi Matsuyama; and Chairman of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship Association Ichiro Aisawa during a reception to celebrate Botswana's 50th National Day at Tokyo Marriott Hotel on Sept. 30. | YOSHIAKI MIURA

Representative and former Director-General of the National Museum of Ethnology Naomichi Ishige (center) makes a toast with sake industry members at a sake promotion event at Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo on Oct. 1. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Representative and former Director-General of the National Museum of Ethnology Naomichi Ishige (center) makes a toast with sake industry members at a sake promotion event at Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo on Oct. 1. | YOSHIAKI MIURA

Germany Ambassador Hans Carl von Werthern (right) and his wife, Elizabeth (left) welcome Sadako Ogata, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and former president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), during a reception to celebrate the Day of German Unity at their residence in Tokyo on Oct. 3, 2016. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Germany Ambassador Hans Carl von Werthern (right) and his wife, Elizabeth (left) welcome Sadako Ogata, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and former president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), during a reception to celebrate the Day of German Unity at their residence in Tokyo on Oct. 3, 2016. | YOSHIAKI MIURA