Angolan Ambassador Joao Miguel Vahekeni (center) prepares for a ceremonial cake cutting with Yumiko Akiyama (left), lead researcher of the Japan Institute of Community Social Work, and Manlio Cadelo, San Marino's ambassador and dean of the Diplomatic Corps, during a reception to celebrate of the 41st anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Angola at the Palace Hotel Tokyo on Nov. 11. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
Turkmenistan's Ambassador Gurbanmammet Elyasov (second from left) prepares for a toast with (from left) parliamentary vice ministers for foreign affairs Kentaro Sonoura and Motome Takisawa and Toshiaki Endo, chairman of the Japan-Turkmenistan Parliamentary Friendship League, during a reception to celebrate the country's 25th anniversary of independence at the Palace Hotel Tokyo on Nov. 10. | YOSHIAKI MIURA
First lady Akie Abe is joined by ambassadors and ambassadors' spouses from 23 countries at an Ikebana International event that aims to promote international friendship through flowers at the prime minister's official residence on Nov. 9. | IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL
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