As Japan's frosty political relations with China and South Korea head for a long-awaited thaw, its high-level cultural contacts with the two Asian neighbors are expected to follow suit.
The anticipated resumption this month or next of talks between top Japanese government officials in charge of cultural exchanges and their Chinese and South Korean counterparts will clear dark clouds hanging over the fate of the highly publicized bilateral "peoples' exchange year" projects scheduled for 2002.
Under bilateral grassroots exchange-promotion projects, Japan will hold joint events throughout next year to celebrate both the cohosting of the 2002 World Cup soccer finals with South Korea and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties with China.