Asahi Shimbun and NHK reported today that Japan's 59-year-old Ambassador to Israel, Koji Tomita, joined Harucon 2017, a convention dedicated to Japanese manga and anime held at the International Conventions Center in Jerusalem on March 12, cosplaying as Monkey D. Luffy from Eiichiro Oda's internationally popular manga series One Piece. He said, "I was so embarrassed wearing a suit last year. If you want to know more about Japan, please visit Japan."

The event was organized by AMAI (the Association for Manga and Anime in Israel). The organization has held a "Harucon" event every spring (haru means spring in Japanese) and a "CAMI" (Convention of Anime and Manga in Israel) event every summer.

Their 10th event Harucon 2017 also invited 70-year-old voice actor Toshio Furukawa (Ataru Moroboshi in Urusei Yatsura, Asuma Shinohara in Mobile Police Patlabor) and his wife Shino Kakinuma (Naru

Osaka in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon) as special guests and reportedly attracted 3,500 visitors.

"I am surprised that Japan's animation and subculture are appreciated so much beyond borders and

languages. I think I can do something like cultural exchange by going many places in the world,"

said Furukawa.

AMAI's next event is scheduled to be held at the same venue in August 2017.

"Haikyu!!" cosplayers

Toshio Furukwa's Twitter posts

Source: Asahi Shimbun, NHK, Toshio Furukawa Twitter