In November, universities in Pristina, such as RIT Kosovo and UBT (University for Business and Technology) hosted Yuichiro Morishita, a Japanese peace activist, to teach about Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two cities that suffered from atomic bomb strikes in World War II. The event was part of a larger programme, known as “Japan Week”, arranged by Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

“Kosovo’s youth can make a big contribution to world peace, I believe,” said Morishita, recalling his meetings with about 5,000 young people at which they discussed peace. “I hope that with the opening of the embassy, the Japanese people will have more opportunities to know about Kosovo,” he added.

Outgoing Ambassador Kiyoshu Koinuma kicked off the week with a welcome concert at the Kino Armata on Pristina’s main boulevard, featuring Japanese artists playing native instruments.

A number of Japanese films were shown throughout the week at the cine-theatre, free of charge, for Kosovars looking to explore the East Asian state’s powerful history and influential culture.

Some have gone to see it for themselves. “What impresses me most about Japan is their respect for work, superiors, strong discipline, precision, caring about every single detail – and their respect for their predecessors, love towards their customs, culture, environment and their close relationship with nature,” said Mithat Haxhiislami.

A native of Peja, western Kosovo, he moved to Japan in 2003, which is where his wife, Kasumi, comes from. His firm, Intermedico Japan Co., Ltd, specializes in healthcare and cosmetic products. He is also head of the Japan-Kosovo Friendship Association.

He said he had worked hard in Japan to spread some knowledge about his little-known homeland. “I have constantly striven to disseminate as much as possible positive information about the Albanians, both in Kosovo and Albania, since Japan had absolutely almost no knowledge about my nation,” he explained.

Kosovo’s Ambassador to Japan, Leon Malazogu, says this narrative is changing now, as Japanese media start covering Kosovo more.