Indonesia, Japan Explore Cultural Cooperation Through Historic Heritage Project

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Japan are seeking to deepen cultural and historical cooperation through a series of initiatives focused on heritage preservation, archival collaboration, and public diplomacy, including the development of the Asia-Africa Conference Museum in Bandung, West Java.

The discussions took place during a working visit by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry's Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy Heru Subolo to Tokyo from June 17 to 19, 2026, according to a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo.

Heru said both countries remain committed to strengthening cultural ties through educational exchanges, cultural programs, and people-to-people engagement.

"We held meetings with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan Foundation, National Archives of Japan, and the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records," Heru said, on Monday, June 22, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The discussions also covered public communication in the digital era and efforts to enhance cultural diplomacy between the two countries.

At talks with the Japan Foundation, officials explored opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations through cultural exchange programs, Japanese-language education, Japanese studies, and global partnerships. The development of the Asia-Africa Conference historic area in Bandung was also discussed.

Meanwhile, the National Archives of Japan and the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records welcomed opportunities to cooperate with Indonesia on preserving, digitizing, and utilizing archives related to the historic Asia-Africa Conference for research, education, and public diplomacy.

Asia-Africa Conference Museum Head Noviasari Rustam said Japan has expressed support for strengthening the museum's institutional capacity, including human resource development.

According to Noviasari, the museum continues to face challenges related to infrastructure, facilities, and staffing, while also seeking to improve access to accurate historical information for both domestic and international visitors.

She added that the museum plans to establish partnerships with Japanese museum networks and work with the National Archives of Japan and JACAR on archive digitization projects.

The museum is also exploring technical cooperation with the Tokyo National Museum, including exchanges of expertise on public engagement programs.

During the visit, Heru also met with Indonesian restaurant operators in Tokyo as part of a gastrodiplomacy initiative.

"Indonesian cuisine is one of the gateways for introducing Indonesia to Japanese society. Indonesian restaurants in Japan serve as an effective bridge for cultural diplomacy between our two countries," he said. ***