The longstanding relationship between Palau and Hyogo Prefecture dates back more than four decades to the signing of a friendship agreement on August 16, 1983. Since then, the partnership has fostered meaningful exchanges in youth development, education, technical training, human-resource development and environmental cooperation. These exchanges build upon the broader historical and cultural ties between Palau and Japan, which extend back to the early 20th century and continue to influence the close people-to-people relationship shared today.
The official delegation’s visit to Kobe and Hyogo, Japan, represents a continuation of this longstanding partnership, creating new opportunities to strengthen cooperation in tourism, culture, education, community development and sustainable development. It began with a reception dinner hosted by the President of Osaka International University, Mr.Toyoshi Kubota, Chairman Goro Okuda and University representatives.
The delegation was led by the Honorable Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development, and received by the Honorable Peter Adelbai, Ambassador of the Republic of Palau to Japan. Members included the Honorable Norman Ngiratecheboet, Governor of Airai State; Mr. Kadoi Ruluked, Managing Director of the Palau Visitors Authority; Ms. Geena Gerald, Strategic Analyst; and Ms. Kiruu Kanai, Marketing Representative.
The reception reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and institutional partnership between Palau and Osaka International University and recognized the University’s continued engagement with Palau. In March, the University sent exchange students to Palau for cultural and educational exchanges and community activities. They engaged with students and faculty at Airai Elementary School and organized a community sports event promoting health, physical activity, and an active lifestyle.
The delegation’s visit to Kobe and Hyogo builds on these exchanges and underscores the enduring strength of Palau–Japan relations. It also provides a platform to advance cooperation in education, tourism, culture, youth engagement, community development, and people-to-people exchanges, further strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries.
Japan and Palau continue to strengthen their longstanding relationship through tourism promotion, cultural exchange, and initiatives that introduce Palau’s unique natural and cultural heritage to the Japanese market.
Following the Expo, the Hyogo Prefectural Hyogo-no-Tsu Museum collected and preserved the items featured in the “Discover Palau, the Southern Island Nation — Toward a Sustainable Future” exhibit, allowing the story and heritage of Palau to continue reaching Japanese audiences beyond the Expo. An official ceremony marking the opening of the exhibition to the public was held on September 19, 2026, providing a valuable platform to further promote Palau’s culture, history, and tourism opportunities while deepening the connection between Palau and Hyogo Prefecture.
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙏𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙖 𝙈𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙢𝙞 (村上立真)
𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝙤𝙗𝙚 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙡 (𝙆𝙤𝙗𝙚 𝙈𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙮) 神戸市会議員 (𝙆𝙤𝙗𝙚-𝙨𝙝𝙞 𝙆𝙖𝙞 𝙂𝙞𝙞𝙣)𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙃𝙮𝙤𝙜𝙤 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙙 (兵庫区選出) 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙪 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙆𝙤𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙝𝙞𝙠𝙤 𝙎𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙤 (齋藤 元彦, 𝙎𝙖𝙞𝙩ō 𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙝𝙞𝙠𝙤), 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙮𝙤𝙜𝙤 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 兵庫県知事 (𝙃𝙮ō𝙜𝙤-𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙟𝙞) 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙯𝙤 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙤 (久元 喜造 / 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙤 𝙆𝙞𝙯ō), 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙆𝙤𝙗𝙚 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙮 神戸市長 (𝙆ō𝙗𝙚-𝙨𝙝𝙞-𝙘𝙝ō) 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙑𝘼 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙩𝙤 𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙮𝙤𝙜𝙤 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙮𝙤𝙜𝙤-𝙣𝙤-𝙏𝙨𝙪 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢.
