I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on the opening of Art Fair Tokyo 2023.

To create vibrant local communities, we are supporting local governments working on local social issues such as the declining birthrate and aging population, population decline, and the hollowing out of local industries.
Last year, the Kishida Cabinet formulated the "Vision for Digital Garden City Nation Comprehensive Strategy." Based on this strategy, we accelerate and deepen our regional revitalization by utilizing the digital technology.

This fair is one of the largest international art trade fairs in Japan, and very meaningful opportunity to widely share the charms of -Japan, such as traditional culture and contemporary art- throughout Japan and the world via digital technology.

Japan has wide varieties of charm, such as the unique history, culture, and arts, nurtured by each region. Through this opportunity, I hope many people take interest in those charms and value of the local regions of Japan, and also regional revitalization through the promotion of arts and culture will be accelerated.

In closing, I would like to express my deepest respect to all those who have supported and worked hard to hold this fair, and I wish the fair success and further development.

On the occasion of the opening of "Art Fair Tokyo 2023", may I say how much I welcome this highly worthwhile initiative.

Marking its seventeenth edition this year, Art Fair Tokyo showcases numerous examples of fine works from home and abroad, and serves as a forum for international cultural exchange through art with the support of 94 embassies.

At Art Fair Tokyo, visitors can experience Japan's uniquely complex and mature artistic culture alongside exhibits of work by artists from overseas. In our global society today that faces a wide range of challenges, international cultural exchange through the shared language of art can play an incredibly important role in building relationships of trust between Japan and other countries and regions in the world as well as deepening friendship and goodwill.

The year before last, in response to restrictions on international travel for many, the fair adopted a new online format that allowed visitors to experience the venue through immersive virtual reality technology. Disseminating the art and culture of Japan widely across the world by both virtual and non-virtual means the fair will surely make an even greater contribution to international exchange through art.

Let me express my great respect for everyone involved in organizing the fair. I trust that it will be a great success and lead to further ventures of this kind in the future.

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the grand opening of Art Fair 2023.

Art and other cultural resources are also a source of soft power that allows people around the world to understand, sympathize with, and adore our country. The holding of art fairs is of great significance in order to convey the appeal of these cultural resources of Japan to the world and to lead to the sustainable creation of culture in the future.

I have high hopes that this art fair, which originated in Japan, will serve as a place for artists to interact with each other, and that young talents who will be responsible for the creation of culture in the future will be discovered and disseminated to the world.

In recent years, the various effects and efficacy of art have also attracted attention. For example, there are cases where a company expresses its corporate philosophy, creates a new business model, and leads to customer development by incorporating human resources and ideas related to art. There are also cases where the introduction of art attracts new human resources and investment, and realizes regional revitalization.

As the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, We endeavor on creating a new ecosystem by making the economic value created by art widely recognized, we will revitalize the Japanese art market while stimulating investment and demand in the creative industry centered on art.

In 2025, the Osaka-Kansai Expo will be held with the theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives". The expo is a place to depict a picture of a future society as well as a venue to disseminate the appeal of cultural resources such as art, so we will make the most of this opportunity.

I would like to conclude my congratulatory speech by wishing for the success and further development of this art fair.

I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on the grand opening of "Art Fair Tokyo 2023".

I have heard that this exhibition is one of the largest international art fairs in Japan, gathering wonderful works of art from all over the world, including works by people with disabilities.

Art and cultural activities have the power to create opportunities for people to meet, regardless of whether they have disabilities, to recognize diverse values, and to promote mutual understanding. Through arts and cultural activities, it also leads to the promotion of self-expression and participation in the local community by people with disabilities.

Through this four-day exhibition, we hope that as many people as possible will be able to enjoy the appeal of a wide variety of works, and that the opportunities for people with disabilities to play an active role will be further expanded. I am confident that the accumulation of these efforts will lead to the realization of a society in which people with and without disabilities live together while respecting each other.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will continue to strongly promote various activities for people with disabilities, such as the development of support bases for local arts and cultural activities.

In closing, I would like to express my respect to everyone who has worked so hard to hold this exhibition, and wish for the success of this exhibition and its future development.

I would like to extend my greetings on the opening of "Art Fair Tokyo 2023".

Held since 2005, Art Fair Tokyo is one of Japan's largest art fairs; Exhibiting and selling works in a wide range of genres, from antiques to crafts, Japanese paintings to modern art, and contemporary art. This art fair also serves as a place for the exchange and dissemination of international art, with participating works by artists from various countries as well as from overseas galleries.
Furthermore, with the participation of a wide range of people, including children, students, young artists, and artists with disabilities, we propose a new lifestyle of not only "appreciating" art, but also "owning" art, thereby making it even more appealing to people's hearts. It is a very meaningful and challenging initiative that aims to enrich people's lives and also revitalize the art market in Tokyo.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs is promoting "Japan Cultural Expo 2.0," which aims to disseminate "Japan's beauty and spirit" throughout the country in preparation for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. In doing so, the relevant ministries and agencies will work together, with the participation of various individuals to promote new value creation and take on the challenge of resolving social issues and achieving new economic and social growth through the power of culture.

We believe that the diverse and international efforts of Art Fair Tokyo will lead to the realization of "Japan Cultural Expo 2.0," revitalize Japan's economy and society, and strengthen the foundations of a "culture and art nation."

Finally, I would like to express my sincere respect to all those who have contributed to the holding of this fair, and wish for the success of Art Fair Tokyo 2023.

I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on the grand opening of "Art Fair Tokyo 2023".

The 17th "Art Fair Tokyo" held at Tokyo International Forum, is an international cultural event which features carefully selected galleries exhibiting a wide variety of art works, from antiques and crafts to modern and contemporary art. At the same time, it is a meeting grounds which fosters interaction; not only with art fans and art-related people, but also with various visitors such as ambassadors from various countries, government officials, and the business world.

In 2023, the opportunities for virtual communication via the Internet will be strengthened even more than last year, and the chances for the world to come into contact with Japanese art will be further expanded.
Through this fair, we not only aim to attract more foreigners to Japan, especially those who collect art, but to also use this fair as a hook to encourage those who have come, to visit other various parts of Japan. We hope that by enjoying this special experience, you will feel renewed sense of Japan's charm.

In closing, I would like to express my respect to all those involved in the holding of "Art Fair Tokyo 2023" and wish for the success and further development of this fair.