Democratic Party leader Tamaki visits Kyiv to express solidarity

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of Japan’s Democratic Party for the People, visited Kyiv on September 21, marking the first visit to Ukraine by a leader of a Japanese opposition party since the 2022 Russian invasion. Accompanied by Representative Jesus Futoshi Fukasaku, Tamaki met with various officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mykola Michichenko, members of the Verkhovna Rada, and representatives from UN agencies and JICA.

During the visit, Tamaki expressed a commitment to maintaining bipartisan Japanese support for Ukraine, focusing on winter assistance and reconstruction efforts. The delegation also conveyed support for facilitating a summit between the Ukrainian President and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi during the upcoming UN General Assembly.

Fukasaku reported that air raid sirens sounded multiple times during their brief 15-hour stay in Kyiv, highlighting the ongoing proximity of the conflict to daily life. The party intends to share their findings and discuss the situation in the Diet.