Cultural Bridges Spun by Kakuei Tanaka and Zhou Enlai"-Scenes of Japan-China Art Exchange

Cultural Bridges Spun by Kakuei Tanaka and Zhou Enlai"-Scenes of Japan-China Art Exchange

With the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China in 1972, cultural exchange progressed under the leadership of Prime Ministers Kakuei Tanaka and Zhou Enlai. Chinese opera and calligraphy exhibitions were presented in Japan, while Japanese contemporary art exhibitions and Noh plays were presented in Beijing. Literary works by Lu Xun, Kawabata Yasunari, and others were translated in both countries, deepening understanding. Academic cooperation, including the preservation of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, has also increased. These exchanges contributed to building trust amid war responsibilities and Cold War diplomatic challenges. Even today, exchanges through culture play an important role as the foundation of Japan-China relations.