Japan wants Trini tourists for 2020 Olympics

Japanese ambassador to TT Tatsuo Hirayama is looking forward to more Trinis visiting his country for the 2020 Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan, according to Port of Spain Mayor Joel Martinez during Wednesday's statutory council meeting.

Martinez said Hirayama paid him a courtesy visit recently and expressed his desire to see more Trinidadians visiting Japan for the Olympics. He said TT culture particularly music from the steelpan was very popular in Japan, as over 10,000 Japanese were involved in steelbands. He said visits from Trinidadians would help bridge the cultural gap.

Martinez also said it was possible that the Port of Spain City Corporation together with the TT Olympic Committee and the Japanese Embassy might launch a year of campaigning in an attempt to boost visitors.

"It would be nice if more Trinidadians can go to Japan so there can be some kind of cultural exchange. Each year for Carnival we already see such a large influx of Japanese who come here and learn more about the steelpan. They take their knowledge back with them to Japan."