Slovak Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan and Japanese Ambassador to Slovakia Shunji Maruyama signed and exchanged notes on a 43,800,000 Yen ($350,000) grant from the Japanese government intended for an acoustical device in the historical building of the Slovak National Theater (SND). SND Director Dusan Jamrich also attended the event.
The Japanese government has already provided four grants to Slovak cultural institutions and, as Kukan explained, no conditions or requirements were attached to them. The grants are the expression of Japan's interest in maintaining good relations with Slovakia.
Maruyama said he is very happy with the fact that the money goes to an institution sheltering so many excellent singers. On February 22, he personally experienced their qualities during a performance of Aida. The Ambassador confirmed that Japan is ready to deepen mutual relations with Slovakia in the cultural, economic and political spheres.
The Japanese government has provided grants to the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Comenius University in Bratislava, the State Opera in Banská Bystrica and Slovak Television.
