Embassy of Georgia in Japan ~ Georgia Becoming Well Known in Japan. Actively Communicating Their Native Culture in Japanese ~

If you're a fan of sumo, rugby, or ballet, you're probably familiar with Georgia. In Japan, Georgia used to be called "Gruziya (Russian origin)", but the name was officially changed to "Georgia (in English)" in 2015. Actually, the name of the country in Georgian is "Sakartvelo". It means "Land of the Kartvelian". We think it is interesting that there are many different names for Georgia. However, we realized once again that Japan is the same as Georgia; since Japan also uses the term "JAPAN," in English.
We interviewed Mr. Teimuraz Lezhava, Charge d'Affaires, of the Embassy of Georgia to Japan and Dr. David Goginashvili.

Georgia - Located Halfway Between Europe and Asia

Georgia is located about 7,800 kilometers west of Tokyo. The area is slightly smaller than Hokkaido, and the population is about 3.7 million, about the same as the total of the four prefectures of Shikoku. "Although our country is small, it is located on the border between Europe and Asia, and is a major transportation hub for many ethnic groups," says Mr. Lezhava, Charge d'Affaires. Georgia is a country with a historical background of hardship. In order to protect its territory from the larger surrounding countries, Georgia has been on the offensive and defensive, and its people have worked together to protect their culture and religion. The official language is Georgian, and they have Georgian letters as well. "Our culture is actually very cheerful. Georgia's polyphonic music is an intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO, and there are many kinds of dance," he told me.

To the west of the country are beach resorts on the warm Black Sea, and to the north rise the Caucasus Mountain; the largest in Europe. Many tourists come to Georgia to enjoy its magnificent nature, and the rich harvests it produces. In 2019, the number of visitors surpassed 9.3 million, 2.5 times its population. The number of people traveling to Georgia from Japan continues to increase every year, reaching about 10,000 in 2019. After the end of the new coronavirus, Georgia will become an even more popular destination.

Promoting Georgia on Twitter, where it currently has about 45,000 followers.

There are only about 30 people from Georgia living in the metropolitan area. However, Georgia is becoming more and more well known throughout Japan. A major restaurant chain started selling a traditional Georgian dish known as shkmeruli as a set meal, and the rich food culture of Georgia became known to a wide range of people. Mr. Lezhava, Charge d'Affaires, says, "In Japan, many people know about Georgia through the sumo wrestlers Kokkai and Gagamaru. Tochinoshin's achievement in becoming an ozeki is immeasurable. What is important is how we move forward with these achievements in the future." And, he himself posts various information on Twitter, such as Georgia tourism and cuisine. Mr. Lezhava, Charge d'Affaires, moved to Japan with his family when he was four years old and has lived here for about 20 years in total. He also understands Japanese culture and its language, so he posts with a twist that goes beyond just delivering information. However, his posts become popular, and his followers continue to increase. "When I introduce the various cultures of Georgia, people respond well to it. It makes me want to introduce more. I think Twitter has become a good two-way communication tool," Mr. Lezhava, Charge d'Affaires, explains.

More and more people from Japan are moving to Georgia because they are attracted by the high potential of the country.

"I think the similarity between Georgia and Japan is that they both value tradition and culture, while promoting technological innovation in a balanced manner. The Georgian people admire Japan" says Mr. Lezhava, Charge d'Affaires. On the other hand, many Japanese have recently moved to Georgia. According to Dr. Goginashavili, "In 2020, we are introducing 'The Remotely from Georgia Program' and issuing visas exclusively for remote workers*. Georgia is gaining popularity among digital nomads and remote employees from all over the world, because of its good internet connection, simplified procedures and the low cost of living in Georgia". Moving or relocating overseas used to be mainly for retired pensioners, but things are starting to change. "More and more work can be done using just a computer, and the world is becoming more and more connected, regardless of location. Georgia wants to meet the needs of this new world. Georgia is a good place for multiculturalism," says Dr. Goginashavili. In the World Bank's ranking of "The 20 Easiest Countries to Conduct Business", Georgia is ranked 7th. For business people, Georgia is a country to keep an eye on.

*Contact the Embassy of Georgia for information about The Remotely from Georgia Program.
https://japan.mfa.gov.ge/en/contact

The world's oldest wine is Georgian; with almost 8,000 years of history.

Georgia is also known as the birthplace of wine. Its history dates back almost 8,000 years. Throughout their long history, there have been times when winemaking has been difficult, but they have preserved their grapes and continued to produce wine to this day. Wine is a part of the Georgian identity. "Kvevri" are used in Georgian winemaking. We bury the vessels in the ground, but we only need a small space because the wine making is done inside the vessels. In the countryside, each family makes its own wine. There are about 500 different varieties of indigenous grapes, which allow us to make a variety of wines," says Dr. Goginashavili. This particular method of producing good quality wine was inscribed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, in 2013. It was the same year that Japanese food was registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Mr. Lezhava, Charge d'Affaires, says: "Japanese food and Georgian wine go very well together.

Georgia is a country of longevity and the elderly are respected.

Georgia's natural water comes from the Caucasus Mountains, and is both of high quality and rich in minerals. There are hundreds of spring water spots in the country. We have heard that it is a country of longevity, with rich and tasty water and a healthy diet full of yoghurt and walnuts. "In urban areas, not so many live to be over 100 years old, but in the mountainous regions, people tend to live longer. There are many factors that contribute to the longevity of mountain people, but the most important is that they lead an active life - riding horses, tilling the soil, etc. - and that they are less stressed. Another thing is that elderly people are very respected in Georgia and play an important role in local society. For example, if we have to make a decision in the village, we ask the elderly people and respect their opinion. I think it's very important for elder people to feel that they have something to contribute to the community even when they are old," says Dr. Goginashavili. Then, as if remembering, he continued, "When I first came to Japan, I went to the swimming pool one day. I was surprised to find out that there were detailed rules for using the pool. This course is a walking course, you can't go the other way, etc. I asked one of my seniors and he told me that in Japan, which is a small and crowded country, if there were no rules it would be a big problem. It made sense to me." Japan is also a country of longevity. Although the environment is different, it is fun to find similarities with Georgia.

*This article is based on information available at the time of the interview. For the latest information, please contact the organization directly.