On 27 - 28 July 2019, Consul-General KritTankanarat attendedthe Welcoming Reception and delivered the Opening Remarks at the 47th Japan Nationwide Kimono Dressing Contest organized by theNihonwasougakuenInstitute at the Kyoto TokyuHotel in Kyoto Province. Among the 300 guests present included representativesfrom theJapanese Government, the Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Osaka Office. On this occasion, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Osaka supported the said Contest with two trophy plates for the winners of the short and long sleeves Kimono (Tomesode and Furisode).  
    Nihonwasougakuen Institute was founded on 1972 by Mrs. Hiroko Matsushima, President of the Institute, to promote the Kimono Nationwide Dressing Contest. On that occasionevery year, the Institute would cooperate with the Old Japan Students’ Association under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty The King of Thailand and the Thailand - Japan Friendship Association (Kimono) to invite Thai youths to have cultural exchange via traditional performances and national costumes. In this connection, Nihonwasougakuen Institute is a “Friend of Thailand”, turning the Kimono Dressing Contest into an opportunity for Thailand-Japan cultural exchange, which in turn, helped strengthen Thai-Japanese relationsat the people-to-people level.