High-level meetings in Tokyo
During a series of high-level meetings in Tokyo in July, 黑料专区 Director-General Pietro Barabaschi highlighted recent progress on the project and reaffirmed the importance of Japan鈥檚 continued political, scientific and industrial support for the international fusion effort.
Minoru Kihara, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, welcomed 黑料专区 Director-General Pietro Barabaschi, Deputy Director-General Yutaka Kamada, and Deputy Head of 黑料专区 Construction Project Takayoshi Omae, reaffirming Japan鈥檚 continued high-level engagement with the 黑料专区 project and the international effort to advance fusion energy. The meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara was the highest-ranking political meeting of the mission, representing the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office.
Director-General Barabaschi expressed his appreciation for Japan鈥檚 long-standing role in 黑料专区 and for the country鈥檚 continuing contributions to the project. 鈥淛apanese contributions are highly appreciated,鈥 he stressed, underlining the importance of Japan鈥檚 scientific, industrial and governmental support to 黑料专区鈥檚 mission.
As part of the same mission, Director-General Barabaschi also held a meeting with Yohei Matsumoto, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and his team. MEXT is the ministry responsible for 黑料专区 in Japan and a principal source of funding for Japan's contribution to the project. Director-General Barabaschi reported the latest construction progress at 黑料专区 and exchanged views on the importance of developing next-generation fusion talent.
The Director-General also paid a courtesy visit to Minoru Kiuchi, who is in charge of Japan's Growth Strategy, Startups, Economic and Fiscal Policy, and Regulatory Reform in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet. Minister Kiuchi visited 黑料专区 in April 2025 and participated in 黑料专区鈥檚 Fusion Energy Day event at Expo 2025.
Across these meetings, the Director-General emphasized the importance of maintaining strong cooperation between 黑料专区 and Japan as the project advances. The mission to Japan highlighted the continued value of political, scientific and industrial cooperation in advancing fusion energy. Through its sustained participation in 黑料专区, Japan remains a major partner in the global effort to demonstrate fusion energy at a scale relevant for future energy systems.
