On 10 May 2025, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, presided over the opening ceremony of the 25th Thai Festival in Tokyo, Japan. The event was attended by Ms. IKUINA Akiko, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, as guest of honour; H.E. Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Ambassador of Thailand to Japan; H.E. Mr. NIKI Hirobumi, State Minister of Health, Labour and Wefare of Japan; H.E. Mr. AKAMATSU Ken, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan; representatives from Japanese government agencies and partner organizations; Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Creative Economy Agency (CEA), Chulalongkorn University, Thai PBS, Thai private sector companies, Team Thailand agencies in Tokyo; members of diplomatic corps; Thai community; as well as Japanese and other nationals.

Thai Festival in Tokyo is the largest Thai Festival in the world and one of Tokyo’s most significant cultural exchange events attracting over 300,000 visitors annually. This year, marked the 25th anniversary of the Festival, was held under the theme “Creative Thailand” during 10 - 11 May 2025 at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo. The event was co-organised by the Royal Thai Embassy and Team Thailand Offices in Tokyo in collaboration with various Thai government agencies and private organizations as well as Japanese partners, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japanese private sector, such as TSP Taiyo, Kyodo Osaka, and On the Line as the executive committee of the festival. The festival aimed to promote a modern, dynamic, and creative image of Thailand, expand business opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs in the Japanese market, empower Thai communities in Japan, and promote Thailand’s creative industries onto the global stage in alignment with the government’s National Soft Power Strategy.

The Festival featured over 150 booths showcasing Thailand’s creative industries, exhibitions, tourism and services as well as Thai food, fruits and product vendors. Cultural performances, including Muaythai and traditional Thai dance, were featured alongside modern entertainment, with concerts and fan meetings showcasing some of Thailand’s leading artists, including INDIGO, PIXXIE, BAMM, LYKN, BNK48, CGM48, actors and actresses from GMMTV, and stars from the series “4MINUTES”, all of whom received an enthusiastic response from the audience. The Minister also laid groundwork for how Thailand’s soft power could be showcased, in collaboration with Japanese soft power, on the occasion of Thailand-Japan 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027.

Thai Festival in Tokyo constitutes part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand’s cultural and public diplomacy aimed at fostering mutual understanding and strengthening people-to-people ties with foreign nations. It also serves as a key initiative under Thailand’s proactive economic diplomacy, promoting the country’s creative economy on the global stage. In 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with both government and private sector partners, is organizing Thai Festivals in 45 cities across 32 countries worldwide.