Japanese Ambassador to Georgia visits Mestia municipality, celebrates Japan’s National Mountain Day

Imamura Akira,  the Japanese Ambassador to Georgia visited Mestia municipality in western Georgia on Thursday, celebrating Japan’s National Mountain Day, and emphasised a “crucial role” of mountains in providing key ecosystem goods and services to the planet. 

During the visit, Akira and Kapiton Zhorzholiani, the Mayor of Mestia Municipality discussed the possibilities and existing challenges in the region, also  highlighting the projects having been implemented by the Japanese support.

The Japanese Embassy in Georgia said Akira had visited the house-museum of Georgian mountaineer Mikheil Khergiani and the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography in the mountainous village Ushguli and had been “incredibly impressed” with the village’s “history, cultural features, unique architecture and beautiful nature”. 

The Ambassador also viewed a photo exhibition, organised by the Mountain Trails Agency of the Economy Ministry of Georgia and funded within the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s mini-grant program, which illustrated the country’s mountain resorts. 

The First Rehabilitation Centre for People with Disabilities in the municipality, established in 2019 with the financial support of the Japanese government, providing essential services to up to 100 individuals, was also visited by Akira.