About the ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers (AJSMJ)

　The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is advancing “Justice Affairs Diplomacy” which is an initiative that aims to promote fundamental values such as the rule of law and respect for human rights in the international community. As part of the initiative, the MOJ has been providing training programs and legal technical assistance to Asian countries including ASEAN Member States for many years through the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) and the International Cooperation Department (ICD) of the MOJ Research and Training Institute. Through such efforts, the MOJ has contributed to promoting and upholding the rule of law in the region and established an unwavering relationship with ASEAN Member States based on trust. In order to further advance “Justice Affairs Diplomacy” with ASEAN partners, MOJ became the first Dialogue Partner with ASEAN in the field of law and justice in 2021 and has since been attending the annual ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting (ASLOM)-Japan Consultations.
　Building on such achievements and upon agreement, the MOJ will host the ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers in 2023, on the occasion of the 50th year of ASEAN-JAPAN Friendship and Cooperation and will invite the Justice Ministers and Attorney Generals of the ASEAN Member States. This will be a first-ever ministerial-level meeting between a Dialogue Partner (Japan) and ASEAN Member States in the field of law and justice. The holding of this meeting is a sign of ASEAN’s high expectations and trust towards Japan’s initiative
　ASEAN is a key region to peace, prosperity and growth. Hence, strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and Japan is a pressing issue. The MOJ will take a leadership role in promoting and upholding fundamental values through deliberations and the adoption of outcome documents at the AJSMJ. Furthermore, the MOJ aims to further enhance the long-standing initiatives such as legal technical assistance to realize such fundamental values, as a means to strategically promote the “Justice Affairs Diplomacy”.
　Furthermore, MOJ will host the G7 Justice Ministers’ Meeting back-to-back with the AJSMJ at the same venue.

Overview of the AJSMJ

• ●Date:

  July 6 (Thu.), 2023

• ●Venue:

  Hotel New Otani, Tokyo
  4-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

• ●Participating countries and organizations:

  ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat, international organizations, etc.

• ●Theme:

  Advancing ASEAN-Japan Cooperation to Promote the Rule of Law: Towards a New Phase beyond the 50th Year of Friendship and Cooperation

ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers Logo

What the AJSMJ Logo represents

　The Logo symbolizes the strong bond of friendship between the ASEAN and Japan, and a plum knot, one of the most common motifs in “Mizuhiki”, traditional Japanese handicrafts made of paper code is used in the Logo design.
　The point is that plum knot is believed to be able to turn your life around for the better and help you overcome difficulties because plum blossoms bloom in spring only after surviving harsh winter.
　The Logo has four colors, blue, yellow, red and white, which are used in the ASAEAN and Japanese flags representing close ties between the ASEAN and Japan. Hence, the MOJ created this Logo hoping that the Japan and the ASEAN can work closely together to further strengthen cooperative ties and the friendships will grow and flourish for a long time by taking this opportunity.

Information on how to use the AJSMJ Logo

Images of ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers Logo

• ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers LogoPDFJPG