Japan – a global economic powerhouse where tradition goes hand in hand with technology—will be the Honored Country of the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), to be held from 5 to 13 September 2026. Preparations for organizing its participation and designing its pavilion have already begun and are progressing at an intensive pace. The Honored Country’s presence will be hosted in Pavilion 13 of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center and is expected to impress visitors to the 90th TIF, a commemorative edition marking 100 years since the first TIF in 1926.

Greek and international audiences at the 90th TIF will have the opportunity to explore the distinctive Japanese “universe” through the three thematic pillars of “Takumi”: wisdom, empathy, and driving force. In particular, the Embassy of Japan in Greece, which has undertaken the coordination of the Honored Country’s participation in the 90th TIF, will present a panorama of Japanese companies and organizations from the sectors of tourism, technology, innovation, automotive industry, energy, and healthcare. At the same time, a rich program of events will be offered, including thematic days, educational activities, networking events, corporate presentations, as well as a series of cultural events.

Japan’s presence as the Honored Country at this year’s event is inspired by the philosophy of “Takumi” (ta-ku-mi), which in Japanese means “artisan” or “master craftsman.” Takumi does not merely describe the practice of a profession, but rather a timeless dedication to perfecting a craft, with an emphasis on skill, precision, attention to detail, and human-centered design. This philosophy is a cornerstone of Japanese culture and has been internationally recognized as a benchmark of quality and excellence.

The official announcement of Japan’s participation as the Honored Country at the 90th TIF was made at an event held yesterday at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Koichi ITO, in the presence of representatives of the Japanese community, leading companies of Japanese business, and Greek representatives of Japanese enterprises. On the Greek side, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the management of TIF–HELEXPO were in attendance.

During the event, ways of further informing Japanese and Greek businesses about Japan’s participation as the Honored Country at the 90th TIF were also discussed, while emphasis was placed on the significant opportunity created to strengthen and deepen Greek Japanese political, economic, business, and cultural relations.

“This year offers substantial opportunities for the further strengthening of Japan–Greece relations. I feel deeply honored to announce a milestone in our cooperation for 2026,” noted the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Koichi ITO.

“The participation of Japan as the Honored Country, beyond being a significant event in itself, also has another dimension: Japan is now among the top priorities of our economic diplomacy for the next five years. The country has adopted a strategic five-year outward-looking plan, and among the geographic priorities identified, Japan ranks at the very top—something that will also be highlighted this September at the TIF. This will mark the beginning of closer cooperation between the two countries,” stated Mr. Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Extroversion at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“It is a great honor for our organization that Japan will be the Honored Country at the 90th TIF, a commemorative edition marking 100 years since the first Thessaloniki International Fair in 1926. The institution of the Honored Country is extremely important to us and is inextricably linked to the technology, progress, and culture that each selected country brings to the Thessaloniki International Fair. In this case, we are dealing with a fortunate convergence, as these three concepts are embedded in the DNA of Japan—a pioneering country that also demonstrates deep respect for tradition and culture,” emphasized Mr. Christos Tsentemeidis, President of TIF–HELEXPO.