Japan has determined the Winners of the Country Stage of the V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy"

The results of the country stage of the V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" were summed up in May 2026 in Japan. The winners are two bright representatives of the Russian diaspora, who for many years have been building bridges of mutual understanding between peoples through art, traditions and cultural dialogue.

Tatiana Tominaga: "Sometimes one kimono can tell more about culture than a thousand words"

Tatiana Tominaga has been living in Japan for 26 years and has devoted more than ten years to studying the art of kimono. Considering her long-term efforts to popularize Japanese traditional costume, develop intercultural dialogue and promote the aesthetic heritage of Japan, the national jury of the Contest proposed to mark her work with a special author's nomination - "Diplomacy of Art, Traditional Costume and Creative Aesthetics."

For Tatiana Tominaga, kimonos are not just the national dress of Japan. It is the cultural code of the country, a special language of aesthetics, philosophy and traditions.

– For me, a kimono is much more than a traditional costume. It is a living culture, philosophy and a special language through which people can speak without words," - says Tatiana.

She sees her mission in preserving and popularizing the kimono culture, familiarizing people from different countries with its history and deep symbolism. Through cultural meetings, photo projects, international events and master classes, Tatiana helps to see the kimono not as a museum exhibit, but as a living tradition of modern Japanese society.

Over the years, Tatiana Tominaga has become a speaker at the international women's forum "Synergy of Opportunities" in Tokyo, held at the site of the Russian Embassy in Japan, as well as co-organizer of the large-scale seminar "New Life of kimonos: Stylization and Collecting", organized jointly with the Russian ART Kimono Project.

Her work has also received special recognition in the academic environment. Tatiana Tominaga's experience in the art of kimono dressing was included in a scientific study published in the international anthropological journal The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology.

In addition to popularizing kimonos, Tatiana is engaged in traditional Japanese crafts, participates in exhibitions of national dolls, organizes cultural workshops for children and adults, conducts photo shoots and introduces Japanese guests to the richness of Japanese traditions.

– For me, the main thing in leadership is to inspire people and open up new horizons for them. Leadership manifests itself when through your work you can bring people together, share culture and create a lively dialogue between them," - she says.

Today, Tatiana Tominaga's work has become a vivid example of how a traditional costume can turn into an instrument of cultural diplomacy and international understanding.

Victoria Tolstova: culture as an invisible thread of friendship between nations

The winner in the Cultural Diplomacy nomination is Victoria Tolstova— Head of the Kyoto Russian Cultural Center, founder of the Enishi International Cultural project and a person who has been living in Japan for more than 28 years and dedicates her work to strengthening humanitarian ties between Russia and Japan.

Victoria Tolstova's professional career began in the field of art and choreography. She performed as part of the Far East Ensemble, and after moving to Japan, she used her knowledge and creative experience to develop international cultural cooperation.

In 2017, Victoria Tolstova created the Kyoto Russian Cultural Center, and later the Enishi International Festival. In Japanese culture, the word "ensi" (縁) means a fateful connection between people — an invisible thread connecting human destinies. It was this philosophy that formed the basis of the project.

Today, the Enishi Festival is one of the notable platforms of Russian-Japanese cultural interaction. Every year it gathers musicians, artists, dancers, designers, cultural figures and thousands of spectators. The festival program includes concerts, master classes, kimono shows, calligraphic performances, performances on Japanese taiko drums, theater and art projects. The special feature of the festival is that its participants not only represent their culture, but also create joint creative projects and new forms of international cooperation.

The project is developing not only in Japan, but also in Russia. In recent years, Enishi's cultural programs have been held in St. Petersburg, attracting viewers and contributing to the development of sustainable humanitarian ties between the two countries.

One of the most striking achievements of Victoria Tolstova was the participation of her Russian-Japanese team in the International Flower Festival in St. Petersburg, where their composition won the first place.

– A true leader is a person who is able to inspire people and make them want to do something important together. When people feel the sincerity of an idea, they are willing to invest their time, talent, and energy in it," - she says of leadership.

Victoria Tolstova considers uniting people through culture, creativity and human connections the main mission of her life.

More information is on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly and at media@world-assembly.org.