World Peace Art Exhibition 2018 (September 12-24, 2018)

　Every year on April 26, we celebrate World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, which was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). April 26 is the date on which the Convention Establishing WIPO entered into force in 1970. World IP Day is observed by holding a variety of events and activities worldwide to increase people’s awareness and understanding of the important role that IP rights play in promoting innovations. The theme for this year is “Reach for Gold: IP and Sports.” Various events on this theme were held to celebrate the day around the world, including in Geneva, which is home to the WIPO headquarters.

　The Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva held a panel discussion and reception celebrating World IP Day 2019 titled “Intellectual Property: Making Sports Inclusive through Innovation and Technology” in collaboration with the U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Geneva on May 7, 2019 at the WIPO headquarters.

　Professor Kouta Minamizawa of the Keio University Graduate School of Media Design participated in a panel discussion and introduced some of his research activities, which use the latest technology to create new types of sports that all people can enjoy together regardless of whether they have a disability or not.

　In addition, in keeping with the theme for the evening, information was shared on two major upcoming sporting events in Japan—the Rugby World Cup 2019 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sushi and sake were also served at the reception to give participants a taste of Japanese food culture.

Opening Remarks by Ambassador Junichi Ihara

Panel Discussion