Profile

Our organization is dedicated to promoting Caribbean culture, with a focus on Trinidad and Tobago, and fostering cultural exchange with Japan. We introduce the appeal of diverse cultural elements—including music, carnival, art, and culinary traditions—and strive to create more opportunities for people to connect with these cultures.

Message from the Representative Director

I have recently been appointed as the Executive Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Association for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts.
I have been involved in promoting Caribbean culture by launching Japan’s first Trinidad and Tobago restaurant, introducing its culinary traditions, sharing Caribbean music and carnival culture, and directing the “Japan Caribbean Carnival.”

I have also spent many years visiting Trinidad and Tobago, where I studied steelpan craftsmanship at local workshops and gained extensive hands-on experience with carnival culture. As a Japanese person immersing myself in the local culture, I became increasingly determined to share its appeal with as many people as possible.

Trinidad and Tobago is also the birthplace of carnival culture—considered one of the world’s three great carnivals—as well as the steelpan, an acoustic instrument said to have been created from oil drums and to be the last acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century, and soca music.

The “Japan Caribbean Carnival” brings together people with roots in Caribbean culture—which spans the Caribbean region and the rest of the world—serving as an international venue where visitors can experience authentic Caribbean culture and atmosphere. We intend to continue cherishing these opportunities for cultural exchange and to widely promote the appeal of Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean culture.

Representative Director Akira Iino