As the first step of the project "Promoting Japan-Asia Relations: An Opinion Leaders' Exchange", Former ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan was invited to Japan from 19-25 October, 2014. (Cities visited: Tokyo, Akita, Iwate, Miyagi)

In Akita, the Dr. Pitsuwan not only attended a lecture at Akita International University on 'What the growth of ASEAN will bring to Japan', but also visited Ishinomaki, which had been visited by the ASEAN Secretary-General in June 2011. Since three months after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the former Secretary-General has been leading a group of young volunteers from ASEAN countries affected by the Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake who have been working in Ishinomaki. During this visit to the city, Dr. Surin paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Mayor, Mr. Sugawara, and made a floral offering to victims of the disaster. Moreover, he visited the area where in 2001 volunteers had distributed Asian meals and cleared away mud and dirt, making sure that recovery was underway.

In Tokyo, Dr. Pistuwan attended a study group composed of experts on the minority peoples of ASEAN, as well as a lecture on 'The present and future political situation of Thailand'.