[18 December 2002] 24th Essay Contest for Greek citizens. Subject: "What would you do in order to further promote the friendly relations between Greece and Japan?" The prize is an educational trip to Japan. Cultural Centre of the Embassy of Japan.


[4 December 2002] A lady from Japan, now living permanently in Athens, is among the people who applied to ATHENS 2004 to become volunteers.
"I was born in Nagasaki and so the Olympic Games' message of peace and brotherhood is very important to me" said Mrs Miki Katsarou... ATHENS 2004


[November 2002] "Greece of the Rising Sun", a Greek documentary about the cultural exchanges between Greece and Japan, won the Gold Prize in Annual Competition for films and videos on Japan. It is also received The Japan Times Prize. The film directed by Dimitris Kontossis. The Japan Times


[17 November 2002] The Japanese film Mizu no onna by Hidenori Sugimori won the top prize Golden Alexander at the 43rd annual Thessaloniki International Film Festival


[13 November] OTENET the national and biggest internet provider in Greece presents Greece-Japan.com site in their Best site's (Internet) stories


[22 October 2002] Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis had a ceremonial meeting with Japan's ambassador to Athens Takasi Nakamoto MPA News


[27 August 2002] Ambassador to Greece gets Cyprus post as well
Japan Today


[4 August 2002] "The Greek Studies in Japan"
Article of the Dean of University of Athens Professor G. Babiniotis in the Sunday edition of VIMA newspaper. He also notes the establishment of the Department of Arab-Turkish and Asian Studies in University where will be added courses in Japanese language, literature and culture

[6 July 2002] The new Greek ambassador-designate to Japan
The Japan Times


[5 July 2002] Three universities launch online database on Hearn
The Japan Times


[4 June 2002] Japanese peace activists in Athens... ekathimerini


[17 May 2002] The Japanese Government grants scholarships to researchers that wish to continue postgraduate study in Japan. Submission of applications: Cultural Section of the Embassy of Japan in Greece, Vasilissis Sofias 64, tel 10-7245875, 9.00-15.00, up to 28/6.


[10 May 2002] A Greek manager in Japan. An interview to Japan Today


[2 April 2002] The European Commision trains Greek Managers in Japan
MPA News


[March 2002] Greek Prime Minister Constantinos Simitis visited Japan from March 3 to 8, 2002. During his visit (the first ever official visit to Japan by a Greek Premier), he met with the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and the Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The two Prime Ministers signed a joint action plan for the promotion of bilateral political, financial and cultural cooperation.


[7 March 2002] Greek Prime Minister Constantinos Simitis at Konnichian


[5 March 2002] Greece, Japan sign accord for closer ties - ekathimerini


[March 2002] Mayor of greek island Lefcada, invited the Prime Ministers of Greece and Japan to visit the birth place of poet Lefcadio Hearn, also known as Koizumi Yakumo.

[8-17 November 2002] ASIAN VISION A window to Asia
At the 43rd International Thessaloniki Film Festival. Japanese Cinema is participating with the film BLUE (2001) by the 38 years old director Hiroshi Ando. The event is supported by ASEF (Asia-Europe Foundation).


[28 September 2002]Theatre and Music Spectacle from Japan Athens Festival. Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

[3-4 August 2002] Greek and Japanese Volleyball teams (among the world's best men's teams), faced each other at Toyama City, for the preliminary rounds of the World League 2002. Results:
JPN-GRE 03-Aug 1-3 set and JPN-GRE 04-Aug 3-1 set


[19 July 2002] Tadashi Suzuki, artistic director of SPAC (Shizuoka Performing Arts Centre), directs Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex".
Cultural Olympiad/Greek Festival. Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus


[1-4 July 2002] RAN the epic film of Akira Kurosawa
Alphavil Highlights Cinema (Open Air), Mavromihali 168, Athens.


[31 May - 30 June 2002] 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan .
The official Theme song "Boom" for the 2002 World Cup which will be performed by US singer Anastacia was composed by Greek composer Vangelis.


[14, 15, 16 June 2002 ] KUMONOSU-JO (The Throne of Blood)
Film directed (1957) by Akira Kurosawa.
Open-Air Cinemas: Zefyros, Oasis. Athens.


[11 May 2002] Chado practice by Michiko Nojiri from Urasenke Center (Italy). Athens, Museum of Cycladic Art. For this night the cafe bar of museaum served sushi.
Urasenke Foundation introduces and spreads the knowledge of Chado, The Way of Tea, a Japanese tradition with more than 400 hundred years history.


[20 April 2002] Speech Contest in Japanese Language Athens. Organized by the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of Japan in Greece.


Contemporary Japanese Architecture. An exhibition of posters that present the evolution of Japanese Architecture during the years 1985-1996, was organized in March 2002 at The Melina Mercouri Cultural Center of Municipality of Athens.


[18 March 2002] A KYOGEN Theatre Performance by the Shigeyama Family was played at the National Theatre in Athens.
Kyogen is a form of theatre, the Classical Comic Drama of Japan. The program consisted of workshop and performances. The plays were two, Bo Shibari and Susugigawa.