Priority Areas of Cultural Interaction between Japan and ASEAN

The article analyzes the priority areas of cultural interaction between Japan and the ASEAN countries. The his-torical stages of cooperation are considered – from overcoming post-war mistrust to the formation of a sustain-able partnership in the 21st century. Particular attention is paid to institutional mechanisms, including the activi-ties of the Japan Foundation, the ASEAN Cultural Foundation, educational and youth exchanges, dissemina-tion of the Japanese language and support for bilateral cultural initiatives. The role of Japanese “soft power” is emphasized, manifested in a combination of respect for the cultural sovereignty of partners and the promotion of popular culture, as well as in the development of humanitarian projects. Modern trends are highlighted: digi-talization, joint creative projects, environmental and youth initiatives. It has been established that the synthesis of traditions and innovations contributes to the formation of a new common cultural environment and strength-ening trust between the peoples of Japan and Southeast Asia, making cultural cooperation a key factor in re-gional stability and development.