On January 13, 2021, Sankei Shimbun, one of Japan's biggest dailies, published an article by Ambassador Gediminas Varvuolis, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of January 13^th - Defenders of Freedom Day.

The Ambassador shares his personal memories from the night of January 13, 1991, when people of Lithuania, led by pursuit of unity and freedom, achieved a historic victory and defended independence of the restored Lithuanian state.

Recalling the victory of freedom won by peaceful Lithuanian citizens thirty years ago, G. Varvuolis emphasizes the significance of January 1991 on the path of restoration and consolidation of independence, which determined the future of Lithuania and Europe as a whole.

The article was prepared in communication with Mr. Tsumoto Saito, Sankei Shimbun correspondent, who had arrived in Lithuania immediately after events of January 13, 1991, and wrote about them immediately afterwards.

Article in the Japanese language: https://www.sankei.com/world/news/210113/wor2101130026-n1.html.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of January 13 –  Freedom Defenders' Day –  and to honor those who died for freedom of Lithuania on January 13, commemorative candles –  a symbol of unity and victory – were lit at the Lithuanian Embassy in Japan.

Today the Embassy organized a virtual presentation of Lithuanian high tech products that are sold in the Japanese market. Ambassador Gediminas Varvuolis gave an introductory speech, and Yoshitaka Hoshino, Vice President of JETRO, discussed trade cooperation between Japan and Lithuania. Lithuanian high-tech sector was presented by third secretary Rokas Danilevičius, Teltonika products were presented by the company's representative in Japan Naoki Okura, and Deeper, Monimoto, Oxipit, Worksober and Eskimi DSP products were reviewed by Andrius Geležauskas, CEO of Baltic Vision.

To mark the 30th anniversary of January 13 - Defenders of Freedom Day, a lesson about Lithuania and January 13 was given at Tsuchisawa Junior High School in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. The lesson was taught by Rasa Čekanavičiūtė, International Relations Coordinator of Hiratsuka Municipality.

The lesson began with the singing of the Lithuanian anthem, which students had rehearsed in advance. Students then got acquainted with the main facts about Lithuania, Lithuanian history and culture, and the January 13^th.

Ambassador Varvuolis participated in the seventh Lithuanian-Japanese life sciences symposium, which was held remotely this year. The symposium is organized by the professor of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences D. Pauža and the proffessor of Tokyo Teikyo University M. Asashima. The event was attended by scientists from Kaunas, Tokyo, Chiba and Kumamoto.

The grassroots crowdfunding initiative started by volunteers from „Eurasia Travel“ in Tokyo to financially support Sugihara House in Kaunas, which is deprived of visitors because of the pandemic, resulted in collecting 10,487,500 yen (over 83 thousand euro) by a total of 1,164 people. On December 15th, Ambassador G. Varvuolis attended a solemn online ceremony, held both in Tokyo and in Lithuania, to celebrate this generous donation.

On December 12-13, Ambassador A. Varvuolis participated in events of  ”Lithuania NOW 2020” festival in Yaotsu, Gifu Prefecture.