On 23 March 2011 Mayor Zoran Janković signed the book of condolences for the tragic natural disaster in Japan that has been opened at the Japanese embassy in Ljubljana.

After signing, he briefly met His Excellency Mr Toshimitsu Ishigure, the Japanese Ambassador to Slovenia, and expressed his condolences and sympathy for those affected by this severe natural and human catastrophe. The Mayor called for the establishment of friendly partnership between the capitals of both countries and suggested that we would assist by adopting students from Tokyo. We will also be suggesting that one of the streets or roads in Ljubljana be named after Japan.

The Japanese Ambassador expressed his gratitude for the compassion and emphasised that there are prospects for strengthening relations between Tokyo and Ljubljana as early as next year, when the two countries are to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations being established between them.