Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa (Photo from mofa.go.jp) MANILA - Japan has sent Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa to attend the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on June 30. The Japanese Embassy in Manila said Hayashi was designated as the special envoy of Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to witness the Filipino leader assume the presidency. Prior to the inauguration, Hayashi on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. in Pasay City. For the past years, the Japanese top diplomat said cooperation between the Philippines and Japan has advanced on multiple fronts and has become indispensable to both countries. In an opinion piece posted at the Philippine Star, Hayashi expressed Japan's hopes to further advance this partnership with the Philippines, particularly on security, pandemic recovery, and economic development, among others. "During the presidency of President Marcos, Japan and the Ph