CCTV+: 64 Years of China-Japan Friendship Marked by a Bottle of Moutai

Table tennis champion Matsuzaki Kimiyo recalls receiving the iconic gift from PremierZhou Enlaiin 1961

BEIJING,June 7, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- A timeworn bottle of Moutai takes pride of place at Expo 2025 Osaka's China Pavilion, telling a story of international camaraderie.

(PRNewsfoto/CCTV+)

In 1961, Japanese table tennis player Matsuzaki Kimiyo visitedChinaafter winning the championship at the 26th World Table Tennis Championships inBeijing. PremierZhou Enlaipresented her with a bottle of Moutai as a gift. Five decades later, in 2011, Matsuzaki personally returned this historic liquor to the Moutai Museum in Moutai Town,Guizhou Province.

(PRNewsfoto/CCTV+)

"I visited Moutai Town twice, in 2011 and last year,"Matsuzaki recalled."The memories are precious—meeting Ji Keliang (former chairman of Kweichow Moutai Group) and tasting 50-year-aged Moutai was truly unforgettable."She added,"The town's picturesque scenery also left a deep impression."

This single bottle of Moutai—given by Premier Zhou in 1961 and personally returned by Matsuzaki half a century later— transcends time as a living testament toChina-Japanfriendship. More than just a relic, it carries three enduring legacies:

  • a historical touchstone—chronicling decades of bilateral ties from grassroots exchanges to high-level diplomacy;
  • an ambassador of culture—introducing Moutai's craftsmanship toJapanand beyond, transforming a Chinese tradition into a shared global heritage; and
  • a diplomatic bridge—connecting the Chinese and Japanese people across generations.

Additionally, Matsuzaki's Moutai narrative has become a heartwarming chapter in the annals of international friendship that continues to inspire new generations.

 

 

 

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SOURCE CCTV+