Foreign Relations Minister of Mongolia Ts.Munkh-Orgil has appointed the popular Japanese singer and painter Yashiro Aki and prominent artist Shingetsu Shikandai cultural envoys of Mongolia. Granting the artists certificates, Minister Ts.Munkh-Orgil expressed his hope that the cultural envoys would cooperate with and assist in promoting the unique history and culture of Mongolia in Japan and make contributions to expanding cultural, humanitarian, historic, and sports relations between the two countries. Yashiro Aki, referred to as the "Song Queen of Japan", performed her popular traditional ballads in Mongolia on July 31. Shingetsu Shikandai, 63, is a remarkable Japanese artist who has displayed his work in Japan, China, the United States, Monaco, Mongolia, and France. He exhibited his artwork in Mongolia in 2014,  celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of cultural relations between Mongolia and Japan. He began his career as an artist in 1998 and has his own gallery in Japan. Some 21 cultural envoys of Mongolia are now operating in 11 foreign countries.