Foreign Relations of Japan - Europe

Europe

In what became known as the Tenshō embassy, the first ambassadors from Japan to European powers reached Lisbon, Portugal in August 1584. From Lisbon, the ambassadors left for the Vatican in Rome, which was the main goal of their journey. The embassy returned to Japan in 1590, after which time the four nobleman ambassadors were ordained by Alessandro Valignano as the first Japanese Jesuit fathers.

A second embassy, headed by Hasekura Tsunenaga and sponsored by Date Masamune, was also a diplomatic mission to the Vatican. The embassy left 28 October 1613 from Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan, where Date was daimyo. It traveled to Europe by way of New Spain, arriving in Acapulco on 25 January 1614, Mexico City in March, Havana in July, and finally Seville on 23 October 1614. After a short stop-over in France, the embassy reached Rome in November 1615, where it was received by Pope Paul V. After return travel by way of New Spain and the Philippines, the embassy reached the harbor of Nagasaki in August 1620. While the embassy was gone, Japan had undergone significant change, starting with the 1614 Osaka Rebellion, leading to a 1616 decree from the Tokugawa shogunate that all interaction with non-Chinese foreigners was confined to Hirado and Nagasaki. This was the beginning of "sakoku", where Japan was essentially closed to the western world until 1854.

Modern era

Although cultural and non-economic ties with Western Europe grew significantly during the 1980s, the economic nexus remained by far the most important element of Japanese – West European relations throughout the decade. Events in West European relations, as well as political, economic, or even military matters, were topics of concern to most Japanese commentators because of the immediate implications for Japan. The major issues centred on the effect of the coming West European economic unification on Japan's trade, investment, and other opportunities in Western Europe. Some West European leaders were anxious to restrict Japanese access to the newly integrated European Union (until November 1993, the European Community), but others appeared open to Japanese trade and investment. In partial response to the strengthening economic ties among nations in Western Europe and to the United States-Canada-Mexico North American Free Trade Agreement, Japan and other countries along the Asia-Pacific rim began moving in the late 1980s toward greater economic cooperation.

On 18 July 1991, after several months of difficult negotiations, Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu signed a joint statement with the Dutch prime minister and head of the European Community Council, Ruud Lubbers, and with the European Commission president, Jacques Delors, pledging closer Japanese – European Community consultations on foreign relations, scientific and technological cooperation, assistance to developing countries, and efforts to reduce trade conflicts. Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials hoped that this agreement would help to broaden Japanese – European Community political links and raise them above the narrow confines of trade disputes.

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Albania 1981 See Albania–Japan relations

Albania and Japan resumed established diplomatic relations in March 1981.

  • Albania has an embassy in Tokyo.
Armenia 1992-09-07 See Armenia–Japan relations
  • Armenia is represented in Japan through its embassy in Beijing (China).
  • Japan is represented in Armenia through its embassy in Moscow (Russia).
  • Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Armenia
Austria 1869 See Austria–Japan relations
  • Austria has an embassy in Tokyo and 4 honorary consulates (in Hiroshima, Nagoya, Osaka and Sapporo).
  • Japan has an embassy in Vienna and an honorary consulate in Salzburg.
Bulgaria 1869 See Bulgaria–Japan relations
  • Bulgaria has an embassy in Tokyo and an honorary consulate in Yokohama.
  • Japan has an embassy in Sofia.
  • Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Bulgaria
Croatia 1920 and restored 1957 See Foreign relations of the Czech Republic#Asia
Denmark 1867 See Denmark–Japan relations
Estonia 1991 See Foreign relations of Estonia#Relations by country
European Union 1959 See Japan–European Union relations
Finland 1919 See Foreign relations of Finland#Asia
France 1858 See France–Japan relations

The history of Franco–Japanese relations (日仏関係, Nichi-Futsu kankei?) goes back to the early 17th century, when a Japanese samurai and ambassador on his way to Rome landed for a few days in Southern France, creating a sensation. France and Japan have enjoyed a very robust and progressive relationship spanning centuries through various contacts in each other's countries by senior representatives, strategic efforts, and cultural exchanges.

Georgia 1992-08-03 See Georgia–Japan relations
  • Japan has extended foreign aid to Georgia for various economic and cultural development projects.
  • The balance of trade between the two nations is heavily in favor of Japan, with Japan exporting automobiles and manufactured goods, and Georgia exporting food products and chemicals.
  • Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze made an official visit to Japan in March 1999 and President Mikheil Saakashvili visited Japan in March 2007.
  • Since November 2006, Georgia has maintained an embassy in Tokyo.
  • Japan has an embassy in Tbilisi.
  • Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Japan
  • Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Georgia
Germany January 1861 See Germany–Japan relations

Regular meetings between the two countries have led to several cooperations. In 2004 German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi agreed upon cooperations in the assistance for reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, the promotion of economic exchange activities, youth and sports exchanges as well as exchanges and cooperation in science, technology and academic fields.

Greece 1899 See Greece–Japan relations

There has been a Greek embassy in Tokyo since 1960, and a Japanese embassy in Athens since the same year, when it was decided to upgrade the Japanese Consulate which had opened in 1956. Since then the two countries have enjoyed excellent relations in all fields, and cooperate closely.

Holy See 1942-03 The first Papal visit to Japan took place in 1981. the present Apostolic Nuncio to Japan is Archbishop Alberto Bottari de Castello (since 2005) Japan first sent an ambassador, Ken Harada, to the Vatican during World War II.
Hungary 1921 See Hungary–Japan relations
  • Hungary has an embassy in Tokyo and 2 honorary consulates (in Hamamatsu and Osaka).
  • Japan has an embassy in Budapest.
  • Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Hungary
Iceland 1956 See Foreign relations of Iceland#Rest of world
Ireland 1957 See Foreign relations of the Republic of Ireland#Asia
Italy 1861 See Foreign relations of Italy#Asia and Oceania
Kosovo 2008 See Japan–Kosovo relations

Japan recognised it in 18 March 2008. The first Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kosovo is Akio Tanaka. He is subordinate to the Japanese Embassy in Vienna, Austria

Lithuania 1991 See Japan–Lithuania relations
  • Japan has an embassy in Vilnius, established in 1997.
  • In 1998, Lithuania has an embassy in Tokyo.
  • Ambassador to Lithuania is Miyoko Akashi, ambassador to Japan is Dainius Kamaitis.
  • In 2007 the Emperor and Empress of Japan Akihito and Michiko paid an official visit in Lithuania.
Netherlands 1609;1858 See Japan–Netherlands relations

The relations between Japan and the Netherlands after 1945 have been a triangular relationship. The invasion and occupation of the Netherlands East Indies during World War II brought about the destruction of the colonial state in Indonesia, as the Japanese removed as much of the Dutch government as they could, weakening the post-war grip the Netherlands had over the territory. Under pressure from the United States, the Netherlands recognised Indonesian sovereignty in 1949 (see United States of Indonesia).

Moldova 1992-03-16
  • Japan has a non resident ambassador in Ukraine.
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Mr. Nicolae Tabacaru paid a visit to Japan from 31 January to 4 February 1999. It was a first official visit of a Cabinet Member of the Republic of Moldova to Japan. The visit has strengthened the friendly relations between Japan and the Republic of Moldova.
  • Since 2000 Japan implements in Moldova the grant programme for the improvement of agriculture and private farming.
  • Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in China
  • Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova
  • Japanese ministry of foreign affairs about Moldova
Montenegro 24 July 2006 See Japan–Montenegro relations

Japan recognised Montenegro on 16 June 2006 and established diplomatic relations on 24 July 2006. Montenegro had declared war on Japan in 1905 during the Russo–Japanese War and never signed a peace treaty until 2006, shortly before the opening of diplomatic relations. The war lasted for 101 years. Trade, mostly related to electronics, exports from Japan to Montenegro (163 million yen per annum) outweigh Japan's imports (2 million yen per annum).

Romania August 1902 See Foreign relations of Romania#Asia: East Asia
  • The first representation of Romania in Japan was opened in 1921
  • Japan was represented in Romania through its embassy in Vienna (Austria).
  • After World War II, both states resumed their diplomatic relations in 1959.
  • Japan has an embassy in Bucharest.
  • Romania has an embassy in Tokyo and 4 honorary consulates (in Atami, Osaka, Nagoya and Yokohama).
  • Japanese Ministry of Foreign affairs about relations with Romania
Russia 1855 See Japan–Russia relations

Japan's relations with Russia are hampered by the two sides' inability to resolve their territorial dispute over the four islands that make up the Northern Territories (Kuriles), which the U.S.S.R. seized towards the end of World War II. The stalemate has prevented conclusion of a peace treaty formally ending the war. The dispute over the Kuril Islands exacerbated the Japan–Russo relations when the Japanese government published a new guideline for school textbooks on 16 July 2008 to teach Japanese children that their country has sovereignty over the Kuril Islands. The Russian public was outraged by the action the Foreign Minister of Russia criticized the action while reaffirming its sovereignty over the islands.

Serbia 1997-05-20 See Japan–Serbia relations
  • Japan has an embassy in Belgrade.
  • Serbia has an embassy in Tokyo and an honorary consulate in Osaka.
Slovenia 1992-10
  • Japan has an embassy in Ljubljana.
  • Slovenia has an embassy in Tokyo.
  • Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Slovenia
Soviet Union 1925 See Japan–Soviet Union relations

Relations between the Soviet Union (1922–1991) and Japan were always tense. For one, both countries were in opposite camps during the Cold War. A second strain on relations is territorial conflicts, dealing with both the Kuril Islands dispute and the South Sakhalin dispute. These two, and a number of smaller conflicts, prevented both countries from signing a peace treaty after World War II, and even in 2007 matters remain unresolved.

Strains in Japan – Soviet Union relations have deep historical roots, going back to the competition of the Japanese and Russian empires for dominance in Northeast Asia. In 1993, nearly fifty years after the end of World War II, a state of war between Japan and Russia existed technically because the government in Moscow had refused in the intervening years to sign the 1951 peace treaty. On 30 July 1998, the newly elected Japanese prime minister Keizō Obuchi had focused on major issues: signing a peace treaty with Russia, and reviving the Japanese economy. Before his death, his policy with the Russian Federation has eluded implementation and the relations between the two nations remained under a state of war. The main stumbling block in all Japan's subsequent efforts to establish bilateral relations on what it called "a truly stable basis" was the territorial dispute over the Kurils, which are known as the Northern Territories in Japan.

Spain First contact in 1613, officialized in 1868.
  • Japan has an embassy in Madrid and consulates in Barcelona and Las Palmas.
  • Spain has an embassy in Tokyo.
  • Since 1997, every year a Japan–Spain Symposium for the cultural exchange between the two countries is held.
  • Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Spain
  • Spanish Embassy in Tokyo about Spanish relations with Japan
Switzerland 1864
  • Japan has an embassy in Bern and a general consulate in Geneva.
  • Switzerland has an embassy in Tokyo.
  • Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Switzerland
  • Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs about relations with Japan
Turkey 1924 See Japan–Turkey relations
  • First embassies were opened in 1925.
  • Japan has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul.
  • Turkey has an embassy in Tokyo.
  • There are 10,000 Turks living in Japan.
  • Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Japan
Ukraine 1992-01-26 See Japan–Ukraine relations
  • Japan extended diplomatic recognition to the Ukrainian state on 28 December 1991, immediately after the breakup of the Soviet Union
  • Ukraine maintains an embassy in Tokyo.
  • Japan maintains an embassy in Kiev.
United Kingdom 1854 See Japan–United Kingdom relations

The relationship between the United Kingdom and Japan began in 1600 with the arrival of William Adams (Adams the Pilot, Miura Anjin) on the shores of Kyūshū at Usuki in Ōita Prefecture. During the Sakoku period (1641–1853) there were no relations, but the treaty of 1854 saw the resumption of ties which, despite the hiatus of the Second World War, remain very strong in the present day.

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