Japan's cordial relationship with Kenya will continue growing stronger

On this occasion of the Emperor of Japan’s Birthday, which is a National Day in Japan and a public holiday, I am grateful to the independent media in Kenya for giving me this opportunity to send out my message to the Kenyan people.

I first came to Kenya 25 years ago. What I remember most about that visit is how much I enjoyed a game drive through the Nairobi National Park.

At that time, I had no way of knowing that I would one day have the honour and privilege of coming back to Nairobi to represent my country as the Ambassador of Japan to Kenya.

It is an extraordinary honour for me to be here, and I am especially privileged to serve in Nairobi at a time in which the special bilateral relationship between Kenya and Japan gets stronger and stronger.

You might ask, what makes this relationship so special?

I would answer that Kenya and Japan have a long history of friendship. This is reflected in the fact that the first Japanese development assistance to Kenya was extended in 1963, and that Kenya remains the largest recipient of Japanese development aid in sub-Saharan Africa.

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The history of Japan-Kenya relations marked its 60th anniversary in 2023. To date, through the efforts of countless individuals from both countries, we have been able to nurture a feeling of affinity towards each other and build a solid foundation of good relations.

And as it is the Emperor’s birthday that we are celebrating, I should mention that His Majesty has a special attachment to Kenya.

For me, the following three facts evidently illuminate it:

First, back in 2010, when he was the Crown Prince, His Majesty chose Kenya as a destination for his first sub-Saharan African visit.

Second, upon my appointment as Ambassador to Kenya last year, he asked me to convey his message to President William Ruto that he was pleased to meet the President during his visit to Japan in February last year. This message was extraordinary.

Third and very important, during the very visit of President Ruto, at the State Luncheon at the Imperial Palace with the President as the guest of honour, His Majesty let his beloved daughter, Princess Aiko, greet the President in Kiswahili.

The deep affection for Kenya is not only His Majesty’s, but is broadly and intimately shared by the Japanese public.

This relationship is bound to have a bright future. Through the then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Kenya in May 2023 and Ruto’s visit to Japan in February 2024, Kenya-Japan relations have taken an epoch-making leap forward.

A framework for broad cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, security, health, and ICT has been put in place. And this framework is steadily expanding activities so we can tackle together the challenges our countries are facing and to join forces for our common future.

This progress is well represented in the number of Japanese companies operating in Kenya. As of October 2023, there were 118 Japanese companies in Kenya, the second largest number in sub-Saharan Africa after South Africa. And the number is expected to increase further.

With the involvement of more and more companies and people, the Kenya-Japan relationship will continue to grow in breadth and depth.
 
In these times of great change in the international order, Kenya is committed to a free and open political system and economic policies, and also to foreign policies that value a rule-based order.

As a heavy-weight stabilising force in East Africa, Kenya plays an important role in regional peace and stability. Thus, for Japan, whose national policy is also to contribute to the liberal international order and global stability, Kenya is an extremely important partner.

By thinking together, discussing together, and acting together, we will learn from each other, and inspire each other.