Historic and current bilateral relationship exist between Bahrain and Japan. Diplomatic relations were first established in 1972, and since then they have had increasing economic, cultural, and military cooperation, with Japan becoming one of the major trading partners of Bahrain. Several high-level official visits have taken place, including by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Japan in 2012, Crown Prince Salman in 2013, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Bahrain in 2013, with the governments of both countries expressing their intent to continue to increase their bilateral relations.
Japan recognized the kingdom in August 1971, and has maintained an embassy in Manama since 1988, while Bahrain has had an embassy in Tokyo since 2005. The Bahraini ambassador to Japan is Khalil Bin Ebrahim Hassan, who has held his post since 2005, while the Japanese ambassador to Bahrain has been Kiyoshi Asako since 2014.Bahrain - Embassies and Consulates. Embassy Pages. Retrieved 17 March 2017.The Ambassador's profile . Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Japan. Retrieved 17 March 2017.About us. Embassy of Japan in Bahrain. Retrieved 17 March 2017. Bahrain's crown prince attended the state funeral of the assassinated Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in September 2022.
Trade
The two countries have a history of successful economic cooperation, with Japan being one of the Gulf kingdom's major trading partners. Trade between them began in 1934, when the first shipment of Bahraini oil arrived in Yokohama, Japan.Bilateral Relationships. Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Japan. Retrieved 17 March 2017 As of 2015, Bahraini exports to Japan are worth 39.1 billion Japanese yen while Bahraini imports from Japan are worth 107.3 billion Japanese yen. Japan has also spent about US$440,000 on grand aid in the country and US$17.37 million on technical cooperation with Bahrain.Japan-Bahrain Relations. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved 17 March 2017. Thirteen trade agreements regarding healthcare and pharmaceuticals, education and training, oil and gas, and financial services were signed during Crown Prince Salman's official visit to Japan in March 2013.Sambridge, Andy. Bahrain, Japan sign deals to increase joint investment. Arabian Business. Published 23 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2017
Japan is Bahrain's fourth largest import partner.
Military cooperation Bahrain and Japan are Major non-NATO allies of the United States.Major Non-NATO Ally Status - United States Department of State Especially, Bahrain hosts the headquarters of U.S. 5th Fleet and Japan hosts the headquarters of U.S. 7th Fleet.Naval Support Activity BahrainCommander Fleet Activities Yokosuka
Many visits by top Japanese Self-Defense Forces officers and defense ministry officials have been made to Bahrain, while some Bahrain Defense Force officials have made visits to Japan.Bahrain-Japan meetings held. Bahrain News Agency. Published 24 December 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
High-level visits The following Bahraini ministers and leaders have made visits to Japan.
DateParticipant(s)1990.11 Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa for attending for the enthronement ceremony of His Majesty, Emperor Akihito1994. 9 Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa for attending to the conference of ITU in Kyoto1994.11 Yousif Ahmed Al Shirawi, Minister of Development and Industry2001.2 Sheikh Muhammad ibn Mubarak ibn Hamad Al Khalifah, Minister of Foreign Affairs2007.11 Mr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Chief of Public Security, Ministry of Interior2008.2 Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs2008.3 Dr. Jasim Husain, Member of the Council of Representatives2008.6 Mr. Khalifa Al Dhahrani, Chairman of the Council of Representatives2008.10 Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Chairman of Economic Development BoardSheikh Hussam bin Isa Al Khalifa, Advisor, Prime Minister's Court2011.2 Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior2012.4 His Majesty, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa2012.10 Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance2013.3 Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander2013.9 Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President Bahrain Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Charity Organization2014.2 Salah Ali Mohamed Abdulrahman, Minister of Human Rights Affairs2015.3 Sadiq bin Abdulkarim Al-Shehabi, Minister of Health
The following Japanese ministers and leaders have made official visits to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
DateParticipant(s)1991. 7 Mr. Muneo Suzuki, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs1994.11 Their Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako2001. 3 Mr. Seishiro Eto, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs2001.8 Ms. Kaori Maruya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs2002.9 Mr. Kenshiro Matsunami, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs2005.6 Mr. Katsuyuki Kawai, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs2006.7 Mr. Taro Kimura, Senior Vice-Minister for Defense2006.10 Mr. Takeshi Iwaya, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs2006.12 Ms. Yuriko Koike, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister2007.7 Mr. Kazunori Tanaka, Parliamentary Secretary for DefenseVice Admiral Eiji Yoshikawa, Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force2007.9 Mr. Itsunori Onodera, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs2007.10 Mr. Minoru Terada, Parliamentary Secretary for Defense2007.12 Ms. Yuriko Koike, Former Minister of Defense2008.4 Mr. Tsutomu Takebe, Chairperson of Japan-Bahrain Parliamentary Friendship League2008.7 Mr. Hiroshi Okuda, Special Envoy of the Prime MinisterMr.Ryotaro Tanose, Member of the House of Representatives2008.12 Mr. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Former Minister of DefenseMr. Ryota Takeda, Parliamentary Secretary for Defense2009.3 Mr. Yasutoshi Nishimura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs2009.5 Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister2009.6 Vice Admiral, Toru Izumi, Commander in chief, Self Defense Fleet2009.12 General Ryoichi Oriki, Commander in chief, Joint StaffHidehisa Otsuji, Former Minister of Health, Labour and WelfareKazuya Shinba, Senior Vice-Minister for Defense2010.12 Hajime Hirota, Parliamentary Secretary for Defense2012.5 Mr. Mitsu Shimojo, Parliamentary Secretary for Defense2012.6 Vice Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, Commander in chief, SDF2013.5 Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Former prime minister2013.8 Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister2014.1 Mr. Toru Doi, Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism2015.5 Mr. Takashi Uto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign AffairsMr. Takahiro Ishikawa, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for DefenseMr. Daishiro Yamagiwa, Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry2016.6 Vice Admiral Yasuhiro Shigeoka, Commander in chief, SDF
See also Foreign relations of Bahrain Foreign relations of Japan The Japanese School in Bahrain
External links Embassy of Japan in Bahrain
References