By Consul-General of Japan in Jeddah Daisuke Yamamoto

On the occasion of the 64th birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan on February 23, 2024, it's an absolute pleasure for me to celebrate this significant day. I express my heartfelt wishes to His Majesty for good health. Notably, His Majesty's birthday comes one day after the Saudi Foundation Day, presenting a splendid opportunity to extend my sincere congratulations on both occasions.

Having first arrived in the Kingdom 20 years ago, my return has been met with amazement at the remarkable transformation and qualitative leaps witnessed across various sectors—a transformation that can only be described as miraculous.

Japan and the Kingdom have enjoyed a long-standing history of friendly and cooperative relations, rooted in mutual respect and shared interests. These ties have only grown stronger and deeper, particularly in recent years. A notable milestone was the historic state visit by H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, to Jeddah last July. His meeting with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, significantly bolstered our cooperative efforts towards achieving the ambitious objectives outlined in "Saudi Vision 2030" through the "Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030" cooperation framework.

Japanese enterprises in the Kingdom are actively expanding their operations across various sectors, including solar energy, water and sanitation, and entertainment. Our Consulate General in Jeddah is committed to supporting these endeavors in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan, JETRO, and JCCME.

Our cultural initiatives aim to further enhance the cultural bonds between our two friendly nations. In March, we organized a four-day Japanese cultural festival in collaboration with Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. The festival attracted over 5,000 visitors, offering a rich tapestry of Japanese cultural experiences, from films and tea ceremonies to music and cuisine.

The year 2025 will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. We look forward to this milestone as an opportunity to further foster our bilateral relationship and deepen mutual understanding under the esteemed leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. We remain dedicated to strengthening and deepening these ties.

In my capacity as the Permanent Representative of Japan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), I am committed to enhancing the relationship between Islamic countries and Japan.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Saudi Gazette for providing me with this platform to share insights into the robust and dynamic relationship between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.