Ambassador Kikuta’s Remarks for the 65th Birthday Reception of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan
2025/2/27
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health,
Pengiran-Pengiran,
Pehin-Pehin,
Dato-dato, Datin-datin,
Excellencies, Ambassadors, High-Commissioners,
Distinguished guests and Press corps,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. Konbanwa. It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome all of you to this reception. My special thanks go to our guest of honour, Dato Isham, Minister of Health for graciously honouring Japan’s National Day reception again, following the reception in 2021. Before 2021, Dato visited Japan and signed the MOC in healthcare sector with Japanese counterpart Minister Kato in 2018. After 2021, Dato visited Japan again and met with Minister Takemi in 2023. We are so pleased today to have the guest of honour, who has such a close tie with Japan.
As you know, Japan’s National Day reception is to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty the Emperor, as a symbol of Japan and a symbol of the unity of the Japanese people, is greatly respected by the Japanese nationals and He always prays for the peace of the world. His Majesty’s birthday, February 23rd, coincides Brunei`s Independence Day. We are pleased to be able to celebrate both the Emperor’s 65th birthday and the 41st anniversary of Brunei's Independence together this evening.
Based on the Imperial and Royal ties, Japan and Brunei Darussalam have long enjoyed an excellent bilateral relationship since Brunei's independence in 1984. Japan established its diplomatic relationship with Brunei and opened its embassy here in that year, so last year marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Just before the anniversary year, during His Majesty's visit to Japan in December 2023, it was announced to celebrate this milestone as the "Japan-Brunei Friendship Year".
In March of the year 2024, we had the honour of welcoming Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Billah and Crown Princess Sarah to Japan. On this occasion, Japan and Brunei announced to elevate our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
Trade and investment, especially in the energy sector, have been key drivers of prosperity for both our countries over the past 50 years. At the same time, it is now obvious that any country has to grapple with a number of global issues in a challenging environment such as climate change. Brunei is no exception. As a major investor and trade partner of Brunei, Japan is keen to support Brunei's energy transition and economic diversification. Currently, 21 Japanese companies are operating in Brunei as friendly partners, contributing to Brunei’s economic development. Producing methanol from Brunei’s natural gas, applying biotechnology to food and health sector, are only a few examples of such efforts. Today you can take a look at some stands of those Japanese companies in this hall during the reception.
Looking ahead, the EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai will open on the 13th of April this year and Japan warmly welcomes Brunei’s participation. This will be a valuable opportunity to showcase Brunei’s unique features and charms to the people of Japan and from around the world. Japan is looking forward to welcoming many Bruneians to the EXPO.
Japan and Brunei, both maritime nations, are steadily deepening our defence and maritime security cooperation in recent years. As a specific instance, the 2nd Defence Policy Dialogue was held in Fukuoka Japan this month, which underscored our shared commitment to enhancing cooperation in this field. We will continue to strengthen such cooperation since the rule of law in the sea is of crucial importance for both of us.
On the cultural and people-to-people exchange, the Embassy of Japan hosted last year more events than ever to present both traditional and modern Japanese cultures in Brunei, such as Ikebana flower arrangement workshops, the first-ever Japanese Food Fair, and a Contemporary Japanese Art Exhibition.
More than 60 youths participated in programmes such as the JENESYS, the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth, and MEXT Scholarship. Additionally, last December, the short-term-stay visa exemption period was extended from 14 to 30 days for both Japanese and Bruneian nationals. I hope that this will further encourage the increasing trend of business, tourism, cultural and educational people-to-people exchanges.
To conclude, I would like to express my very best wishes for the health and happiness of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, and long-lasting prosperity of Imperial and Royal families in both countries. We are also deeply thankful to all the guests for joining us in celebrating this occasion. We offer you authentic Japanese food including Sushi and strawberries. I wish you all a pleasant evening.
Thank you. Terima Kasih. Arigato Gozaimasita.
Pengiran-Pengiran,
Pehin-Pehin,
Dato-dato, Datin-datin,
Excellencies, Ambassadors, High-Commissioners,
Distinguished guests and Press corps,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. Konbanwa. It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome all of you to this reception. My special thanks go to our guest of honour, Dato Isham, Minister of Health for graciously honouring Japan’s National Day reception again, following the reception in 2021. Before 2021, Dato visited Japan and signed the MOC in healthcare sector with Japanese counterpart Minister Kato in 2018. After 2021, Dato visited Japan again and met with Minister Takemi in 2023. We are so pleased today to have the guest of honour, who has such a close tie with Japan.
As you know, Japan’s National Day reception is to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty the Emperor, as a symbol of Japan and a symbol of the unity of the Japanese people, is greatly respected by the Japanese nationals and He always prays for the peace of the world. His Majesty’s birthday, February 23rd, coincides Brunei`s Independence Day. We are pleased to be able to celebrate both the Emperor’s 65th birthday and the 41st anniversary of Brunei's Independence together this evening.
Based on the Imperial and Royal ties, Japan and Brunei Darussalam have long enjoyed an excellent bilateral relationship since Brunei's independence in 1984. Japan established its diplomatic relationship with Brunei and opened its embassy here in that year, so last year marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Just before the anniversary year, during His Majesty's visit to Japan in December 2023, it was announced to celebrate this milestone as the "Japan-Brunei Friendship Year".
In March of the year 2024, we had the honour of welcoming Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Billah and Crown Princess Sarah to Japan. On this occasion, Japan and Brunei announced to elevate our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
Trade and investment, especially in the energy sector, have been key drivers of prosperity for both our countries over the past 50 years. At the same time, it is now obvious that any country has to grapple with a number of global issues in a challenging environment such as climate change. Brunei is no exception. As a major investor and trade partner of Brunei, Japan is keen to support Brunei's energy transition and economic diversification. Currently, 21 Japanese companies are operating in Brunei as friendly partners, contributing to Brunei’s economic development. Producing methanol from Brunei’s natural gas, applying biotechnology to food and health sector, are only a few examples of such efforts. Today you can take a look at some stands of those Japanese companies in this hall during the reception.
Looking ahead, the EXPO 2025 Osaka Kansai will open on the 13th of April this year and Japan warmly welcomes Brunei’s participation. This will be a valuable opportunity to showcase Brunei’s unique features and charms to the people of Japan and from around the world. Japan is looking forward to welcoming many Bruneians to the EXPO.
Japan and Brunei, both maritime nations, are steadily deepening our defence and maritime security cooperation in recent years. As a specific instance, the 2nd Defence Policy Dialogue was held in Fukuoka Japan this month, which underscored our shared commitment to enhancing cooperation in this field. We will continue to strengthen such cooperation since the rule of law in the sea is of crucial importance for both of us.
On the cultural and people-to-people exchange, the Embassy of Japan hosted last year more events than ever to present both traditional and modern Japanese cultures in Brunei, such as Ikebana flower arrangement workshops, the first-ever Japanese Food Fair, and a Contemporary Japanese Art Exhibition.
More than 60 youths participated in programmes such as the JENESYS, the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth, and MEXT Scholarship. Additionally, last December, the short-term-stay visa exemption period was extended from 14 to 30 days for both Japanese and Bruneian nationals. I hope that this will further encourage the increasing trend of business, tourism, cultural and educational people-to-people exchanges.
To conclude, I would like to express my very best wishes for the health and happiness of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, and long-lasting prosperity of Imperial and Royal families in both countries. We are also deeply thankful to all the guests for joining us in celebrating this occasion. We offer you authentic Japanese food including Sushi and strawberries. I wish you all a pleasant evening.
Thank you. Terima Kasih. Arigato Gozaimasita.