Ambassador Kikuta’s Remarks for the 66th Birthday Reception of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan
2026/2/10
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Minister of Home Affairs,
Pengiran-Pengiran, Pehin-Pehin,
Dato-dato, Datin-datin,
Excellencies, Ambassadors, High-Commissioners,
Distinguished guests and Press corps,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening and Konbanwa. It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome all of you to our reception. I would like to begin by extending my heartfelt wishes for good health of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah after the recent knee treatment. This year marks the 80th Anniversary of His Majesty’s birth, and next year will be the significant occasion of His Majesty’s 60th year on the throne, to be cerebrated as the Diamond Jubilee. These milestones are a testament to His Majesty's remarkable leadership and dedication to his people.
Japan’s National Day reception celebrates the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, as the Emperor turns 66 years old this year. His Majesty the Emperor, as a symbol of Japan and a symbol of the unity of the Japanese people, is greatly respected by Japanese nationals and he always prays for the peace of the world. The Emperor’s birthday, February 23rd, is a special occasion for all of us, as it also coincides with Brunei's National Day, marking 42 years since Brunei gained its independence in 1984. Based on the Imperial and Royal ties, Japan and Brunei have long enjoyed an excellent bilateral relationship since even before Brunei's independence.
I would also like to highlight a memorable moment from the recent ASEAN Japan Summit held in October last year, where our Prime Minister Takaichi and His Majesty shared a handshake just after Ms Takaichi became the Prime Minister of Japan. This symbolizes the strong bond between Japan and Brunei, and I am confident that our friendship will continue to grow.
The traditional cooperation between Japan and Brunei in the oil and gas sector, in particular, Liquefied Natural Gas, has lasted for more than half a century, and it remains a cornerstone of the economic relationship between our two nations. As Brunei works towards economic diversification, I believe in a "Best Mix" approach, where both the continued strength of the traditional energy sector and the growth of new industries are equally valued.
Japan remains committed to supporting cooperation in various fields in both traditional and new sectors, including the downstream industry, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, ICT, and services for Brunei’s continued development. Currently, 21 Japanese companies operate in Brunei as friendly partners, contributing to Brunei’s economic development. Producing methanol from Brunei’s natural gas and applying biotechnology to food and health sectors are only a few examples of such efforts. Tonight, we have booths of Japanese companies showcasing their activities here.
Furthermore, people-to-people exchanges, such as youth exchange programs and academic exchanges between universities, are the foundation of expanding our friendship. Academic collaboration between Japanese universities, such as Kagawa University and Osaka University, and universities in Brunei continues to flourish. Recently, there has also been an increase in educational trips, with Japanese middle and high school students visiting Brunei. I believe that it is because Brunei has advantages including rich Islamic culture, abundant nature, English, excellent hospitality, and above all, peace and safety.
In addition, last October, Royal Brunei Airlines resumed its code-sharing flights with Japan Airlines, making travel between our two countries even more accessible. As a result, we expect the number of Japanese tourists traveling to Brunei to more than double compared to the last year, and this further emphasizes the growing connection between our countries. Looking forward, we are committed to further promoting people-to-people exchanges, which are vital to building stronger and deeper ties between Japan and Brunei.
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 the Imperial and Royal families in both countries. We are also deeply thankful to all the guests for joining us in celebrating this occasion. We have prepared some authentic Japanese food for you to enjoy, including strawberries from Fukuoka Prefecture and sweets made with matcha powder from Shizuoka Prefecture. With my gratitude for the Embassy’s staff for their work of preparation, 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 and Konbanwa. It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome all of you to our reception. I would like to begin by extending my heartfelt wishes for good health of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah after the recent knee treatment. This year marks the 80th Anniversary of His Majesty’s birth, and next year will be the significant occasion of His Majesty’s 60th year on the throne, to be cerebrated as the Diamond Jubilee. These milestones are a testament to His Majesty's remarkable leadership and dedication to his people.
Japan’s National Day reception celebrates the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, as the Emperor turns 66 years old this year. His Majesty the Emperor, as a symbol of Japan and a symbol of the unity of the Japanese people, is greatly respected by Japanese nationals and he always prays for the peace of the world. The Emperor’s birthday, February 23rd, is a special occasion for all of us, as it also coincides with Brunei's National Day, marking 42 years since Brunei gained its independence in 1984. Based on the Imperial and Royal ties, Japan and Brunei have long enjoyed an excellent bilateral relationship since even before Brunei's independence.
I would also like to highlight a memorable moment from the recent ASEAN Japan Summit held in October last year, where our Prime Minister Takaichi and His Majesty shared a handshake just after Ms Takaichi became the Prime Minister of Japan. This symbolizes the strong bond between Japan and Brunei, and I am confident that our friendship will continue to grow.
The traditional cooperation between Japan and Brunei in the oil and gas sector, in particular, Liquefied Natural Gas, has lasted for more than half a century, and it remains a cornerstone of the economic relationship between our two nations. As Brunei works towards economic diversification, I believe in a "Best Mix" approach, where both the continued strength of the traditional energy sector and the growth of new industries are equally valued.
Japan remains committed to supporting cooperation in various fields in both traditional and new sectors, including the downstream industry, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, ICT, and services for Brunei’s continued development. Currently, 21 Japanese companies operate in Brunei as friendly partners, contributing to Brunei’s economic development. Producing methanol from Brunei’s natural gas and applying biotechnology to food and health sectors are only a few examples of such efforts. Tonight, we have booths of Japanese companies showcasing their activities here.
Furthermore, people-to-people exchanges, such as youth exchange programs and academic exchanges between universities, are the foundation of expanding our friendship. Academic collaboration between Japanese universities, such as Kagawa University and Osaka University, and universities in Brunei continues to flourish. Recently, there has also been an increase in educational trips, with Japanese middle and high school students visiting Brunei. I believe that it is because Brunei has advantages including rich Islamic culture, abundant nature, English, excellent hospitality, and above all, peace and safety.
In addition, last October, Royal Brunei Airlines resumed its code-sharing flights with Japan Airlines, making travel between our two countries even more accessible. As a result, we expect the number of Japanese tourists traveling to Brunei to more than double compared to the last year, and this further emphasizes the growing connection between our countries. Looking forward, we are committed to further promoting people-to-people exchanges, which are vital to building stronger and deeper ties between Japan and Brunei.
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 the Imperial and Royal families in both countries. We are also deeply thankful to all the guests for joining us in celebrating this occasion. We have prepared some authentic Japanese food for you to enjoy, including strawberries from Fukuoka Prefecture and sweets made with matcha powder from Shizuoka Prefecture. With my gratitude for the Embassy’s staff for their work of preparation, I wish you all a pleasant evening.
Thank you. Terima Kasih. Arigato Gozaimasita.