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8 April, 2008 9:32 PM
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Japan-Israel Relations
Diplomatic Relations 1952
-- Japan Recognizes Israel Summary of Japan-Israel Relations, 1905-2005 Meaningful relations between Japan and the Zionist movement began during the Russo-Japanese War when New York banker Jacob Schiff helped arrange a crucial financial loan for Japan during the Russo-Japanese War. This seems to have predisposed some Japanese leaders to believe that American and European Jews exercised a great deal of political power in some Western capitals. Through the activities of military officers like Norihiro Yasue and Korishige Inuzuka, some circles in Japan gained a strong curiosity about the Zionist movement. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion were translated into Japanese by Yasue, and believed to be accurate by some Japanese. In the 1930s, Yasue and Inuzuka, as well as other figures like Colonel Seishiro Itagaki and Lieutenant-Colonel Kanji Ishiwara, sponsored the “Fugu Plan,” which aimed to settle thousands of European Jews in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. The notion was that these people could help in the economic development of the China coast, and win the appreciation of American Jewry. Some Japanese leaders believed that the power of American Jews was such that they might keep the United States out of the war, and thus allow Japan to carry out its policies in Asia unmolested. By 1939, the “Fugu Plan” had collapsed, however. After the war, Japan and Israel developed cordial, though distant, relations. Diplomatic recognition came in May 1952, and in 1963 both legations became embassies. Both countries were broadly under the wings of the United States, and this facilitated the relationship, but some Japanese were attracted to the Non-Aligned Movement as well, which cut against tighter Japan-Israel relations. On the other hand, some Japanese labor unions were interested in the Israeli experience in this field. In November 1973, Tokyo was forced to take a more pro-Palestinian line in response to the OPEC oil embargo. The “Nikaido Statement” led to a greater degree of tension in Japan-Israel relations that persisted through the 1970s and early 1980s. Although diplomatic relations were not severed, Tokyo’s attempts to maintain a policy balanced between the sensitivities of the Arab world and the United States were not appreciated by many Israelis and their supporters in the West. However, in the mid-1980s, Japan-Israel relations began to warm up again. The solidarity among Arab and Islamic nations had collapsed, and Japanese leaders had less to fear from antagonizing Arab opinion. From the other side, American pressures continued to argue for more Japan-Israel cooperation. There were also prospects of mutual benefit in some economic fields. In 1985, Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir came to Japan, and thus set off a chain of high level visits between the two countries. These exchanges eventually culminated in 1995 with the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama to Israel, confirming that the bilateral connection had become stronger than ever before. In particular, Tokyo wanted to support the Oslo Peace Process. The
failure of the Arab-Israeli peace process to really come to
fruition may have cooled mutual interest between Japan and
Israel somewhat, but by and large the two countries maintain
friendly relations, and have continued to carry out various
exchanges. By 2005, Tokyo was angling for a higher profile
role in the Arab-Israeli peace process, perhaps in part to
prove their worthiness for a permanent seat on the UN Security
Council. Any such intentions, however, had yet to be rewarded
by any major breakthroughs by June 2005. State Visits 1985
-- Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir Visits Tokyo Economic and Trade Relations In
2005, Japan exported automobiles, machinery, and chemicals
worth about US$1.2 billion to Israel; and imported diamonds,
citrus, machinery, and chemicals worth about US$842 million
from Israel. Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship League
Hosei Norota The
Japan-Israel Parliamentary Friendship League was established
in February 1984. Organizations Promoting Japan-Israel Relations
Japan-Israel
Friendship Society Japan-Israel
Chamber of Commerce (JICC) MOFA Webpage Embassy Webpage Embassy
of Japan in Tel Aviv 2005 Newsletters 7
-- Doubts about Tokyo’s Arab-Israeli Mediation Effort
/ Grant for Palestinian Children 2006 Newsletters 152
-- Sharon’s Stroke Stymies Koizumi’s Plans 2007 Newsletters 484 -- Jordanian Royal Visit to Japan / King Abdullah Speech 487 -- Foreign Minister Livni Pushes Tokyo Hard on Iran and Hamas 498 -- Japan to Extend its Participation in the Golan Heights Mission 514 -- Bank of Israel Governor Promotes OECD Candidacy 530 -- Japan to Host Four-Party Arab-Israeli Peace Talks in Mid-March 532 -- Taro Aso’s Speech on West Asian Policy 534 -- Japan’s Emergency Assistance to Improve the Situation of Palestinians 535 -- Masayuki Yamauchi on Japanese West Asian Strategy 546 -- Prospects for the Upcoming Four-Party Arab-Israeli Talks in Tokyo 552 -- Politics Matters: Arab-Israeli Talks / Wrong Partners / Peace Card 557 -- New Palestinian Government / UNSC 242 / Food Aid / Israel of East Asia 560 -- Taro Aso: Arab and Israeli Gentlemen Don’t Prefer Blondes 579 -- Confusion in the Middle East 582 -- Japanese National Suspected of Involvement in Egypt-Israel Spy Ring 586 -- The Egyptian Ambassador on Japan’s Arab Policies 587 -- International Conference in Honor of Professor Ben-Ami Shillony 610 -- Tokyo May Resume Direct Aid to the Palestinian Authority 612 -- Pro-Israel Congressmen to Muscle Japan over Palestinian Aid Policy 634 -- Did Tokyo Back Down Once Again on Hamas Policy? 644 -- Tokyo Makes an Ill-Considered Compromise on Palestinian Aid 648 -- Tokyo Lines Up with the Bush and Olmert Administrations against Hamas 700 -- Israeli Leaders Talk War and Peace in Tokyo / Bridge Stories 703 -- Naoto Amaki Interview: Tokyo is a 100% Supporter of America and Israel 705 -- Foreign Minister Aso to Visit Jordan, Israel, and Palestinian Territories 713 -- Taro Aso: Arab-Israeli Peacebuilder 717 -- Ehud Harari on Taro Aso’s Peace Mission 723 -- Tokyo Considering Military-Industrial Cooperation with Israel 729 -- New Israeli Ambassador / Direct Air Links between Israel and Japan 740 -- Richard Armitage on Japanese-Islamic West Asia Relations 742 -- Asahi Shinbun Interviews the Former Ambassadors of Egypt and Israel 751 -- Ben Ami Shillony in Tokyo for Lecture on Auschwitz and Hiroshima 768 -- Japan and Israel Talk Again about Direct Air Links 783 -- A Japanese Role at the Prospective Annapolis Talks? 796 -- Japanese Investment in Israeli Technology Companies / Israeli-French Film 808 -- Japanese Diplomats Send Different Messages to Different Audiences 821 -- Japan and West Asia: Insights Inspired by Zbigniew Brzezinski 845 -- Is the Foreign Ministry Reassessing Its Policy on Arab-Israeli Peace? 865 -- Masayuki Yamauchi on Arabs Looking East Information for the “Japan-Israel Relations” page was compiled by Michael Penn.
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