The Fiftieth Birthday of the Embassy of Japan in Kenya

The Embassy of Japan in Kenya will celebrate its 50th birthday in a few days.  On June 1st, 1964, our consulate general was upgraded to an embassy after the establishment of Japan-Kenya diplomatic relations in December 1963.  Since then, our embassy has received a warm welcome and close cooperation from people and the Government of this country.  At this critical juncture, let me invite you to reflect upon the history of our friendship.

Japan-Kenya Interaction started at the beginning of the 20th century

The Sea Lane Chart between Japan and Kenya in the Early 20th Century

(“Umi,” Osaka Commercial Shipping Company, April 1926)

The interaction between our two countries has a long history.  The alleged first recorded visit by a Japanese national to Kenya dates back to 1903 when an explorer, Mr. Naokichi Nakamura, visited the same port.  

Our bilateral commercial interaction became quite active as well.  A Japanese cotton trading company Nihon Menka opened its branch office in 1919 in Mombasa.  Then, in 1926, Osaka Commercial Shipping Company opened a regular monthly steamship line between a Japanese port city Kobe and Durban in South Africa via Mombasa.  This boosted economic activities between Japan and Kenya significantly.

Japan established its Embassy in Kenya in June 1964

As the bilateral interaction became quite vibrant, the Japanese Government opened its consulate office in Mombasa in 1932.  In less than six months after Kenya’s independence, Japan opened its embassy in Downtown Nairobi on 1st June, 1964.  The embassy’s location changed several times before we built our current office in Upper Hill in 2006.

Deep People-to-People Relations

In the last half a century, Japan and Kenya have built strong ties at various levels: government, private sector as well as grassroots level.  The first official visit by a senior Japanese government official was the one by the then Foreign Minister Mr. Sunao Sonoda in July 1979.  Since then, more than 40 high-level government officials and politicians have set their foot in Kenya.  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also visited Kenya in January 2001 when he accompanied the then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori as his Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary.

His Imperial Highness Naruhito, the Crown Prince, greeted by the late Prof. Wangari Maathai

(Kyodo News, March 2010)

Japan’s Royal Family has also visited this beautiful country several times.  There were official visits by His Majesty Akihito, the Emperor of Japan, then the Crown Prince, in 1983 and by His Imperial Highness Naruhito, the Crown Prince, in March 2010.

Japan has also received a number of high-level delegations from Kenya, including President Danniel T. arap Moi and President Mwai Kibaki.  Recently, Deputy President William Ruto visited Japan to attend the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) in May and June 2013.  

Our people-to-people interactions are not limited to the political level.  Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) were first dispatched to Kenya in 1966.  Since then, more than 1,500 volunteers came to work side by side with Kenyan people in local communities.  In addition, an increasing number of Japanese organizations are operating in Kenya at the grassroots level.  Currently almost 30 Japanese NGOs are active in various parts of this country.

Japanese wazee (seniors in Kiswahili) have also played an important role in boosting Japan’s presence in this country.  For example, a Japanese businessman Mr. Yoshiyuki Sato introduced Japan’s corporate management style that cares each and every employee after he moved to Kenya in 1966.  He founded Kenya Nuts Company, which is known for its brand “Out of Africa,” and started a staff loan system as well as an office clinic there.  Another mzee Mr. Toru Seki opened a Japanese restaurant called Nihonjin Club in Nairobi in 1981 and promoted Washoku, or Japanese cuisine.  There are many other Japanese wazee who have dedicated themselves in promoting friendship with Kenyan people.

Sports exchange has also bridged the two countries, Kenya has the largest number of foreign athletes living in Japan.  Mr. Douglas Wakiihuri, who won the gold medal in the 1987 World Championship and the silver medal in the Seoul Olympic Games, moved to Japan at the age of 16 to become a marathon runner.  The late Samuel Wanjiru, the gold medalist of the Beijing Olympic Games, was also trained in Japan.

Mr. Douglas Wakiihuri

Since the establishment of our embassy in 1964, our Japanese mission has always enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Government and the people of Kenya.  I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the long-enjoyed friendship.  Asante sana!