Embassy of Japan in Bahrain
在バーレーン王国日本国大使館

Bilateral Relations

• The relations between Japan and the Kingdom of Bahrain dates back to the year 1934 which witnessed the dispatch of the very first Bahraini oil shipment to Japan after the discovery of oil in Bahrain in 1932.
• 24 August, 1971, recognition of the State of Bahrain by the Government of Japan.
• 2 May, 1972, establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bahrain.
• 1 October, 1983, opening of the Liaison Office of the Japanese Embassy in Bahrain.
• 27 January, 1988, opening of the Japanese Embassy in Bahrain.
• 7 March, 1988, arrival of the first Japanese Ambassador to Bahrain.
• 6 September, 2005, opening of the Bahrain Embassy in Japan.

Economic Relationship

Projects Accomplished by Japanese Companies

• Many projects have been accomplished by Japanese companies including petrochemical, aluminium, gas and telecommunication projects as well as designing of the Arab Gulf University building (now University of Bahrain building) of Sakhir.
• Other recent projects includes pellet plant in Hidd, Hidd IWPP Project, Hotel in Amwaj.

Japanese Companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Number of Japanese companies in Bahrain is 16 (as of October 2009):

• Financial sector: 5 companies.
• Trading companies: 3 companies.
• Manufacturing Companies: 8 companies.

Economic Development Board Representative Office in Japan

Bahrain Economic Development Board opened in October 2000 an office in Japan.

Trade and Technical Cooperation

Although ODA gradually decreasing since 2005, as GDP per capita increases, such institute as JCCP and JCCME accept trainee from Bahrain and regulary hold seminar in this region. For example, JCCME co-organized Kaizen Seminar in Bahrain in May 2008 together with Labour Fund and Embassy of Japan in Bahrain.

Japan’s Trade Relation with the Kingdom of Bahrain

Japan is Bahrain’s major trading partner, accounting for approximately 8% of Bahrain’s world trade. Volume of trade between Japan and Bahrain reached 1 Billion US$ in the year 2006. The figures of trade volume between Bahrain and Japan 2005-2008 are as follows:

Japan’s imports from Bahrain have been mainly petroleum products and aluminium, and Bahrain’s major imports from Japan have been machinery and equipment, and transport equipment.

Japanese Residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Number of Japanese residents as of January 2009 is about 220. They have Japanese Community Association. And Japanese School has been established since 1984. Number of its students is 26 (as of July 2009).

Educational and Cultural Relationship

Educational Cooperation

Since 1994, 23 university-graduate Bahrainis went to Japan for higher studies on the basis of Japanese government scholarship 7 are still studying in Japan (as of October 2009).

The Japanese Studies Centre at the University of Bahrain.

The Japanese language evening courses have been introduced in 1990 and morning courses at the University of Bahrain in 1991 with the help of Nomura Bahrain-Japan Friendship Fund. The Japanese Studies Centre opened in the year 2000 at the University of Bahrain. The Japan Foundation donates teaching materials, text books and books on Japan in English to the Centre.

The Ship for World Youth Program

More than sixty Bahraini youths have participated in the Ship for World Youth Program since1998. They established the Ship for World Youth Alumni Association / Bahrain in March, 2000. They have been quite active in promoting cultural programs and friendship between the two countries.

Cultural Cooperation (in the Past Five Years)

• October 2003, demonstration of OKINAWAN traditional music, dance and Karate on the occasion of the 12th Bahrain international music festival.
• December 2003, Le Club Basheraf (Arab music concert by the Japanese musicians).
• May 2004, flower arrangement demonstration.
• November 2004, Japanese drummers’ performance by "Leonald Eto and Leo Project Ensemble".
• February 2006, Karate demonstration.
• April 2006, Poetry recital by Madoka Mayuzumi.
• January 2007, Japanese traditional music concert.
• June2007, Origami workshop.
• March 2008, Piano recital by Toshiki Usui.
• May 2008, Japanese calligraphy and tea ceremony demonstration by Kyoko Horie.
• February 2009, Japanese economist lecture by Prof. Haruo Shimada

Nomura Bahrain-Japan Friendship Fund

Established by the Nomura Security Company in June 1990 in order to strengthen bilateral relations through cultural and academic assistance.

Exchange of Visits Between Japan and the Kingdom of Bahrain(Mainry in the Past Five Years)

Significant visits form Japan to Bahrain

• Nov. 1994	T.I.H. Crown Prince and Princess	Official visit
  Jun. 2005	H.E. Mr. Kastuyuki Kawai	Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs
  Nov. 2005	H.E. Mr. Katutoshi Kaneda	Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
  Jan. 2006	H.E. Mr. Fumio Kyuma	Chairman of General Council, Liberal Democratic Party
  Jul. 2006	H.E. Mr. Taro Kimura	Senior Vice-Minister for Defence
  Oct. 2006	H.E. Mr. T akeshi Iwaya	Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
  Dec. 2006	H.E. Ms. Yuriko Koike	Special Advisor to the Prime Minister
  Jul. 2007	H.E. Mr. Kazunori Tanaka	Senior Vice-Minister for Finance
  Jul. 2007	ADM Eiji Yoshikawa	Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force
  Sep. 2007	H.E. Mr. Itsunori Onodera	Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
  Dec. 2007	H.E. Ms. Yuriko Koike	Former Minister of Defence
  Oct. 2007	H.E. Mr. Minoru Terada	Parliamentary Secretary for Defence
  Apr. 2008	H.E. Mr. Tsutomu Takebe	Chairman, Parliamentary Friendship League
  Jun. 2008	VADM. Yoji Koda	Commandor in Chief, Self Defence Fleet
  Jul. 2008	H.E. Hiroshi Okuda	Special Envoy of the Prime Minister
  Jul. 2008	The Hon. Ryotaro Tanose	Former Senior Vice-Minister for Finance, Member of the House of Representative
  Dec. 2008	H.E. Ryota Takeda	Parliamentary Secretary for Defence
  Dec. 2008	H.E. Yoshimasa Hayashi	Former Minister of Defence
  Feb. 2009	The Hon. Gen Nakatani, The Hon Shigeki Sato, The Hon Katsuhito Asano	Project Team of Ruling Party for Counter Piracy
  Mar. 2009	H.E. Yasutoshi Nishimura	Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
  May 2009	H.E. Takeo Fukuda	Special Envoy of Prime Minister (Former Prime Minister)
  Jun. 2009	VADM. Tohru Izumi	Commander in Chief, Self Defence Fleet

Significant visits from Bahrain to Japan

• Oct. 1991	H.H. Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa	The late Amir (private visit)
  Oct. 2004	H.E. Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa	Assistant Andersecretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  Nov. 2005	H.E. Mr. Rasheed Mohammed Al-Maraj	Governor, Baahrain Monetary Agency
  Jun. 2006	H.E. Mr. Rasheed Mohammed Al-Maraj	Governor, Baahrain Monetary Agency
  Mar. 2007	H.E. Shaikha Mai bint Mohamed Al-Khalifa	Assistant Andersecretary, Ministry of Information
  Aug. 2007	H.E. Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa	President, General Organization for Youth and Sports
  Nov. 2007	Maj. Gen. Abdul Latif Al Zayani	Chief of Public Security, Ministry of Interior
  Feb. 2008	H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa	Minister of Foreign Affairs
  Mar. 2008	Dr. Jasim Husain	Member of the Council of Representatives
  Jun. 2008	H.E. Mr. Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Dahrani	Chairman of the Council of Representatives
  Oct. 2008	H.H. Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa	Crown Prince and Chairman of Economic Development Board
  Oct. 2008	H.E. Shaikh Hussam bib Isa Al Khalifa	Advisor, Prime Minister's Court