Bilateral Relations

• The relations between Japan and the Kingdom of Bahrain dates back to the year 1934, in which the first Bahraini oil shipment to Japan occurred 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

Projects Accomplished by Japanese Companies

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

Japanese Companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain

• Financial sector: 5 companies
• Trading sector: 2 companies
• Manufacturing related sector: 12 companies
• Other sectors: 3 companies

Economic Development Board Representative Office in Japan

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

Trade and Technical Cooperation

Apart from the initiatives being taken by Japanese private companies and institutes such as JCCP (Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum) and JCCME (Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East) accept trainees from Bahrain and regularly hold seminars in this region. For example, JCCME co-organized Kaizen Seminar in Bahrain in May 2008 and November 2010 with Tamkeen and the Embassy of Japan in Bahrain.

Japan’s Trade Relation with the Kingdom of Bahrain

Japan is one of Bahrain's major trading partners. Volume of trade between Japan and Bahrain reached over 1 Billion US$ in the year 2013 despite the Dubai crisis in 2009 and the unrest in 2011. The figures of trade volume between Bahrain and Japan 2005-2013 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

The number of Japanese residents as of April 2012 is about 250. They have a Japanese Community Association. As of March 2014, 17 students are studying at the Japanese School established in 1984.

Bahrain-Japan Business Friendship Society

The Bahrain-Japan Business Friendship Society was established in August 2008 by leading Bahraini businessmen and Japanese companies in Bahrain in order to encourage cooperative relationships between the two countries in the economic and cultural fields.

Educational Cooperation

Since 1994, 30 Bahraini university-graduates have gone to Japan for higher studies on the basis of the Japanese Government Scholarship and among them 6 are still studying in Japan (as of April 2014).

The Japanese Studies Centre at the University of Bahrain

Japanese language evening courses have been provided by the Ministry of Educations since 1990 and morning courses at the University of Bahrain since 1991 with the help of the Nomura Bahrain-Japan Friendship Fund. The Japanese Studies Centre opened in the year 2000 at the University of Bahrain.

Ship for World Youth Leaders (SWYLs) Program

Total 116 Bahraini youths have participated in the Ship for World Youth Leaders (SWYLs) Program (Former SWY Program) since 1998. 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

• 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 Japanese musicians)
• May 2004, flower arrangement demonstration
• November 2004, Japanese Drum 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
• February 2010, Ikebana demonstration at the Bahrain International Garden Show 2010
• March 2010, Koh-do(Japanese Art of Appreciating Incense) demonstration
• May 2010, Japan Film Festival 2010
• January 2011, Japan Film Festival 2011
• February 2011, IAI-JUTSU demonstration by Masato Matsuura
• January 2012, Ikebana demonstration at the Bahrain International Garden Show 2012
• February 2012, Exhibition "Parallel Nippon: Contemporary Japanese Architecture 1996-2006" organized by the Japan Foundation
• March 2012, Japanese Traditional Drum Performance "Eitetsu Hayashi TAIKO LEGEND-Heart Beat from Japan" organized by the Japan Foundation
• November 2012, Japan Film Festival 2012
• February 2013, Exhibition "The Dolls of Japan" organized by the Japan Foundation
• November 2013, Japan Film Festival 2013
• November 2013, Japanese tea ceremonies by Ms. Makiko SEN and Mr. Koichiro IZUMI(Urasenke)
• March 2014, Exhibition "Makie - The Beauty of Gold Japanese Lacquer -"
• November 2014, Japanese Pop Culture Festival 2014

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.

Significant visits from Japan to the Kingdom of Bahrain

Significant visits from the Kingdom of Bahrain to Japan