Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Israel–Japan relations
open-in-new
<p>Israeli–Japanese relations began on May 15, 1952, when Japan recognized <a href="/facts/Israel/dEe3IcaY">Israel</a> and an Israeli <a href="/facts/Legation/TnKlllg4">legation</a> opened in Tokyo. In 1954, Japan's ambassador to Turkey assumed the additional role of minister to Israel. In 1955, a Japanese legation with a <a href="/facts/Envoy_(title)/IaNdn514">Minister Plenipotentiary</a> opened in <a href="/facts/Tel_Aviv/cQ8X3WVd">Tel Aviv</a>. In 1963, relations were upgraded to Embassy level and have remained on that level since then. Today relations between the two countries have centered around economic and scientific partnerships which mutually benefit each country. The two countries also cooperated in defense. </p><p>Up until the 1990s, Japan's trade relations with <a href="/facts/Arab_League/15f9WWWM">Arab League</a> members and most <a href="/facts/Muslim_world/n9vVGogr">Muslim-majority countries</a> took a precedence over those with Israel. However, due to the declining <a href="/facts/Price_of_oil/hRnlD8Hn">price of oil</a> in early 2015, as well as internal political shifting in Japan, the two nations have sought to seek increased scientific, economic and cultural ties, particularly in the sphere of high-technology start-ups and defense contracting. Since the mid-2010s, ties between Israel and Japan have strengthened significantly, involving a myriad of mutual investments between the two nations. Former prime minister of Japan <a href="/facts/Shinz%25C5%258D_Abe/n6aG71Km">Shinzo Abe</a> visited Israel twice – once in 2015 and a second time in 2018. Total volume of trade between the two countries is $3.574 billion as of 2022. In 2021, there were 1,156 Japanese citizens living in Israel and 589 Israelis living in Japan. In the 21st century, Israeli and Japanese relations have focused on collaboration on scientific and technological endeavours as well as defense cooperation. Japan has enjoyed an increased access to Israel's high tech sector, securing benefits, Israeli human capital and talent for Japanese private commercial ventures as well as public venturies. Israel also reaped significant investment in that same sector. </p>