As Japan and Norway commemorate 120 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, their partnership has evolved into a dynamic strategic alliance addressing global challenges from climate change to regional security. Ambassador Akira Sugiyama spoke with Bridges Magazine to discuss this milestone year, marked by the elevation to a “Strategic Partnership” and Norway’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka. From groundbreaking collaborations in offshore wind and hydrogen to the symbolic deployment of a Norwegian frigate in the Indo-Pacific, Ambassador Sugiyama explores how shared values and complementary strengths are driving cooperation across traditional maritime sectors and emerging green technologies, positioning both nations as key partners in building a sustainable future.
Bridges: This year marks 120 years since Japan and Norway first established diplomatic relations in 1905. As Ambassador, what does this milestone mean to you personally, and how do you see it reflecting the legacy of friendship between our two nations?
Ambassador Akira Sugiyama: Japan is one of the first countries that established diplomatic relations with Norway in 1905. Since then, our two countries have maintained a long-standing friendly relationship supported by close exchanges between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Norway. In December 2023, Prime Ministers of both countries agreed to elevate Japan-Norway relations to a ‘Strategic Partnership,’ further strengthening bilateral cooperation across various fields, including politics, economy, security and culture. In times of increasing global uncertainties, the cooperation between Japan and Norway, which share fundamental values and principles such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, has become even more important. Japan and Norway have been consolidating the strategic partnership in security dialogue and cooperation, green transition, and people-to-people exchanges, among others. At the Japan-Norway Foreign Ministers’ meeting in June 2025, the two ministers agreed to work together on bilateral relations as well as various issues facing the international community. The historic deployment of the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen in the Indo-Pacific region and its port call in Tokyo this August symbolised the deepening strategic partnership between our two countries.
Norway and Japan share strong ties in seafood, maritime industries, and renewable energy, while also expanding collaboration in areas like digitalization, robotics, and science research. From your perspective, which of these areas are showing the most promising results today?
As maritime nations, both countries have long deepened the cooperation in a wide range of fields, including the sustainable use of marine biological resources and the maritime sector. Cooperation in these traditional fields remains important.
As new areas for cooperation, the Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership in December 2023 highlights promising progress in the private‑sector collaborations for green transition, including offshore wind, hydrogen and ammonia, batteries, as well as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS). I would like to note that Japanese companies participate in Norway’s green transition projects strongly promoted by the Norwegian government. For example, Parkwind, a subsidiary of JERA, implements the Sørlige Nordsjø II offshore wind power project. Another example is the Japanese shipping company K-line, which provides transport of liquefied carbon dioxide by ship for Longship Project, a full-scale commercial CCS project.
In times of increasing global uncertainties, the cooperation between Japan and Norway, which share fundamental values and principles such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, has become even more important.
Akira Sugiyama, Ambassador of Japan to Norway
Japan and Norway have a long tradition of close cooperation in science and technology, supported by the Japan-Norway Joint Committee Meeting on Cooperation in Science and Technology. The promising areas for cooperation include energy, environment, healthcare, polar and marine research as well as emerging areas such as AI.
Both Norway and Japan are global leaders in sustainability, from combating climate change to advancing green shipping, offshore wind, and clean hydrogen. How do you see the two countries working even more closely together to accelerate progress in these fields?
Japan and Norway are committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest and have been working closely on bilateral and multilateral levels. Furthermore, the two countries share views on the need to accelerate the development and deployment of the green transition technologies to further enhance energy security as well as to ensure sustainability, and have been implementing relevant initiatives.
Japan and Norway are committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest and have been working closely on bilateral and multilateral levels.
The two countries have also been collaborating in the conceptualisation and implementation of international frameworks related to climate change, such as negotiations on market mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Looking ahead, Expo 2025 in Osaka will serve as both a showcase and a celebration of our partnership, particularly as it coincides with the 120th anniversary. How do you envision this event contributing to a deeper, forward-looking collaboration between Norway and Japan?
Norway participated in the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo through Nordic pavilion which has successfully attracted more than 1.6 million people. Foreign Minister Eide and State Secretary to the Minister of Trade and Industry Syrstad attended the Norway National Day event held on 2 June. On this occasion, several MoUs concerning offshore wind and space development were signed. It demonstrates how the Expo provided a valuable platform for deepening business cooperation between companies and organizations from both countries.
Norway’s participation in the Osaka-Kansai Expo has made the 120th anniversary of our diplomatic relations a very fruitful year, which lays an extremely fertile ground for future bilateral relation, including common efforts for an inclusive and sustainable society.
The 120th anniversary of Japan-Norway diplomatic relations marks not just a celebration of historical ties, but a launching point for deeper collaboration in the years ahead.
The 120th anniversary of Japan-Norway diplomatic relations marks not just a celebration of historical ties, but a launching point for deeper collaboration in the years ahead. As both nations navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, their strategic partnership offers a model for how countries with shared values can work together on critical challenges, from climate action to regional security. With successful initiatives already underway in green transition technologies and a strong foundation of people-to-people exchanges, the relationship between Japan and Norway is poised to grow even stronger, contributing to a more sustainable, secure, and prosperous future for both nations and the wider international community.
