Bridges: How are you enjoying life in Romania?
Ambassador Katae: It has been almost six months since I arrived in January this year and I am having a busy but very fulfilling and fruitful life. The biggest surprise in terms of daily life is that Japan has become closer to Romania than I had expected. Even in the regular bookshops in Bucharest, Japan-related books, including manga, are on sale, and the term ‘otaku’ is commonly used. Statistics prove that the number of Japanese restaurants is also increasing.
In the background, many Romanian citizens have curiosity about Japanese culture as the novel SHOGUN was a bestseller before the regime change, many Japanese worked as Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) in Romania, and there were a lot of cultural grant aid to various cultural institutes, such as the National Opera House and Athens Music Hall. Also, various Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects were provided to various medical institutions. And nowadays, the acceptance of Japanese manga, anime and other pop culture among the young population.
With the growing geopolitical importance of Japan and Romania, relations between the two countries, which are linked by common values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, fundamental human rights and open and fair trade, are expected to develop further in the future.
Takashi Katae, Ambassador of Japan to Romania
In terms of work, we have visited and met with various actors, including the Romanian Government, local authorities, Japanese companies, international organisations, academic institutions / universities, cultural organisations and NGOs, and continued to exchange views on how Japan can contribute to Romanian society and build a win-win relationship between the two countries. The response has been very positive. Visiting specific sites was of utmost importance, as it allowed us to understand the strengths and challenges of each country. The information gained there is also being used for advocacy.
How is the Embassy strengthening Japan – Romania relations?
The visit of Romanian President Iohannis to Japan in March 2023 and the signing of the Joint Statement on the Strategic Partnership between Japan and Romania with Prime Minister Kishida have upgraded and strengthened the relationship between Japan and Romania to a strategic level. The current role of the Embassy is to materialise various points of the Joint Statement.
In the Joint Statement, the two countries confirm the importance of an international order based on the rule of law and the inseparability of the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and promote the exchange of dignitaries between the two countries, including their governments and parliaments. Currently, Romania has gained its geopolitical importance due to its long border with Ukraine and its location at the eastern flank of NATO, and we cooperate and exchange information with Romania on political and security matters at various levels.
With regards to economic examples, the development of the Extreme Light Infrastructure Nuclear Physics facility (commonly known as ELI-NP) is specifically mentioned in the joint statement. The active exchange of views with research institutions is shared, as necessary, with the Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalisation, the competent ministry in the region, as well as the Minister of Regional Development and Public Administration.
This helps to ensure smoother project progression. In addition, we try to actively participate in cultural events, whether or not organised by the Embassy, that are related to Japan or in which Japanese performers appear, in order to help promote people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding through culture.
How would you describe the current economic ties between the two countries?
Looking at the total value of trade between Japan and Romania alone, the relationship between the two countries does not appear to be very strong, but the ties between the two countries are stronger than the figures suggest. Currently, there are about 110 Japanese companies registered in Romania, which is not a large number, but they generate 40,000 jobs. Traditionally, Japanese companies have focused on the manufacturing sector, but recently there have been some inroads in new fields, such as IT-related sectors.
URSUS, the largest beer company, is affiliated with Asahi Breweries, and many Japanese-brand cars can be seen, including Toyota, Suzuki, Honda, Mazda and Nissan. Many Romanians use Makita power tools and gardening equipment, and smoke tobacco made by JTI, which is the second largest share of the cigarette market in Romania. The business activities of Japanese companies are firmly rooted in the lives of Romanians
Japanese companies have been involved in some of the most important infrastructure works in recent years, such as the Braila Bridge, which was inaugurated last year, and the M6 metro line in Bucharest, which is currently under development. In the past Japan cooperated in the development of port improvements at the container wharf at the Port of Constanta.
The Japan-Romania Innovation Forum started in 2023, with the first edition held in Cluj, the second in Tokyo this June, and next year’s edition to be held in Romania. It is hoped that further ties will be strengthened in the field of innovation. Furthermore, cooperation in the energy sector is currently underway.
What are your thoughts on the future of the Japan – Romania relationship?
Not only with the signing of the Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership last year, but bilateral relations have also been particularly strengthened in recent years. In addition, with the growing geopolitical importance of Japan and Romania, relations between the two countries, which are linked by common values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, fundamental human rights and open and fair trade, are expected to develop further in the future.
To promote deeper exchanges between the two countries, it is important to increase exchanges between their citizens.
In March this year, Romania joined the Schengen Agreement by air and sea, which is expected to strengthen personal exchanges and economic relations. When Romania joins the Schengen Agreement by land in the future, the incentives for Japanese companies to invest in Romania are expected to increase further. The Osaka-Kansai Expo will be held in Japan next year and the Romanian Pavilion is under construction. It is hoped that more Japanese companies will take advantage of these opportunities and make Romania’s good points known to more Japanese companies.
To promote deeper exchanges between the two countries, it is important to increase exchanges between their citizens. Japan is promoting the expansion of inbound tourism, and we would like to actively promote Japanese tourist destinations to the Romanian public. At the same time, Romania also has many attractive tourist destinations, which we would like to promote and make more Japanese people aware of.
Sister-city exchanges are also important for people-to-people exchange. For example, Sibiu and Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture have very meaningful exchanges, with volunteers visiting each other during their respective festivals. We would like to expand such exchanges between local cities as much as possible.
