Greece–Japan relations

Greco-Japanese relations are foreign relations between Greece and Japan.

Diplomatic relations

Greece and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1899. There has been a Greek Embassy in Tokyo since 1960, and a Japanese Embassy in Athens since the same year, when it was decided to upgrade the Japanese Consulate which had opened in 1956. Since then the two countries have enjoyed excellent relations in all fields, and cooperate closely.

Treaty framework

Relations between the two countries were established with the signing of the Agreement on friendship, trade and navigation. The following bilateral agreements have also been concluded:

1956: Agreement on abolition of visas for non-diplomatic passports.

1973: Aviation Agreement.

1981: Education agreement.

2002: Action plan for the promotion of Greek-Japanese relations.

Political relations

As far as political cooperation goes, the two countries are working closely together to upgrade their bilateral relations as well as in their response to international crises and in dealing with current issues of international interest. They also cooperate closely and provide reciprocal support in matters of direct national interest, and mutually support each others candidacies for positions in international organizations.

In the recent elections for seats on the UN Security Council the two countries supported each others candidacy for positions as non-permanent members of the Council (2005-2006), while during their term on the Council their cooperation in international affairs has become even closer.

The excellent political relations between Greece and Japan are reflected in frequent high-level visits, mainly ministerial visits in the framework of international conferences. In terms of bilateral visits, the then Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. K. Simitis, visited Japan between 3-5 March 2002, accompanied by a delegation of businessmen and journalists, while the Speaker of the Greek Parliament, Mrs. Anna Psarouda-Benaki, visited Tokyo from 29 May to 3 June 2005.

From 1-3.05.03 the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Koizumi, visited Greece for the EU-Japan summit during the Greek Presidency of the EU. On that occasion he held a bilateral meeting with the then Greek Prime Minister Mr. Konstantinos Simitis. The Greek Prime Minister Mr. Karamanlis paid recently a working visit to Japan (10-13.11.2005).

Also, the President of the Japanese Parliament, Mr. Yohei Kono, visited Greece in 9-10 January 2005.

Economic and trade relations

Although there is a substantial volume of trade between the two countries, the balance is disproportionately in Japan's favour, at a ratio of about 1:10. This is because most Japanese exports to Greece are hi-tech and industrial products, while Greek exports are comprised of agricultural produce, marble, etc. However, recent years have seen a steady increase in Greek exports, which is indicative of the potential and marked competitiveness of Greek businesses on the Japanese market.

One area in which Greece is particularly dynamic is shipping, with a steadily rising volume of orders and ships being constructed in Japanese yards. It is estimated that these orders are worth 2 billion dollars each year.

Greece is one of the countries where Japanese investment remains low, but recently Japanese companies have expressed keen interest in cooperation with Greek businesses in the investment sector, while annual exchange visits of business delegations from each side are doing much to promote trade and investment through better understanding of the specific features of the two markets. Within this context Greece had its own pavilion at the 2005 international trade fair in Aichi, Japan.

The number of tourists visiting Greece from Japan has been rising steadily in recent years. About 80,000 Japanese tourists visit the country each year. Even larger numbers are expected in the future, following the huge publicity which Greece enjoyed during the Olympic Year 2004.

Cultural relations

Cultural relations between the two countries are at a satisfactory level.

In 1999 celebratory cultural events were organized on both sides to mark the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and Japan.

Over recent years in particular there has been intense cultural exchange, while in the context of the Cultural Months envisaged in the Greece-Japan Action Plan in the run-up to the Olympics, numerous cultural events were organised in both countries, all highly successful, well-attended and extensively covered by the media. To mention but a few examples:

In Japan:

* Performances in Japan of the ancient Greek tragedy Antigone, by the National Theatre (11-16.03.03).
* An archaeological exhibition on the subject of Alexander the Great: Cultural Contacts between East and West. From Greece to Japan , Tokyo: 05.08 05.10.03, Kobe: 18.10-21.12.03.
* Performances of traditional Greek dances from all over Greece by a 30-member troupe from the Likiou ton Ellinidon, Tokyo 15.05.04 and Kobe 17.05.04.

In Greece:

* Performances of the ancient tragedy Oedipus Rex, by Y. Ninagawa, Herod Atticus Theatre, 1-3.7.04
* Greek-oriented Cultural agencies: There are a number of Greek oriented cultural organizations in Japan, set up at the initiative of Japanese academics in the field of Greek studies, in order to promote Greek culture, history and the learning of the Greek language. Some of the most important of these are:

* The Classical Society of Japan,
* The Aegean Society of Japan.
* The Japan Greece Society.

Greek community in Japan

There is a Greek community some 300 strong living in Japan. The majority of them are employed by multinational companies, although some are businessmen who have settled there on a permanent basis.