Argentina–Japan relations

Argentine-Japanese diplomatic relations were established in the late 19th century.

Early Contacts

The Empire of Japan and Argentine Republic established formal diplomatic relations with a Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation on February 3 1898. Argentina assisted Japan in the Russo-Japanese War by agreeing to sell Japan the cruiser "Nisshin", which had originally been purchased for the Argentine Navy. However, prior to 1941, the main aspect of relations between Argentina and Japan was immigration, mostly of agricultural laborers. There are currently an estimated 30,000 people of Japanese descent living in Argentina. Diplomatic relations between Japan and Argentina were temporarily severed by World War II.

Modern developments

Diplomatic relations were restored by the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1952. Argentine president Arturo Frondizi visited Japan in 1960, and subsequently bilateral trade and Japanese investment into Argentina have increased in importance. Japanese imports were primarily foodstuffs and raw materials, while exports were mostly machinery and finished products.

Members of the Imperial Family of Japan have visited Argentina on a number of occasions, including Prince and Princess Takamado in 1991, Emperor and Empress Akihito in 1997 and Prince and Princess Akishino in 1998. Argentine President Raul Alfonsin visit Japan in 1986, as did President Carlos Menem in 1990, 1993 and 1998.

Argentina maintains an embassy in Tokyo and Japan maintains an embassy in Buenos Aires.

See also

* Asian Argentine

External links

* [http://www.mrecic.gov.ar/portal/seree/ditra/jp.html List of Treaties ruling relations Argentina and Japan (Argentine Foreign Ministry, in Spanish)]
* [http://www.embargentina.or.jp/ Argentine embassy in Tokyo (in Japanese and Spanish only)]
* [http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/latin/argentine/index.html Japanese Foreign Ministry about Argentina]
* [http://www.ar.emb-japan.go.jp/ Japanese embassy in Buenos Aires (in Japanese and Spanish only)]