Ambassador AKAMATSU hosted a reception to celebrate the 66th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan

 

To celebrate the 66th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito, H.E. Mr. AKAMATSU Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, hosted a reception at Serena Hotel in Islamabad on the evening of 10th February. Chief guest President of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari along with other dignitaries graced the occasion.
 
Welcoming the guests and celebrating the 8^th birthday since His Majesty’s enthronement, Ambassador AKAMATSU, expressed his sincere appreciation for being able to celebrate this occasion in Islamabad, together with President H.E. Mr. Zardari and distinguished guests.
 
The Ambassador highlighted recent political developments in Japan, noting the successful general election for the House of Representatives and the strong mandate received by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party under the leadership of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female Prime Minister. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to rule of law, multilateralism, and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). Furthermore, he emphasized Pakistan’s important role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and expressed Japan’s desire to work closely with Pakistan on global and regional challenges.
 
On bilateral relations, Ambassador AKAMATSU noted the success of the Pakistan Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 for winning two awards, the Bronze Prize in the Exhibition category and the Editors' Choice Award and for sparking interest a sense of closeness toward Pakistan among many Japanese people. The Expo also marked the revival of high-level exchanges between the two countries with official visits to Japan by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Industry and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan.
 
Looking ahead, Ambassador AKAMATSU presented three key areas for strengthening bilateral relations in the coming year:

1. Expanding and deepening mutual understanding and cooperation through people-to-people exchange between our two countries such as Asian Games and Asian Para Games to be held in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan in the fall this year
2. Economic cooperation, including plans to resume yen loan projects under the Official Development Assistance (ODA), expanding technical and talent cooperation in Pakistan’s growing IT industry
3. Promotion of Japanese cuisine, highlighting its contribution to Japanese people’s longevity and introducing well-known examples such as sushi and tempura but also wagyu beef

 
Ambassador AKAMATSU also expressed his condolences to the victims of the recent terrorist attack at a mosque in Islamabad and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured. He reiterated that the Government of Japan strongly condemns any acts of terrorism and reaffirmed our solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan.
 
Ambassador AKAMATSU concluded his remarks by wishing that people-to-people exchanges between Japan and Pakistan will become even more active and a cooperative relationship befitting the demands of this new era would be built.
 
The reception featured specially prepared Japanese wagyu beef. It also included exhibitions of Japanese traditional arts, Ikebana and Bonsai, prepared by Lahore Sogetsu Study Group and Lahore Bonsai Society, and the displays by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japanese companies such as Toyota Indus Motors, Suzuki, Honda, Hino, Idemitsu, Sojitz, and Kumon.