Japan-Bulgaria Relations 
March 2011
Basic Data
- Diplomatic Relations:
- Diplomatic relations between Japan and Bulgaria, which were severed due to the impact of the Second World War, were resumed with the exchange of the official documents in September 1959 recognizing the restoration of the relations between the two countries.
- Japanese Nationals:
- Number of Japanese Nationals residing in Republic of Bulgaria: 161 (October 2009)
- Trade with Japan (in 2009):
- Exports: $ 62.7 million (wine and metal products)
- Imports: $ 81.3 million (machinery, car and chemical products)
- Direct Investment from Japan:
- Cumulative total as of 1992-2006: $ 102.0 million (Bulgarian Investment Agency)
- Japan's Economic Cooperation:
- List of Exchange of Notes
- Loans: 77,006 million yen (total amount till 2009)
- Grants: 3,002 million yen (total amount till 2009)
- Technical Cooperation: 10,322 million yen (total amount till 2007)
VIP Visits
- From Japan to Republic of Bulgaria
-
Year Name 1979 T. I. H. Crown Prince and Princess 1983 Minister for Foreign Affairs Shintaro Abe 1987 T. I. H. Prince and Princess Mikasa 1988 Vice Prime Minister Shin Kanemaru 1992 Chairman of House of Representatives Yoshio Sakurauchi 1996 H. I. H. Princess Sayako 2000 Chairman of House of Representatives Tamisuke Watanuki 2007 Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso 2009 T. I. H. Princess and Prince Akishino - From Republic of Bulgaria to Japan
-
Year Name 1970 Prime Minister Todor Zhivkov (1978, 1985) 1990 President Zhelyu Zhelev 1991 Minister of Foreign Affairs Viktor Valkov 1993 Chairman of National Assembly Alexandor Yordanov 1996 Chairman of National Assembly Blagovest Sendov 1997 President Petar Stoyanov (State Visit) 1999 Duputy Prime Minister Evgenii Bakardjiev 2000 Vice President Todor Kavaldjiev 2001 Chairman of National Assembly Ognyan Gerdjikov 2003 Minister of Foreign Affairs Solomon Passy 2004 Prime Minister Simeon Saxe Coburg 2005 Vice President Angel Marin 2006 Chairman of National Assembly Georgi Pirinski 2007 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivailo Kalfin 2009 President Georgi Parvanov 2010 Prime Minister Boyko Borissov
Cultural Exchanges
Cultural exchanges between the two countries have become more active at both the government and private-sector levels.
Japan organizes "Japanese Cultural Weeks" in Sofia every year from 1990 and Bulgaria has organized "Bulgarian Cultural Weeks" in Tokyo in 1994 and 1997.
Besides inviting students, media people, teachers, diplomats, and others to Japan, Japan has also been organizing every year "Days of Japanese Culture" which include various events, such as concerts, exhibitions, and demonstrations of Japanese art, to promote cultural understanding between Bulgarian and Japanese peoples.
Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2009)
1,064.5 million yen (Cultural Grant Aid)
18.79 million yen and 159,649 euro (Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects)
- Visit to Japan by Mr. Boyko BORISSOV, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (January 2011)
- Japan-Bulgaria Summit Meeting (January 2011)
- Japan-Bulgaria Foreign Ministers' Meeting (January 2011)
"Japan-Danube Friendship Year 2009" (Austria-Bulgaria-Hungary-Romania)- Visit to Japan of His Excellency Mr. Georgi Parvanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria and Mrs. Zorka Parvanova (January 2009)
- Japan-Bulgaria Foreign Ministers' Meeting (November 2007)
- Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and the Slovak Republic (January 2007)
- Statement by Mr. Aso Taro, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (December 2006)
- Grassroots Cultural Grant Aid for the Bulgarian Sumo Federation (Presentation of Donation List by Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Ozeki Koto-oshu) (February 2006)
- Emergency Aid for Flood Disaster in Bulgaria (August 2005)
- Japan-Bulgaria Summit Meeting (Summary) (December 2004)
- Joint Statement on Partnership between Japan and the Republic of Bulgaria (December 2004)
- Joint Announcement on New Partnership between Japan and the Republic of Bulgaria (March 2003)
- Meeting between Mr. Yohei Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Vice President of Bulgaria
(Summary and evaluation) (June 2000)
Press Secretary's Press Conference on Bulgaria
| Year | Month | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | October | 6 |
| 2005 | May | 6 |
| 2004 | January | 9 |
Back to Index
