Japan-Spain Relations (Basic Data)

August 2012

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:: Established in 1868 with the signing of the Treaty of Commerce and Friendship.; Contact between Japan and Spain began when a Jesuit missionary, Francisco Xavier, arrived in Japan in 1549. Since then until Japan adopted the policy of seclusion, many missionaries from Spain sailed to Japan and introduced Western civilization to Japan. Thanks to the Spanish galleons, Japan was also able to begin trading with the Philippines, Mexico, and other countries. In 1584, the Tensho mission of Japanese youths dispatched from Japan stopped in Spain and had an audience with Philip II before proceeding on to Rome.
In 1868 Japan and Spain concluded a bilateral treaty on friendship, commerce, and navigation. During World War II, Spain maintained a policy of neutrality, but diplomatic relations between the two countries were temporarily severed due to the incident involving the murder of a Spanish missionary in Manila in 1945. Since the restoration of diplomatic relations in 1952, both countries have enjoyed good relations.
Japanese Nationals in Spain:: 6,315 (December 2007)

Trade with Japan:

Export: 232.7 billion yen (2007) (Medicinal pharmaceutical products, Slag or ash, Organic chemicals, Bags)
Import: 656.4 billion yen (2007) (Automobiles, Auto parts, Motor cycles, Video cameras)

Direct Investment from Japan:

Cumulative Total (1951 - 2007): 196.4 billion yen

Economic Relations

Exports of both Japan and Spain respectively to the other country are increasing in recent years. Notably increasing exports of Spain to Japan are of swine meat, tuna, olive oil, wine, etc.

VIP Visits

From Japan to Spain

Year	Name
2004	HIH The Crown Prince
2007	Minister for Finance Omi Foreign Minister Aso
2008	Minister for Finance Nukaga HIH The Crown Prince

From Spain to Japan

Year	Name
2001	Minister of Economy Rato
2003	Minister of Foreign Affairs Palacio
2005	Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Moratinos Prince of Asturias Felipe of Borbon
2006	Minister of Education and Science Cabrela
2007	Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade Cross
2008	Their Majesties the King and Queen

Cultural Exchanges

Based on the Cultural agreement concluded between the two governments in 1982, the Japan-Spain Mixed Commission for Cultural Exchange has been convened regularly (The most recent one was held in 2005). The Japan-Spain Symposium, which is attended by leading intellectuals of both countries, has been held since 1997. In Spain, Japanese language education and Japanese studies have become popular in recent years, and through the cooperation of the governments and the private sectors in Japan and Spain, the Centro Cartural Hispano-Japonés was opened at the University of Salamanca in the spring of 1999. The Spanish government has opened the Cervantes Institute in Tokyo in 2008. Thirteen sister-city agreements have been reached between Japanese and Spanish cities.

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