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August 2010

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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