Japan-Uruguay Relations

On May 17 (local time: on May 16), following the passing of H. E. Mr. José MUJICA, Former President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, on May 13, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, issued a letter of condolences to H. E. Mr. Yamandú Ramón Antonio ORSI Martínez，President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

In the letter, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his condolences to the bereaved family of former President Mujica and to the Government and people of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay on the news of his passing. Prime Minister Ishiba paid tribute to the former president’s achievements noting that former President Mujica made great contributions to the development of Uruguay as president, focusing on poverty alleviation, and that he had made a longstanding effort to strengthen bilateral relations, mentioning that he had always shown respect for Japan by, for example, appreciating people of Nikkei (Japanese immigrants and descendants) who had contributed to the development of Uruguay.