Japan-Gabon Relations
Japan-Gabon Relations (Basic Data)
October 28, 2025
Basic Data
Diplomatic Relations:
- 17 August, 1960 (Date of recognition of the State)
- Others: The Embassy of Gabon was established in Tokyo in 1968
Number of Residents:
- Number of Japanese nationals residing in the Gabonese Republic: 63 (October 2024)
- Number of Gabonese nationals residing in Japan: 34 (June 2024)
Trade with Japan (2024):
- Exports: 11.26 billion yen (manganese, steel, wood, aluminum, etc.)
- Imports: 3.32 billion yen (automobiles, construction and mining equipment, etc.)
Japan's Economic Cooperation (cumulative total until Fiscal Year 2023):
- List of Exchange of Notes
- Loans: -
- Grants: 5.511 billion yen
- Technical cooperation: 7.193 billion yen
VIP Visits (2004~)
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| Aug. 2004 | Members of Japan-Africa Union (AU) Parliamentary Friendship League, Mr. ETO Seishiro and Mr. MIHARA Asahiko |
| Jan. 2005 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. ONODERA Itsunori |
| Aug. 2006 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice, Mr. SUGIURA Seiken |
| Aug. 2007 | Member of the House of Representatives, Mr. ITO Tadahiko |
| Mar. 2008 | Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. KOMURA Masahiko |
| Jun. 2009 | Member of the House of Representatives, Mr. SUGIURA Seiken |
| Feb. 2013 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. ABE Toshiko |
| Nov. 2013 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. ISHIHARA Hirotaka |
| Jul. 2018 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. OGUSHI Masaki |
| Jun. 2020 | Members of Japan-AU Parliamentary Friendship League, Mr. YAMAGIWA Daishiro, Mr. OGUSHI Masaki, and Mr. KOMURA Masahiro |
| May 2025 | Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, Member of Japan-AU Parliamentary Friendship League, Mr. EJIMA Kiyoshi |
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| May 2004 | Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr. Jean PING |
| Nov. 2004 | Minister of Trade, Industrial Development, and NEPAD, H.E. Mr. Paul BIYOGUE MBA |
| Jul. 2005 | Vice-Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Antoine MBOUMBOU MIYAKU |
| Nov. 2007 | Minister of Forest Economy, H.E. Mr. Emile DOUMBA |
| May 2008 | President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Omar BONGO ONDIMBA Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms. Laure Olga GONGJOUT |
| Oct. 2010 | President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Ali BONGO ONDIMBA |
| Jun. 2013 | President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Ali BONGO ONDIMBA Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel ISSOZE NGONDET Minister of Fisheries, H.E. Mr. Julien NKOGHE BEKALE |
| Jun. 2015 | Minister of Mines, Industry and Tourism, H.E. Mr. Christophe AKAGHA MBA |
| Nov. 2015 | Minister of Digital Economy and Post Office, H.E. Mr. Pastor NGOUA NEME |
| Aug. 2019 | Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Alain-Claude BILIE-BY-NZE |
| Oct. 2019 | President of the National Assembly of Gabon, H.E. Mr. Faustin BOUKOUBI |
| Jul. and Aug. 2021 | Minister for Sport, H.E. Mr. Franck NGUEMA |
| Sep. 2022 | Prime Minister, H.E. Ms. Rose Christiane OSSOUKA RAPONDA Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms. Yolande NYONDA |
| Jul. 2025 | Vice-President of the Government, H.E. Mr. Hugues Alexandre BARRO CHAMBRIER (Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai) |
| Aug. 2025 | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in charge of Integration and the Gabonese diaspora, H.E. Mr. Michel Régis ONANGA NDIAYE (TICAD 9) |
Cultural Exchanges
A judo competition (Nippo-Gabonese Cooperation Cup) is annually held in Libreville since 1980s, co-organized by the Gabon Judo Federation and the Embassy of Japan in Gabon.
A karate competition (Japanese Ambassador's Cup) is also annually held since 2011, co-organized by Gabon Karate-do Federation and the Embassy of Japan in Gabon.