Japan-Gabon Relations

April 12, 2024

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: 42 (October 2023)
  • Number of Gabonese nationals residing in Japan: 31 (December 2022)

Trade with Japan (2023):

  • Exports: 5.45 billion yen (manganese, steel, wood, aluminum, etc.)
  • Imports: 4.82 billion yen (automobiles, construction and mining equipment, etc.)

Japan's Economic Cooperation (cumulative total until Fiscal Year 2021):

VIP Visits (2004~)

From Japan to Gabon:
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
From Gabon to Japan:
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

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.

Back to Japan-Gabon Relations