Oceania
Japan-Tonga Relations (Basic Data)
July 16, 2020
Basic Data
Diplomatic Relations:
- Established in July 1970
Japanese Nationals:
- Number of Japanese residing in Tonga: 75/66 (2018/2019)
Trade with Japan (2019):
- Japan's Exports to Tonga: 1,330 million yen (machinery)
- Japan's Imports from Tonga: 160 million yen (pumpkin, tuna)
Direct Investment from Japan:
- none
Japan's Economic Cooperation:
- List of Exchange of Notes
- Loans: none
- Grants: 2,480 million yen (FY2017)
- Cumulative total as of 2017: 25,793 million yen
- Technical cooperation: 231 million yen (FY2017)
- Cumulative total as of 2017: 11,436 million yen
VIP Visits
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Takashi Hasegawa (House of Representatives) Bunbei Hara (House of Councillors), Megumu Sato (House of Representatives) (Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Union (APPU) member's visit) |
| 2001 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Toshio Kojima |
| 2003 | Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino |
| 2005 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Keishiro Fukushima |
| 2006 | His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince |
| 2008 | His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince |
| 2012 | Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachi |
| 2014 | Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Norio Mitsuya |
| 2015 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane |
| 2015 | Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess |
| 2017 | LDP Secretary-General, Mr. Toshihiro Nikai |
| 2018 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Iwao Horii |
| 2019 | Ambassador for the Pacific Island Region,Mr. Toshihisa Takata |
| 2019 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Norihiro Nakayama |
| 2020 | State Minister of Defense, Mr. YAMAMOTO Tomohiro |
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1982,1985, 1986,1989, 1992,1994, 1995 |
His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV |
| 1994,1997, 1998 |
Prime Minister Baron Vaea of Houma |
| 1983,1984, 1985,1988, 1990,1992, 1994,1995 |
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a (Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence) |
| 2000 | HRH Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka-Ata, appointed prime minister (Current His Majesty King Tupou VI) His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Civil Aviation, Dr. Langi Kavaliku Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries, Dr. Masaso Paunga |
| 2001 | Hon. Veikune, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries, Dr. Masaso Paunga His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a Her Royal Highness Princess Pilolevu Tuita |
| 2002 | Her Royal Highness Princess Nanasipauu Tukuaho |
| 2003 | His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a , Minister of Lands, Survey, Natural Resources and Environment, Hon. Fielakepa HRH Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka-Ata, appointed prime minister (Current His Majesty King Tupou VI) |
| 2004 | HRH Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka-Ata, appointed prime minister (Current His Majesty King Tupou VI) Minister of Health, Mr. Viliami Tàu Tangi |
| 2006 | His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a (Current His Majesty King George Tupou V) Prime Minister, Hon. Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele |
| 2007 | Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Hon. Viliami Tau Tangi His Majesty King George Tupou V |
| 2008 | Prime Minister, Hon. Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele Minister of Transport, Hon. Paul Karalus |
| 2009 | Prime Minister, Hon. Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele Ministry of Transport, Hon. Paul Karalus |
| 2010 | Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Hon. Viliami Tau Tangi Minister for Works, Acting Minister for Transport, Lord. Nuku Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Hon. Viliami Tau Tangi |
| 2011 | His Majesty King George Tupou V |
| 2012 | Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano (6th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting) His Royal Highness Tupouto'a Ulukalala |
| 2013 | Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano (PALM 2nd Ministerial Interim Meeting) |
| 2015 | Hon. Siaosi 'Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Enviroment, Energy, Information andCommunications (The 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction) Prime Minister, Hon. Samuela 'Akilisi Pohiva (7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting) Minister for Revenue and Customs, Hon Etuate Lavulavu (Pacific Island Countries Tourism Ministers Meeting) Hon. Siaosi 'Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Enviroment, Energy, Information and Communications (WTIS2015) |
| 2016 | Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Lord Tu'ivakano (GCPPD2016) |
| 2018 | Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Tourism, Hon. Semisi Kioa Lafu Sika (8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting) Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Communications and Climate Change, Hon. Poasi Mataele Tei (8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting) |
| 2019 | Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Communications and Climate Change, Hon. Poasi Mataele Tei |
| 2019 | Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u(Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne) |
Overview
Over the years, Japan and Tonga have nurtured an excellent bi-lateral relationship. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1970. The Imperial family of Japan and the Royal family of Tonga have developed a cordial and personal relationship over the years.
Japan is a major donor to Tonga and an important export market for Tongan products.
One of the most prominent aspects of the friendly relationship between the peoples of the two nations is sports, especially in Rugby. In fact, popular Tongan Rugby players play for Japanese university or company teams, several of whom being members of the Japanese national rugby team!
Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal Jan 1977-Mar 2019)
Cultural Grant Assistance: 133.2 million yen
Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects: 19 million yen