Middle East
Japan-Kuwait Relations (Basic Data)
February 20, 2026
Basic Data
Diplomatic Relations:
- Established in December 1961
Japanese Nationals:
- 142 (as of Oct. 2025)
Trade with Japan (in Japanese Yen, 2025 Trade Statics of Japan (Japan Customs):
- Exports: 886 billion yen (crude oil, petroleum products)
- Imports: 338 billion yen (motor vehicle, steel, machinery, electric equipment)
Japan's Economic Cooperation (total amount until the year 1998):
- Grants: 294 million Yen
- Technical cooperation: 935 million Yen
VIP Visits
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Ms. KOIKE Yuriko, Minister of Environment Committee on Middle Eastern Affairs, House of Representatives Mr. TANIGAWA Shuzen, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr. OHNO Yoshinori, Minister of State for Defense Mr. TAKEBE Tsutomu, Secretary General, Liberal Democratic Party Mr. FUYUSHIBA Tetsuzo, Secretary General, New Komeito |
| 2005 | Mr. FUKUSHIMA Keishiro, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. KAWAI Katsuyuki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. NUKAGA Fukushiro, Minister of State for Defense |
| 2006 | Mr. ASO Taro, Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ambassador on Special Mission) Committee on Middle Eastern Affairs, House of Representatives Mr. NUKAGA Fukushiro, Minister of State for Defense Mr. KANEDA Tatsutoshi, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr. KIMURA Taro, Senior Vice-Minister for Defence Mr. ASO Taro, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| 2007 | Ms. KOIKE Yuriko, Special Advisor for the Prime Minister Mr. ABE Shinzo, Prime Minister Special Committee on terrorism and Iraq, House of Representatives |
| 2008 | Mr. UNO Osamu, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. ONODERA Itsunori, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr. MIYASHITA Ichiro, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Mr. AMARI Akira, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Mr. OKUDA Hiroshi, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister Mr. ETO Akinori, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense Security Committee, House of Representatives Mr. NUKAGA Fukushiro, Minister of Finance |
| 2009 | Mr. SHIBAYAMA Masahiko, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| 2011 | Ms. KIKUTA Makiko, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs (Special Envoy of Prime Minister) Mr. HAMADA Kazuyuki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. NAKANO Joe, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| 2012 | Mr. NAKANO Joe, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. KAZAMA Naoki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| 2013 | Mr. ABE Shinzo, Prime Minister |
| 2014 | Mr. MAKINO Takao, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. KOIKE Yuriko, Member of the House of Representatives, Liberal Democratic Party |
| 2015 | Mr. NAKAYAMA Yasuhide, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. AKIBA Kenya, Director, Foreign Affairs Division, Liberal Democratic Party Mr. YAMAGIWA Daishiro, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Mr. TAKAGI Yosuke, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry |
| 2017 | Mr. SONOURA Kentaro, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. KONO Taro, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| 2018 | Mr. SATO Masahisa, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. KIHARA Minoru, State Minister for Finance |
| 2020 | Mr. MAKIHARA Hideki, State Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ambassador on Special Mission) |
| 2022 | Mr. HONDA Taro, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. MORI Eisuke, Chairman of the Japan-Kuwait Parliamentary Friendship Association (Special Envoy of Prime Minister) |
| 2025 | Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Prime Minister H.H. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohamed Sabah Al Salem Al-Sabah Minister of Energy H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Fahd Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Minister of Commerce and Industry H.E. Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al-Taweel First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense H.E. Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah |
| 2005 | Sheikha Hussa Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah |
| 2006 | Special Adviser of H.H. the Amir of Kuwait H.E. Shaikh Mohammed Al-Khaled M.Al-Sabah Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Ismael Khudor Al-Shatti |
| 2007 | Chancellor to the Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Sheikh Salem Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Kuwait-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League Founder and President of the Kuwaiti Voluntary Committee H.E. Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah |
| 2008 | Prime Minister H.H. Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Chairman of Rules Committee & Member of Executive Board, Olympic Council of Asia H.E. Shaikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Member of the International Olympic Council H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Member of the International Olympic Council H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah |
| 2009 | First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense H.E. Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah |
| 2010 | Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah Advisor to the Amir Diwan H.E. Khaled Yousef Abdul-Aziz Al-Fellej |
| 2011 | Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs H.E. Mr. Abdul Wahhab Al Haroon Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Legal Affairs and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor H.E. Mr. Mohammad Mohsen Al-Afashi |
| 2012 | Amir, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah |
| 2013 | Advisor to the Amir Diwan H.E.Mr.Mohammad Abdullah Abbas Abo Al-Hassan |
| 2014 | Kuwait-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister of Planning and Development H.E. Mrs. Hind Sabeeh Barrak Al-Sabah |
| 2015 | Director General Kuwait Direct Investment Authority H.E. Sheikh Dr. Misaal Al-Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Bader Hamad Al-Eisa |
| 2016 | Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah |
| 2018 | Speaker of the National Assembly H.E. Mr. Marzouq Ali Mohammad Thenayan Al-Ghanim |
| 2019 | Former Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah |
| 2022 | Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohamed Al-Sabah |
| 2024 | Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Minister of State for Housing H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Abdulaziz Mahmoud Bushehri |
| 2025 | Minister of information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman Baddah Al-Muteiri, Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya Former Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah |
Recent Trends
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Kuwait in August 2013. During his stay, he was received by His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, acting Amir and Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, and held a meeting with His Excellency Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait. The two sides shared the view that they would further cooperate in many fields including not only energy, but also politics, security, economics, education, agriculture and health. They also decided to establish a “Comprehensive Partnership”.
In May 2025, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, visited Japan. His Highness the Crown Prince made a State Call on His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and had an Imperial Audience with His Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Akishino. His Highness the Crown Prince also had a meeting and working lunch with Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, where they agreed on upgrading the two countries’ relations to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”.