He explained that in 1995, the then-Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife Princess Masako visited Kuwait, and they were warmly welcomed, particularly by the late Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah, who was Crown Prince at the time. The late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad had visited Japan in 2012. In 2016, both nations agreed to launch a comprehensive partnership. Oil trade is the cornerstone of bilateral relations between the two countries. Japan began importing crude oil from Kuwait even before the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1958. The Kuwaiti government granted a concession to the Arabian-Japanese Oil Company to explore and develop hydrocarbon reserves in the marine-divided zone, which led to the discovery of the Khafji field in 1960.

Economic
The support of oil by Kuwait greatly contributed to Japan’s rapid economic growth. Kuwait remains an important supplier of oil, ranking third in the list of major oil suppliers to Japan. Trade exchanges between the two countries began even before the conclusion of the oil concession contract, as Kuwaiti businessmen, who were very curious about Japanese products, traveled to Japan to discuss business. The import of Japanese-made cars to Kuwait began in the 1950s. Since then, there has been a lot of trade activity between the two countries. Many Kuwaitis are now interested in Japanese culture and tourism, and Kuwaiti students are interested in studying in Japan. Many Japanese students are currently studying Arabic in Kuwait, thanks to the generous scholarships provided by the Kuwaiti government. Ambassador Yasunari affirmed Japan’s strong commitment to strengthening its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. He expressed hope to advance this goal during the upcoming GCC summit, which Kuwait will host in early December. He also highlighted the agreement between Japan and the GCC to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement and to hold regular meetings between the foreign ministers of Japan and the GCC, the latest of which took place in Riyadh in September 2023. Regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza, Ambassador Yasunari stated that the only viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the realization of a two-state solution that would allow Israel and a future independent Palestinian state can coexist peacefully and with dignity, adding that this can only be achieved through negotiations based on international law and by relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Ambassador Yasunari highlighted the strong potential for Japan and Kuwait to collaborate in addressing international issues of mutual interest.

Sustainable
He said, “For example, Japan and Kuwait can join forces to create a sustainable human society”. Ambassador Yasunari indicated that the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and its Japanese counterpart organize an annual symposium on sustainable energy technologies, during which companies and experts from both countries can exchange knowledge and experiences. He also highlighted the potential for Japan and Kuwait to cooperate regarding environmental protection, revealing that Japanese companies possess advanced technologies for recycling materials and generating energy from waste. These technologies, he suggested, could be applied in Kuwait to help address environmental challenges. Ambassador Yasunari concluded by referring to the beach cleaning initiative organized by the Japanese Association annually at Shuwaikh Beach, which sees active participation from both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti volunteers. The Japanese ambassador revealed that his tenure in Kuwait is nearing its end, as his assignment will conclude on November 19, after which he will be moving to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He said his successor - Ambassador Mukai Kenshiro - will take over his duties after presenting his credentials to Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the end of November.