Japan, our firmest friend

During this period of global uncertainty and nuclear peril, every foreigner’s friendly face is a welcome sight.

Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, Endo Kasuya, shares with Filipinos the joy of celebrating the 65th birthday of His Majesty, the Emperor and the entry of the two countries into the “golden age” in their relations.

“Almost seven decades of friendship and dialogue have made Japan and the Philippines the firmest of partners. Our close cooperation in key areas such as agriculture and transportation has forged enduring bridges with the goodwill between our peoples forming the warm fabric of our relations.”

“I remain in awe of the mounting developments in our countries’ ties. During that same time, I have witnessed Japan-Philippines relations make remarkable progress in various fields of cooperation,” Ambassador Kasuya said.

Some of the highlights of the relationship include the deepening Japan-Philippines security cooperation and Japan-Philippine-US trilateral cooperation.

The historic first Japan-Philippines-US Summit was held on 11 April 2024 conducted by President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Fumio and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Philippines-US Maritime Activity was held with like-minded countries on 18 January 2025.

The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement was signed on 8 July 2024 and was unanimously ratified by the Philippine Senate in December of the same year.

Once the agreement comes into effect, it is expected to facilitate the implementation of cooperative activities between the Japan Self Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, encompassing joint training and disaster relief.

“As I continue to carry on my duties, I look forward to continuing to work earnestly on various issues,” Ambassador Kasuya said.

According to the government’s Investor Relations Office, Japan remains the Philippines’ top source of official development assistance (ODA), with a total of $11.2 billion or 89.1 percent going to infrastructure projects. The most impressive to Filipinos is the big-ticket project, the Metro Manila Subway, which will enhance connectivity and create jobs. The project’s total cost is P357 billion. It will have a passenger capacity of 370,000 daily.

The Metro Manila Subway will use Japanese technology to make the structure flood and earthquake proof. By 2025, 15 stations will be operational, connecting Quirino Highway to NAIA Terminal 3 and reducing travel time from nearly two hours to half an hour with trains running up to speeds of 80 km/h.

From the construction of Metro Manila’s first subway system to promoting the peace process in Mindanao, Japan has been firmly on the Philippines’ side, supporting and opening up avenues for stability and prosperity.

As like-minded democracies, Philippines-Japan cooperation remains vital in the preservation of the peace and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. With the Philippines fervently bolstering its defense partnership with Japan, their friendship stands firm as a testament to the resilience and strength of their time-tested relationship even in times of uncertainty.

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