Philippines, Japan mark 70 years of enduring friendship

The Philippines and Japan are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic and cultural relations in 2026, highlighting decades of cooperation in peace, development, and people-to-people exchange.

Japanese Ambassador ENDO Kazuya noted that this year coincides with the 66th birthday of His Imperial Majesty Naruhito and the 70th Anniversary of Philippines-Japan Friendship, under the theme “Weaving the Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, Possibilities.” A commemorative logo designed by Filipino artist Edmon Fuerte combines Japan’s shimenawa rope with Filipino abaca fiber, symbolizing seven decades of trust, partnership, and shared hope.

Ambassador ENDO traced the relationship back to postwar reconciliation efforts, citing President Elpidio Quirino’s pardon of Japanese prisoners in 1953 and the signing of the Japan–Philippines Reparations Agreement in 1956. Imperial Family visits, including those of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko in 1962 and 2016, further strengthened the bilateral relationship.

Recent high-level meetings have underscored the strategic partnership between the two countries. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae held her first meeting with a foreign leader, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in October 2025. In January 2026, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu visited the Philippines as part of his first bilateral overseas tour.

Economic and development cooperation remains a cornerstone of the partnership. Japan has supported the Philippines through Official Development Assistance since the 1960s, contributing to disaster risk reduction, infrastructure projects such as the Metro Manila Subway, the North-South Commuter Railway, the Davao City Bypass, and the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, as well as programs in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Security cooperation has also advanced, with the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement entering into force in 2025. Ambassador ENDO highlighted joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises, as well as the Official Security Assistance program, noting the Philippines is Japan’s only partner to receive OSA support for three consecutive years. On 11 February 2026, he attended a handover ceremony for five coastal surveillance radar systems with Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

People-to-people exchanges remain a strong element of the relationship. In 2025, 73 Filipino scholars were supported under the MEXT Scholarship Program, 67 young Filipinos participated in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, and the Philippines was represented in the Osaka Expo 2025, where its pavilion won the Silver Award for design. Travel also continues to strengthen ties, with over 880,000 Filipino visitors to Japan in 2025.

“These milestones illustrate how the Philippines–Japan relationship has been shaped over time by many threads of cooperation and friendship,” ENDO said. “As we embark on a year of commemorative events for our 70th anniversary, we warmly invite our Filipino friends and partners to join us in the celebrations, as we continue weaving our future together—toward peace, prosperity, and possibilities for generations to come.”