Threads that bind: On Japan and the Philippines’ enduring friendship

Message from His Excellency ENDO Kazuya

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Philippines

Today, Japan commemorates the 66th birthday of His Imperial Majesty Naruhito. On this auspicious occasion, I am pleased to share in this celebration with our Filipino friends and the Japanese community in the Philippines. 

This year also marks a momentous milestone: the 70th Anniversary of Philippines-Japan Friendship, celebrated under the theme “Weaving the Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, Possibilities.” 

The symbolic anniversary logo, designed by Mr. Edmon Fuerte, a young artist from Baguio, beautifully combines Japan’s shimenawa rope with the Filipino abaca fiber. It reflects how our two nations have steadily woven beautiful threads of trust, partnership and shared hope over seven decades. 

Looking back to seven decades of trust

Since Japan made its solemn pledge to peace and embarked on its postwar path as a peaceful nation, many predecessors on both sides made numerous contributions for these long-term efforts. A hopeful thread in our shared history can be found in President Elpidio Quirino’s pardon of Japanese prisoners in 1953. In 1956, the Japan–Philippines Reparations Agreement was signed — marking a foundational moment in our bilateral relationship.

The Imperial Family’s visits have helped in deepening our bonds. The then His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko paid their maiden visit to the Philippines in 1962, even meeting General Emilio Aguinaldo. 54 years later, in 2016, His Majesty the Emperor Akihito and Her Majesty the Empress Michiko returned to the Philippines for their historic visit for the 60th Anniversary of our friendship — reaffirming the strong foundation of our heightened ties.

In the last seven decades, there have been countless exchanges at various levels, each of which helped lead to our shared mutual understanding. Fast forward to the present, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader after her inauguration was with 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. 

These developments underscore the high priority that Japan places on the Philippines as a close neighbor and trusted strategic partner that shares fundamental values and principles.

Fortifying ties as partners in progress

Our economic partnership is another important thread in this tapestry of friendship. Since the 1960s, Japan has supported the Philippines through Official Development Assistance (ODA), contributing to progress in vital areas such as disaster risk reduction and infrastructure development. This commitment continues today through landmark projects including the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), the Davao City Bypass and the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project. 

On the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) path toward peace, development and self-reliance, Japan has stood steadily alongside the region. Japan remains committed to advancing peace through dialogue and translating peace into tangible dividends through development.

Japan-Philippines business collaborations continue to flourish. In 2025, Japan was the second largest trading partner and the largest investor for the Philippines. Around 1,600 Japanese companies are operating their businesses in the country.

Advancing peace and security through cooperation

Our security cooperation has likewise evolved in ways that contribute to peace and stability, in line with the vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which entered into force in 2025, has facilitated joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises, demonstrating how interoperability can translate into tangible support for disaster response and resilience-building.

The Official Security Assistance (OSA) program is another important pillar of our cooperation, aimed at enhancing resilience by strengthening the Philippines’ defense capabilities through the provision of essential equipment and capacity-building. Notably, the Philippines is Japan’s only partner to have received OSA for three consecutive years. Just this 11 February, I attended a handover ceremony for five coastal surveillance radar systems, as part of the first OSA project, with Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

Japan and the Philippines work closely in multilateral fora to promote peace and prosperity in the region and beyond. We take pride in our long-standing partnership in advancing nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, guided by our shared aspiration for “a world free of nuclear weapons.” 

We are also working hand in hand to address global challenges such as 

climate change through initiatives like the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), and to advance development cooperation through frameworks such as the Conference on cooperation among East Asian countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD). 

As the Philippines assumes its important and responsible role as ASEAN Chair this year, Japan will spare no effort in extending its cooperation.

Binding our ties through cultural exchange

Beyond policies and programs, the most enduring strands of our friendship are woven by people — through educational exchanges, cultural interaction, academic cooperation and everyday friendships. 

In 2025, 73 Filipino scholars were supported under the MEXT Scholarship Program, and Japan welcomed its first participant from the Philippines in the Young Leaders Program in the field of Healthcare Administration. That same year, 67 young Filipinos embarked on enriching experiences under the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme.  

The Osaka Expo 2025 also offered meaningful platforms for people-to-people exchange. Building on this proud legacy, the Philippine Pavilion at the 2025 Expo was awarded the prestigious Silver Award for outstanding design. We once again extend our heartfelt appreciation to the creative Filipino minds behind the pavilion for their contribution to the success of this global event.  

Travel, too, has served as a reliable bridge between our cultures. I am delighted to note that Japan welcomed more than 880,000 Filipino visitors in 2025 alone — an encouraging testament to the growing closeness between our peoples.

Weaving the future together

All these illustrate how the Japan–Philippines relationship has been shaped over time by many threads of cooperation and friendship. The work of weaving, however, does not end here. As we look ahead this 2026, I hope we can reflect on our future together and identify “new threads” to our growing partnership.

One such thread, in my view, lies in economic cooperation. For decades, Japan has been the leading development partner of the Philippines across a wide range of fields. As our economic ties continue to deepen, we hope to expand our cooperation into new frontiers, including digital and green transformation, space and broader economic security.

 From postwar reconciliation to a comprehensive partnership for peace and prosperity, the Philippines–Japan relationship is a tapestry woven from diplomacy, development, security and, above all, human connection. 

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.