Japan–Lithuania relations

Japan–Lithuania relations (Lithuanian: Lietuvos-Japonijos santykiai) are the bilateral foreign relations between Japan and Lithuania. Japan has an embassy in Vilnius.[1] Lithuania has an embassy in Tokyo.[2] Japan was one of the few countries to recognize the Soviet occupation of the Baltic countries including Lithuania.

Japan–Lithuania relations

Japan
Lithuania
Embassy of Lithuania in Tokyo, Japan

On February, 1992, Embassy of Japan to Lithuania was established in Denmark, and on January, 1997, it moved to Vilnius, Lithuania. On June, 1998, Embassy of Lithuania to Japan was established in Tokyo.[3]

History
Sugihara House, the former Japanese consulate in Kaunas

Interwar period

January 3, 1919, the date when Japan recognized Lithuania de facto[4] is considered the beginning of the bilateral relations. On February 8, 1929 the agreement by which visas were abolished was signed between Japan and Lithuania, while in 1930 the Trade and shipping agreement was signed.

During the period of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

On November 23, 1939 the Japanese consulate was established, led by Vice Consul Chiune Sugihara. However, due to the occupation, the consulate was shut the following year. In 1940, Chiune Sugihara assisted the flight of Jewish refugees from the imminent Nazi invasion of Lithuania by issuing them transit visas from the consulate in Kaunas, despite instructions from the Japanese Government attempting to block his actions.[5] Up to 10,000 refugees were saved with this action.[6]

Modern relations

There is a significant close partnership between the city of Kuji and Klaipėda, established in 1989.[7]

Japan de facto re-recognized Lithuania on September 6, 1991 and a month later diplomatic relations were re-established between these countries. In 1997 the Embassy of Japan was established in Vilnius and in 1998 the Embassy of Lithuania was established in Tokyo.[3]

In March 2016, Japan and Lithuania agreed to cooperate on nuclear safety.[8][9]

Military ties

In August 2016, Training Squadron vessels of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kashima, Asagiri and Setoyuki sailed into Klaipėda port, to celebrate 25th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between this sovereign republic in the Baltic region and the maritime nation in the Far East. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Antanas Linkevičius welcomed the Japanese vessels and their steadfast partnership based on the same fundamental values since 1991 as well as referred an honorable and righteous diplomat Chiune Sugihara,[10] who served as the Japanese Vice-Consul at Kaunas from 1939 to 1940 and granted visas to thousands of Jewish and other minority refugees in his short term of office.[11] The JMSDF Training Squadron also visited Lithuanian Military Academy, where some students and officers train Kendo, a modern Japanese martial arts descended from Bushido and swordsmanship. On August 10, a sports exchange event between Japanese and Lithuanian officers was held at the military academy, and the Lithuanian team won the Kendo match to Japanese team.[12]

High level visits

In April 2001, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus paid an official visit to Japan, and on April 11, he held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori about their views on several issues that includes their bilateral relations, Japan–Russia relations and Lithuania's accession to EU and NATO.[13]

In May 2007, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan Akihito and Michiko made an official visit to Lithuania.[14][15]

See also

References
  1. Embassy of Japan in Vilnius, Lithuania
  2. Embassy of Lithuania in Tokyo, Japan
  3. Information on Lithuania on the site of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese)
  4. Gintaras Kaselis, Ramojus Kraujelis, Stasys Lukšys, Arūnas Streikus, Mindaugas Tamošaitis "Istorijos vadovėlis. 12 kl. II dalis.", page 14 (in Lithuanian)
  5. Japanese diplomat helped 8,000 Jews flee from Nazis — The Deseret News (Aug 26, 1994)
  6. Watts, Jonathan (October 9, 2000). "Japan at last honours its 'Schindler'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  7. Sister Cities Klaipeda and Kuji Celebrate the 20th Anniversary
  8. Lithuania and Japan to cooperate on nuclear safety
  9. Lithuania, Japan agree to cooperate in nuclear safety
  10. WEEKLY NEWS FROM LITHUANIA: Head of Lithuania’s diplomacy welcomes vessels of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in Klaipėda
  11. Chiune Sugihara | Jewish Virtual Library
  12. Japanese Training Squadron at Lithuanian Military Academy | Vilniaus Universiteto Kendo Klubas
  13. What's up around the Prime Minister: Prime Minister Meets with President of Lithuania (Wednesday, April 11, 2001)
  14. Emperor of Japan Receives Festive Welcome at President’s Palace (May 26, 2007)
  15. Japanese imperial couple visit Lithuania — The Manila Times (May 28, 2007)
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