Argentina–Japan relations
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Diplomatic relations were established in the late 19th century, between Argentina and
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
.


Early contacts

According to a file of the Royal Court of
Córdoba, Argentina Córdoba () is a city in central Argentina, in the foothills of the Punilla Valley, Sierras Chicas on the Primero River, Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province, Argentina, Córdoba Province a ...
, there was a Japanese young man baptized as Francisco Xapon, which indicated his arrival in the country. He was sold as a
slave Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
in 1596 by the slave merchant Diego López de Lisboa, to the priest Miguel Jerónimo de Porras. In 1598, Xapón won liberty at a trial, and was released. The history of Japanese-Argentine relations was influenced to a large extent by Argentina being a country of immigration. The first known Japanese to immigrate to Argentina arrived by boat in 1886. Among the Japanese to immigrate to Argentina was Professor Seizo Itoh, expert on agriculture, who came to Argentina in 1910 and worked to improve the level of agriculture in his new country. The Empire of Japan and Argentine Republic established formal diplomatic relations at a Legation level with a Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation on February 3, 1898. Following the conclusion of the agreement, regular trade relations by sea began in 1899. Argentina assisted Japan in the Russo-Japanese War by agreeing to sell Japan the
cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...
''Nisshin'', which had originally been purchased for the
Argentine Navy The Argentine Navy (ARA; es, Armada de la República Argentina). This forms the basis for the navy's ship prefix "ARA". is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the ...
. However, prior to 1941, the main aspect of relations between Argentina and Japan was immigration, mostly of agricultural laborers. There are currently an estimated 10,000 people of Japanese descent living in Argentina. Diplomatic relations between Japan and Argentina were raised to Embassy level in 1940, and the following year
Rodolfo Morena Rodolfo is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Rodolfo (footballer, born 1992), Brazilian footballer Rodolfo José da Silva Bardella * Rodolfo Albano III, Filipino politician * Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr. (1928-2012), Filipino actor ...
was appointed the first Argentine Ambassador to Japan, while
Akira Tomii Baron was a Japanese diplomat. Biography He was born as a son of Baron Masaaki Tomii, the president of Tokyo Imperial University of Legal and a draft member of Japanese Civil Law. When he was young, his father hired Keita Gotō as Akira's ...
became the first Japanese Ambassador to Argentina. Relations were severed in 1944, and on March 27, 1945, the Argentine government entered World War II on the Allied side and declared war on the Japanese Empire.


Modern developments

Diplomatic relations were restored by the signing of the
San Francisco Peace Treaty The , also called the , re-established peaceful relations between Japan and the Allied Powers on behalf of the United Nations by ending the legal state of war and providing for redress for hostile actions up to and including World War II. It w ...
in 1952.Treaty of Peace with Japan signed at San Francisco , United Nations Treaty Collection
/ref> Argentine president Arturo Frondizi visited Japan in 1960, and subsequently bilateral trade and Japanese investment into Argentina have increased in importance. Japanese imports were primarily foodstuffs and raw materials, while exports were mostly machinery and finished products. In addition, agreements on cooperation in various aspects were concluded. In 1963, the two governments concluded agreement on immigration, in 1967 a treaty of amity, commerce and navigation and in 1981 agreements on technical cooperation and cultural exchange. Argentina maintains an embassy in Tokyo and Japan maintains an embassy in Buenos Aires.


High-level visits

Members of the Imperial Family of Japan have visited Argentina on a number of occasions, including Prince and Princess Takamado in 1991, Emperor and Empress Akihito in 1997 and Prince and Princess Akishino in 1998. Argentine President Raúl Alfonsín visit Japan in 1986, as did President
Carlos Menem Carlos Saúl Menem (2 July 1930 – 14 February 2021) was an Argentine lawyer and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. Ideologically, he identified as a Peronist and supported economically liberal policies. H ...
in 1990, 1993 and 1998.


See also

*
Asian Argentine Asian Argentine or Asian Argentinian, are Argentine citizens or residents of Asian ancestry. The vast majority trace their ancestry to West Asia, primarily Lebanon and Syria, and East Asia, namely China and Japan. Though there are other communit ...


References


External links


List of Treaties ruling relations Argentina and Japan (Argentine Foreign Ministry)

Argentine embassy in Tokyo



Japanese embassy in Buenos Aires


{{DEFAULTSORT:Argentina-Japan Relations
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
Bilateral relations of Japan