Outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Qatar, Satoshi Maeda, spoke at a press conference earlier this month to cap off his tenure.

Japan’s outgoing ambassador to Qatar Satoshi Maeda said the East Asian country is looking to boost people-to-people relations with Qatar as the next step, following the recent strengthening of trade relations between the two nations.

Maeda said the relationship between the two countries, established in 1972, has now elevated to a “strategic” level, opening ways to pursue other forms of collaboration in energy, business, and cultural exchange.

“In recent years, the bilateral relationship has expanded beyond energy to encompass a wide range of areas, including foreign policy, economic investment, security, education, and culture,” Maeda, who will be heading to Japan after completing his tenure, said.

Japan’s exports to Qatar in 2023 reached the highest figures in more than 15 years, with automobiles, car parts, and steel pipes used in gas fields comprising more than two-thirds of the total exports.

On the flip side, Japan has been one of the biggest importers of Qatar’s liquified natural gas (LNG) and has been actively involved in the construction of extraction plants across the Gulf nation since 1990.

Such exchanges are expected to grow with the expansion of Qatar’s North Field, which remains one of the largest non-associated natural gas fields in the world.

Doha to hold third Qatar-Japan strategic dialogue

The outgoing envoy confirmed Doha as the host city of the third strategic dialogue between Japan and Qatar, without specifying the start date.

“The dialogue aims to build upon the strong strategic partnership established between Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and His Highness Sheikh Tamim in July 2023,” the ambassador added.

The first strategic dialogue was held between the foreign ministers during Sheikh Tamim’s visit to Japan in January 2019.

Kishida visited Qatar in 2023, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The Japanese Prime Minister had said he was keen on transforming “possibilities into realities over the next five decades” upon his arrival in Doha, calling Qatar a significant ally.

Japan appreciative of Qatar’s mediation efforts

In his statement at a press conference on November 5, Maeda said Japan is appreciative of Qatar’s mediation efforts and “strongly supports” a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

“We understand that negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages are at a critical stage, and the international community must urge both Hamas and Israel to commit to the negotiation process,” he said.

Qatar has since said its diplomatic efforts have been stalled at present, denying claims of its withdrawal from the process. It reiterated that the Gulf country will resume only if Israel and Hamas “show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war”.

Japan supports a two-state solution and is in favour of medium to long-term peace and stability in the Middle East, he went on to say.

“Japan will continue to engage in diplomatic efforts, based on its relations with the countries in the region and as a member of the G7 and of the UN Security Council, and in close coordination with other countries, toward calming the situation as soon as possible,” Maeda added.

Anime and manga can deepen ties

The Japanese envoy said that the deepening of economic and political ties, underpinned by “mutual interests and joint priorities” will translate into more initiatives at the community level between the two countries.

“While we aim to continue the existing collaborations […] We constantly strive at the same time to find new areas to deepen the understanding of Japan between the people of Qatar,” he said.

The emergence of quality Japan-themed cafes and restaurants as well as the growing interest in anime and manga – one of Japan’s largest cultural exports in the world – has already marked the start, he said.

“Promoting the anime and manga Culture in Qatar and exploring potential collaborations in hosting events to attract young audiences and animation production is one of the areas to focus on,” he added.

During his tenure, Maeda also saw Japan issue a visa waiver for Qatari nationals and increase the number of flights between the two countries.

He said the visa waiver as well as the introduction of several educational exchanges have significantly helped the Qatari population to expose themselves to Japanese culture.