- (1) Diplomatic and Political Relations
- Japan and Portugal established their diplomatic relations officially in 1860, when the Treaty of Peace, Amity and Trade was signed between two countries, which was followed by the ratification of the Treaty in 1862. The first Legation of Japan, which had a jurisdiction over Portugal and France, was established for the first time in Lisbon on March 24th in 1880. Mr. Samejima was appointed the first Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Portugal on the same day.
During the World War II Portugal was one of the important information footholds of Japan in Europe, since Portugal maintained neutrality in this war. However, the relations between Japan and Portugal became worse in 1942, because of the Japanese occupation in East Timor and its control in Macao. Japan conceded defeat on August 15th in 1945 by accepting the Potsdam Declaration and surrendered to the Allied Powers on September 2nd. Japan became occupied by the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers (GHQ) and the diplomatic relations between Japan and Portugal were made broken off until April 1952, when the San Francisco Treaty came into effect. After Japan restored its sovereignty in 1952, the diplomatic relations between two countries were reestablished on October 22nd 1953. Portugal inaugurated its Legation in Japan on the same day and Japan established the Legation in Portugal on March 15th in 1954. The Portuguese Legation was raised to the status of the Embassy on October 5th in 1958 and the Japanese Embassy was done on April 1st in 1959.
In 1984 His Excellency the then Prime Minister Mario Soares visited Japan for the first time as a guest of the state. In 1985 Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince Akihito and the Crown Princess Michiko (the present Emperor and Empress) visited Portugal. In May 1998 Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Portugal unofficially.
- (2) Exchange of Officials
- Japanese Officials' Visits to Portugal
| 1981.03 |
Investment Study Mission |
| 1985.02 |
Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko (the present Emperor and Empress) |
| 1988.04 |
Investment Study Mission |
| 1990.03 |
Former Prime Minister, Mr. Fukuda |
| 1990.09 |
Former Prime Minister, Mr. Takeshita |
| 1990.09 |
Economic Mission |
| 1992.03 |
Second Delegation to Europe of the Federation of Economic Organizations |
| 1993.05 |
Their Imperial Highnesses the Prince and Princess Takamado |
| 1994.09 |
Minister of Transport, Mr. Kamei |
| 1994.09 |
Former Prime Minister, Mr. Kaifu |
| 1994.10 |
Former Prime Minister, Mr. Takeshita |
| 1997.05 |
Ex-Vice-Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Obuchi (the present Prime Minister) |
| 1997.05 |
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Koumura |
| 1997.07 |
Delegation of the Committee of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the House of Representatives |
| 1997.07 |
Vice-President of the House of Representatives, Mr. Watanabe |
| 1997.10 |
Delegation of the Japan Committee for Economic Development |
| 1998.05 |
Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko |
| 1999.01 |
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Takemi |
| 1999.08 |
Minister of Construction, Mr. Sekiya |
Portuguese Officials' Visits to Japan
| 1981.10 |
Investment Promotion Mission |
| 1981.10 |
President of Associação de Amizade Portugal-Japão, Mr. Martins |
| 1982.04 |
Mayor of Lisbon, Mr. Abecassis |
| 1982.09 |
State Secretary for Finance, Mr. Marques |
| 1982.10 |
Governor of the Bank of Portugal, Mr. Jacinto Nunes |
| 1982.11 |
State Secretary for Tourism, Mr. Carvalho |
| 1983.02 |
Investment Promotion Mission |
| 1983.06 |
Former Prime Minister, Ms Maria de Lurdes Pintasilgo |
| 1984.04 |
Minister of Finance, Mr. Lopes |
| 1984.06 |
Prime Minister, Mr. Mario Soares |
| 1988.09 |
Vice President of the Parliament, Ms Aguiar |
| 1989.02 |
President of the Portuguese Republic, Mr. Mario Soares and Vice Prime Minister, Mr. Melo |
| 1989.03 |
Minister of Commerce and Tourism, Mr. Amaral and State Secretary for Trade, Mr. Costa |
| 1989.10 |
State Secretary for Tourism, Mr. Cunha |
| 1989.11 |
Minister of Industry and Energy, Mr. Amaral |
| 1989.11 |
State Secretary for Trade, Mr. Costa |
| 1990.05 |
State Secretary for Fishery, Mr. Godinho |
| 1990.05 |
State Secretary for Trade, Mr. Neto da Silva |
| 1990.09 |
Prime Minister, Mr. Cavaco Silva and Minister of Commerce and Tourism, Mr. Faria Oliveira |
| 1990.11 |
President of the Portuguese Republic, Mr. Mario Soares |
| 1991.03 |
State Secretary for EC, Mr. Martins |
| 1991.10 |
Delegation of ICEP |
| 1991.12 |
The Japan EC Troika Political Directors Meeting |
| 1992.04 |
State Secretary for Commerce and Tourism, Mr. Antonio Sousa |
| 1993.10 |
President of the Portuguese Republic, Mr. Mario Soares and Mrs. Soares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Durão Barroso and Minister of Commerce and Tourism, Mr. Faria Oliveira |
| 1995.12 |
President of the Portuguese Republic, Mr. Mario Soares |
| 1997.06 |
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jaime Gama |
| 1997.09 |
Minister of Economy, Mr. Augusto Mateus |
| 1998.10 |
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Luis Amado |
- (3) Economic Relations
- Japan and Portugal do not have very close relations with each other from economic point of view. The amount of trade between two countries amounts to only 147 billion yen. In other words, from the standpoint of Japan the amount of trade with Portugal accounts for 0.2% in the area of export and for 0.1% in that of import of the total amount in the year 1998. On the other hand, the amount of trade of Portugal with Japan makes up 2.2% in import and 0.8% in export of the total amount (1997).
| Table 1. |
| The Amount of Trade of Japan with Portugal |
| Year |
Export to Portugal |
Import from Portugal |
Balance |
| 1986 |
259 |
83 |
176 |
| 1987 |
437 |
86 |
350 |
| 1988 |
491 |
103 |
388 |
| 1989 |
484 |
166 |
318 |
| 1990 |
560 |
215 |
345 |
| 1991 |
667 |
182 |
485 |
| 1992 |
805 |
188 |
617 |
| 1993 |
779 |
171 |
608 |
| 1994 |
738 |
185 |
553 |
| 1995 |
726 |
223 |
503 |
| 1996 |
755 |
190 |
565 |
The figures in table are given in million US dollars.
Source: Japanese Ministry of Finance
The principle items exported to Portugal are car, truck, diesel engine, motorcycle, parts for automobile, and so forth. The item of car alone reaches as many as 38% of the entire export volume. If you turn your eyes to the items imported from Portugal, you will find leather shoes (20% of the total amount), chemical wood pulp (about 15%) and cork (about 13%) as principle items imported. In addition, some frozen fish and pureed tomatoes are also imported to Japan.
Portugal used to have a lot of items intended for import restriction from Japan. There were 69 restricted items just before Portugal was affiliated with the European Community. After having been the member state of the EC, however, Portugal reduced the number of them to 47. Since then the Portuguese government started to accept the request of the government of Japan to phase the restriction, which resulted in the complete abolishment of restriction in 1994.
With regard to investment, although the Portuguese government wants Japanese manufacturing enterprises in Portugal, many Japanese enterprises seem to think that there is not much to be gained by investing in Portugal because of the relatively higher labor costs, etc. Recent trend shows that medium and smaller sized enterprises rather than big ones are engaged in investment in Portugal. The amount of investment from Japan accounts for no more than 0.5% of the total amount of direct investment to Portugal from all over the world.
At present there are 4 business companies, 1 bank, approximately 20 manufacturing enterprises, some wholesalers and service industries advancing into Portugal.
| Table 2 |
| Direct Investment from Japan to Portugal |
| Fiscal Year |
No. of Investment |
Amount (million US dollar) |
| 1981 |
1 |
2 |
| 1982 |
1 |
4 |
| 1983 |
1 |
4 |
| 1984 |
2 |
0.4 |
| 1985 |
1 |
0.2 |
| 1986 |
1 |
3 |
| 1987 |
2 |
6 |
| 1988 |
4 |
7 |
| 1989 |
10 |
74 |
| 1990 |
3 |
68 |
| 1991 |
3 |
10 |
| 1992 |
5 |
12 |
| 1993 |
7 |
57 |
| 1994 |
1 |
2 |
| 1995 |
1 |
5 |
| 1996 |
1 |
5 |
| Source: Japanese Ministry of Finance |
- (4) Cultural Relations
- More than 450 years have passed since the Japanese met at the first time the people from Europe, more precisely, from Portugal. After 1543, when three Portuguese drifted ashore to the island of Tanegashima in Japan, a lot of things were introduced and brought into Japan mainly by the Portuguese. To take some examples, firearm was introduced into Japan in the very first arrival of the Portuguese in 1543, Christianity was first introduced by São Francisco Xavier, Basque Jesuit who was supported in his foreign missions by the Portuguese Royal Household, and furthermore printing machine and many musical instruments of occidental origin were brought by 'Tensho Mission to Europe' constituted by 4 Japanese adolescents, when they returned to Japan in 1590 after their visits to Portugal, Spain and Italy. In addition, it is well known that there are a lot of words of Portuguese origin in Japanese language that we still use in our daily lives. There are too many words to mention every one of them, but botan (botão), kappa (capa), koppu (copo), orugan (orgão), tabako (tabaco), bisuketto (biscoito), pan (pão), yoroppa (europa) are some of them. As you can see from the facts mentioned above, the Portuguese had the great influence upon Japan at that time.
In spite of the first great step made toward active cultural exchanges between both countries, however, Japan started in the first place to exclude Christianity, one of the things introduced into Japan by the Portuguese, because of various reasons. They put a law to forbid Christianity into force in 1614, which lead to the worse relations between Japan and Portugal. In 1639 the Tokugawa Shogunate closed the door to foreigners except the Dutch, which means the end of relations and exchanges between Japan and Portugal.
It was not until 1860 that Japan restored its relation with Portugal. Though the diplomatic relations were reestablished between both countries, the fact is that the exchanges and trades that they had as many as 2 centuries ago was never restored. Unfortunately, there have not been active cultural exchanges between Japan and Portugal except those made by a few outstanding figures such as Wenceslau de Moraes and Kazuo Dan. It is quite lamentable that when we talk about our relations between both countries, we always need to refer to the past experiences made by our respective ancestors. It is also quite regrettable that we do not have many things to share and talk about nowadays in this modern era and that a lot of Portuguese are not familiar with Japan and vice versa.
Though still small in number, there have been more and more Japanese and Portuguese people becoming interested in each other. In Japan, there are not a few young people engaged in the study of Portugal and Portuguese language. In 1998 more than 60 Japanese students were here in Portugal to study in some universities or higher education institutes. On the other hand, here in Portugal we have received a lot of inquiries recently about Japan in general, Japanese culture, the place in which they can learn Japanese language, and so on.
With a view to keeping up with this recent trend and to furthering more active relations between the Japanese and Portuguese, the Embassy of Japan in Portugal is promoting a variety of programs related to Japan for the Portuguese people. For instance, we have 'Study of Japan Program - Essay Contest - (Visita de Estudo ao Japão - Concurso de Ensaio -)', which gives an opportunity for the young European people to visit and understand Japan, and 'Japanese Government Scholarship (Bolsa de Estudo do Governo Japonês)', which grants Portuguese students with a bachelor's degree (licenciatura) a scholarship for 2 years or 1 year and a half study in Japan. Another example is 'Secondary School Educators' Study Tour Program (under the auspices of Japan Foundation)'. This is a program for the Portuguese secondary school teachers and educational administrators to travel to Japan and call at Japanese educational facilities. We also have 'JET program' whose objective is to dispatch Portuguese people to the Japanese local cities as a coordinator of international exchanges. We are also taking positive measures to invite Japanese persons in an artistic career to Portugal and to visit Portuguese schools to get the Portuguese children and adolescents familiar with Japan and the Japanese people.
We believe that it is not merely Embassy's official programs but your own grass-root and voluntary activities that promote closer and more friendly and active relations between both countries. Now is the time for you to start with any activity to do your own cultural exchanges with the Japanese people. We do not have any doubt that through a lot of efforts to create channels of exchanges with each other we will mark a new epoch of 're-encounter' between Japan and Portugal one day in the near future.
- Useful Information
- a) Sister Cities Affiliation
-
| · |
Tokushima-Ken Tokushima-Shi |
Leiria |
October 1969 |
| · |
Nagasaki-Ken Nagasaki-Shi |
Porto |
May 1978 |
| · |
Ôita-ken Ôita-Shi |
Aveiro |
October 1978 |
| · |
Shizuoka-Ken Atami-Shi |
Cascais |
July 1990 |
| · |
Kagoshima-Ken Nishi-no-omote-Shi |
Vila do Bispo |
October 1993 |
| · |
Shiga-Ken Shigaraki-Chou |
Viana do Castelo |
December 1993 |
| · |
Nagasaki-ken Ohmura-shi |
Sintra |
August 1997 |
- b) Organizations Related to Japan
-
| · |
The Japan - Portugal Society (Sociedade Luso-Nipónica) |
|
| Address: |
c/o Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Corporate Planning Div.
1-2-1 Ohtemachi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 100-0004 Japan |
|
|
Tel: +81-3-3285-7538 |
|
Fax: +81-3-3285-9552 |
|
E-mail: |
|
Home Page: |
|
| Membership: |
private members 160
corporate members 37 |
|
-
-
| · |
Tokushima Nihon Portugal Kyoukai |
|
| Address: |
c/o Tokushima Shinbunsha Jigyou-bu
2-5 Naka-tokushima-cho Tokushima-shi 770-8648 |
|
|
Tel: +81-88-655-7335 / 7331 |
|
Fax: +81-88-626-1885 |
|
E-mail: |
|
Home Page: http://www.tokugin.co.jp/porutogaru/ (in Japanese) |
|
Membership: about 140 people |
-
| · |
Tanegashima Nihon Portugal Kyoukai |
|
| Address: |
c/o City Hall of Nishi-no-omote
7612 Nishi-no-omote Nishi-no-omote-Shi 891-31 Japan |
|
|
Tel: +81-997-22-1111 |
|
Fax: +81-997-22-0295 |
|
E-mail: |
|
Home Page: |
|
Membership: about 80 people |
-
| · |
Oita Nihon Portugal Kyoukai |
|
| Address: |
c/o City Hall of Oita-Shi
2-31 Niage-Machi Oita-shi 870-8504 Japan |
|
|
Tel: +81-975-34-6111 |
|
Fax: +81-975-36-4044 |
|
E-mail: oitasisc@oec-net.or.jp |
|
Home Page: |
|
Membership: private members 75 |
-
| · |
Associação de Amizade Portugal-Japão |
|
| Address: |
Rua Artilharia 1, 104 - 5 Esq.
Lisboa Portugal |
|
|
Tel: +351-21- 388-9632 / 388-8817 |
|
Fax: +351-21-385-7832 |
|
E-mail: |
|
Home Page: |
|
Mambership: about 350 people |
- c) Japan and Japanese Language Studies
-
| · |
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto Oriental |
|
Address: Av. de Berna, 26-C 1000 Lisboa Portugal |
|
Tel: +351-21-793-3519 |
|
Fax: +351-21-797-7759 |
-
| · |
Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao SOCIUS |
|
Address: R. Miguel Lupi,20 1200 Lisboa Portugal |
|
Tel: +351-21-392-5800 |
|
Fax: +351-21-397-4153 |
|
E-mail: jmef@iseg.utl.pt |
-
| · |
Universidade do Minho Instituto de Letras e Ciencias Humanas |
|
Address: Campus de Gualtar 4709 Braga Codex Portugal |
|
Tel: +351-253-604100 (ext. 5177) |
|
Fax: +351-253-604197 |
| · |
Universidade Portucalense |
|
Address: Rua António Bernardino de Almeida, 541-619 4200 Porto |
|
Tel: +351-22-557-0200 |
|
Fax: +351-22-557-0287 |
| · |
Centro de Artes Orientais |
|
Address: Largo Soeiro Pereira Gomes, 2. 1-Esq. 2800-523 Almada |
|
Tel: +351-21-259-6714 |
| · |
C.E.F.-Centro de Estudos e Formaçáo |
|
Praça Duque de Terceira, 4.2-Dto. 1200 Lisboa |
|
Tel: +351-21-324-0264 |
|
Fax: +351-21-347-8723 |
| · |
Escola Poliglota |
|
Tel: +351-239-834-631 |
|
Fax: +351-239-834-630 |
- d) Japan Foundation Support Programs
-
| · |
Support program for the Japanese language courses in overseas |
| · |
Support program for Japanese studies |
| · |
Art-related exchange program |
| · |
Support program for international conference |
| · |
Media exchange program |
| · |
Exchange of persons program, etc. |
The deadline for applications is usually on the first weekday of December each year. For more information please contact the Japan Foundation office or the cultural section of the Japanese Embassy in your country.
- e) Scholarship for Study in Japan and others
-
| · |
Japanese Government Scholarship (Research Student) for the year 2001
The Monbusho (Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Government of Japan) offers scholarship to foreign students who wish to study at Japanese universities as research students.
Fields of Study:
Humanities and Social Sciences -
Literature, History, Aesthetics, Law, Politics, Economics, Commerce, Pedagogy, Psychology, Sociology, Music, Fine Arts, etc.
Natural Sciences -
Pure Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Fisheries, Pharmacology, Medicine, Dentistry, Home Economics, etc.
Qualifications:
| 1) |
Nationality:
Applicants must be nationals of the country to which the scholarships are offered. |
| 2) |
Age:
Applicants must be under 35 years of age as of April 1, 2001. |
| 3) |
Academic Background:
Applicants must be university or college graduates. (Those who will graduate from a university or college by March or September 2001 may also apply.) |
| 4) |
Study Area:
The study area must be in the same field as the applicant has studied (or is now studying) or a related one. |
| 5) |
Japanese Language:
Applicants must (be willing to) study the Japanese language and (to) receive instruction in Japanese. |
| 6) |
Health:
Applicants must have no infectious diseases. In view of expected psychological burden due to cultural and environmental changes, mental as well as physical health is an essential prerequisite. |
| 7) |
Arrival in Japan:
Applicants must be able to leave for and arrive in Japan between the 1st and the 7th of April 2001 or between the 1st and 7th of October 2001. |
| 8) |
Other:
Applicants are requested to contact a professor of the Japanese university where he / she wishes to study and obtain a letter of acceptance. |
Term of Scholarship:
| Applicants may choose one of the following two categories. |
| 1) |
Two years from April 2001 to March 2003 for those who wish to study as non-degree students. |
| 2) |
One year and a half from October 2001 to March 2003 for those who wish to study as non-degree students. |
Deadline:
Applicants with Portuguese nationality must submit the requested documents to the cultural section of the Japanese Embassy in Portugal by August 24th, 2000.
* For more detailed information please contact the cultural section of the Japanese Embassy in Portugal.
Cultural Section
| Office Hours: |
09:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:00 (Monday-Friday) |
| Address: |
Av. da Liberdade, 245-6
1269-033 Lisboa Portugal |
| Tel: |
21-311-0560 (domestic call)
+351-21- 311-0560 (international call) |
| Fax: |
21-354-3975 (domestic call)
+351-21-354-3975 (international call) |
| E-mail: |
bunka@ip.pt |
|
-
| · |
Study of Japan Program-Essay Contest-
(Visita de Estudo ao Japão-Concurso de Ensaio)
Title of Essay for the year 2000
"What can your country learn from Japan, and what Japan can learn from your country? Discuss in 2000 to 3000 words, using specific examples to illustrate your points."
Please submit your essay to the Japanese Embassy in Portugal by March 31, 2000. For more detailed information (e.g. how to apply) please contact the cultural section of the Japanese Embassy in Portugal.
Cultural Section
| Office Hours: |
09:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:00 (Monday-Friday) |
| Address: |
Av. Da Liberdade, 245-6
1269-033 Lisboa Portugal |
| Tel: |
21-311-0560 (domestic call)
+351-21-311-.0560 (international call) |
| Fax: |
21-354-3975 (domestic call)
+351-21-354-3975 (international call) |
| E-mail: |
bunka@ip.pt |
Title of Essay for the past 3 years:
| 1999 - |
"How do you see Japan as a country and as a society? Describe your views and impressions of Japan as related to your specific interest." |
| 1998 - |
"Current relations between Japan and your country, and their prospect in the 21st century." |
| 1997 - |
"What measures should be taken to deepen the mutual understanding and to strengthen the relation between Japan and your country toward the 21st century?" |
Content of the Study Tour to Japan (Example)
| 1) |
Lectures on Politics, Economics, Culture, Diplomacy and Relations between Japan and Europe |
| 2) |
Field trip to political, economic and cultural sites |
| 3) |
Discussion with Japanese University Students |
| 4) |
Trip to local cities (Kyoto, Nara) |
| 5) |
Home stay program (Hiroshima) |
Term of Study Tour (Example)
| 1st group-the last fifteen days of August |
| 2nd group-the first fifteen days of September |
| 3rd group-the last fifteen days of September |
|
- f) Principal Indicators
-
| · |
Capital city: Tokyo |
| · |
Population: 125 million 864 thousand (1996)
| Average Annual Growth Rate: |
0.4% (1990-1995) |
| Population Density: |
337 people / km2 (1995) |
| Number of Live Births: |
1 million 187 thousand (1995) |
| Crude Birth Rate: |
9.6 (1995) |
| Total Fertility Rate: |
1.42 (1995) |
| Number of Deaths: |
922 thousand (1995) |
| Number of Infant Deaths*: |
5,054 (1995) |
| Life Expectancy at Birth (F): |
82.84 (1995) |
| Life Expectancy at Birth (M): |
76.36 (1995) |
| Number of Marriages: |
792 thousand (1995) |
| Number of Divorces: |
199 thousand (1995) |
| |
|
| GNP per Capita: |
41,383 US dollars (1995) |
| GDP per Capita: |
36,521 US dollars (1996) |
| Real Economic Growth Rate |
0.8% (1997) |
|
- * The number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age.
Source: "Japan Statistics -JIN Japan Information Network" Overseas Public Relations Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
