RIYADH: In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah’s historic district, a special event at Souq Al-Mawsim marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Japan.
The celebration brought together Najdi and Japanese heritage, highlighting the longstanding ties between the two nations, according to Al-Eqtisadiah.
These relations, however, did not begin only 70 years ago; their roots stretch back over a century, when the Japanese pilgrim Yamaoka Kotaro, made his first visit to perform Hajj, inspiring others through the accounts he recorded in his books.
Although Kotaro’s journey was religious in nature, it laid the foundation for communication between the two countries, long before formal diplomatic relations were established.
Over the years, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Japan has expanded to encompass broader economic ties through a long trajectory of cooperation. In the first four months of 2024, bilateral trade reached approximately $9.3 billion.
