Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga
在トンガ日本国大使館

Dear Visitors,

Welcome and thank you for visiting the official website of the Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga.

I am honored and privileged to have been appointed as the Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga, especially more so after being warmly welcomed by the people of Tonga. I am reaffirming daily the great responsibility vested in me to work on further developing the good relationship existing between Japan and Tonga.

Japan and Tonga are like neighboring countries connected through the Pacific Ocean. Tonga has been one of the important partners for Japan. The close relationship and exchange of the Imperial Household of Japan and the Royal Household of Tonga has been the foundation of our mutual and cordial friendship. Moreover, the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga has introduced Japan to its People as one of the close neighbors, through Japanese Language and Soroban Education. The Government of Japan, responding to such a friendship, has dispatched JICA volunteers and Japanese experts to the Kingdom in various fields, not limited to Japanese Language and Soroban Education, since the 1970s. The hospitality of the "friendly islands" have enabled Japan to continue such a long-standing tradition of grassroots exchange in the Kingdom. The continuing people-to-people exchanges and trade relationship, in the field of sports and agriculture, have created a strong sense of friendship between the two countries.

Recently, the bilateral relationship between the two countries has made a great deal of development since the Embassy of Japan in Tonga opened in January 2010. His Majesty's government has appointed Her Excellency Ms. Tania Tupou as its first resident ambassador to Japan. The Embassy of Tonga in Japan has started its operation in December 2012.

It is a challenging duty to further develop this already good friendship. Such a good relationship has been established on these tremendous efforts made by our predecessors. I am extremely honored to succeed and carry on these efforts. Meanwhile, the two countries are physically distant and the access between the two countries is not convenient. Our good relationship has largely depended on the local exchange of people from the both countries living in each country. Therefore, it is my wish that more Japanese visit Tonga and enjoy its attractions and I would like to work hard so that more Tongans know about Japan. I will make my best effort to make the People of both countries overcome the physical distance and feel closer through the various activities of the Embassy of Japan in Tonga. In this regard, the Embassy of Japan always welcomes any advice and comments to enrich our activities.

Thank you very much and Malo 'Aupito.