Japan’s Sports Diplomacy Enhancement extends support to Tonga in Football
2026/7/22
On 16 July 2026, the Embassy of Japan in Tonga handed over a donation of Football equipment, on behalf of the Japan Football Association, to the Tonga Football Association. This donation included footballs, cleats and uniforms.
Ambassador Inagaki stressed that sports play a vital role in the healthy development of youth and expressed his hope that, just as people-to-people exchanges are currently progressing between the two countries in rugby, similar exchanges among young people would also advance in football in the future.
Mr. Lui 'Aho, CEO of the Tonga Football Association, expressed his deep gratitude for Japan’s dispatch of JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteer to the association, as well as for this latest donation of football equipment, and emphasized the role Japan plays in the development of football in Tonga.
Ambassador Inagaki stressed that sports play a vital role in the healthy development of youth and expressed his hope that, just as people-to-people exchanges are currently progressing between the two countries in rugby, similar exchanges among young people would also advance in football in the future.
Mr. Lui 'Aho, CEO of the Tonga Football Association, expressed his deep gratitude for Japan’s dispatch of JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteer to the association, as well as for this latest donation of football equipment, and emphasized the role Japan plays in the development of football in Tonga.