Historical Relations

Historical Relations

While the Sultanate of Oman and Japan of today share a unique relationship with one another, until the latter half of the 19th century, little contact had been established between the two nations. Indeed the basis for the strong relations that exist today was largely formulated in the early 20th century and became particularly strong starting in the 1970s.

While limited, there are examples of pre-modern cultural and human exchange. For example the “Wakan Sansai Zue,” an Edo era encyclopedia, had entries referring to frankincense, whaling and the cities of Sohar and Mirbat. Also Petro Kasui Kibe, a 17th century Japanese Christian and Jesuit priest, was said to be the first Japanese national to visit Oman in 1619.

However, once we enter the modern history period, these relations started to build at a more rapid pace. Japan, which had endured over 250 years of self-imposed isolation, was forced to end its isolation policy in the late 19th century. After Historical Relations a new government was formed in 1868 with the Emperor Meiji installed as its state head, various government missions were sent throughout the world to gather knowledge and knowhow, and push Japan into becoming a modern nation state. In 1880, Nobuyoshi Furukawa, a Captain of Engineers of the Japanese army, briefly toured the city of Muscat. Several days later, the Japanese warship “Hiei” commanded by Sukeyuki Ito entered Muscat Bay as the first ever Japanese maritime vessel. Over the next several years, there were other examples of human exchange with various Japanese nationals visiting or passing through Oman.

In 1924, Shigetaka Shiga, an important intellectual of the Meiji era, visited Oman. This was considered a major turning point in the modern relations between the two nations. Arriving unannounced in order to propose closer relations between the two countries, Shigetaka Shiga was nonetheless given an audience by His Majesty Sultan Taimur bin Faisal Al Said. Developing an interest in Japan following Shiga’s visit, Sultan Taimur eventually visited Japan in 1936 following his abdication, lived in Kobe for several years and even married a Japanese woman. Several decades later in 1963, late-His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said visited Japan on his world tour, and in 1971 Japan formally recognized Oman and established its diplomatic relations with the nation in 1972. Since that time, there have been many other notable visits from both nations including the 1994 visit of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako and the 1997 visit of His Highness Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers.

It was against this historical backdrop that the present-day cultural, human and economic exchanges between the two nations were established.