Chile and Japan: A century of friendship

Over 110 years have passed since Chile first established diplomatic ties with Japan. During this century, many milestones have been reached in the close ties between the two nations.

This month this long journey will be commemorated. In fact, this is why President Michelle Bachelet is making a state visit to Japan during Sept 2-5. She will attend a luncheon held in her honor and hosted by the emperor. Then she will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with whom she will celebrate the entry into force of the Japan-Chile FTA.

But how was this friendship, which involves more than just trade, forged?

Beginnings marked by naval relations

The first encounter with the Japanese people can be traced back to 1867. A Japanese ship, in search of new trade routes, landed at Punta Arenas.

Thirty years later, and thanks to the first official contact through the respective consuls in San Francisco, Chile and Japan signed the 1897 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. This accord marked the beginning of bilateral ties.

An anecdote in the history of friendship between our countries involved naval issues. In 1895, the Imperial Navy purchased Chile's illustrious Esmeralda. It was renamed Izumi and is remembered for its role in the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1899, Carlos Morla was sent to Tokyo to as the first diplomatic representative of Chile in the country. A year later had to return to Washington. Luis Izquierdo, who had been successful as consul of Yokohama, was left in charge of the mission. Izquierdo managed to get nitrate duties lifted from Chilean exports to Japan.

The relationships remained at the consulate stage until March 1909. President Pedro Montt received Hioki Eki, the first Japanese ambassador in Chile. Eki expressed his "sincere desire to maintain and promote the good relations that thankfully already exist between the Empire of Japan and the Republic of Chile."

Congress then approved sending Anselmo Hevia Riquelme to Tokyo as the first Chilean Ambassador to Japan. He had an audience with the Emperor in March 1910.

More than just trade

In 1920, the number of Japanese living in Chile was 557, which was more than 1875, when it was thought there were only two Japanese in the entire country.

During the years that followed, ties remained calm and focused primarily on trade and navigation. Moreover, in an attempt to deepen ties, the government of Japan opened the Chilean-Japanese Institute of Culture in 1940. Located in Santiago, it offers classes in language and culture.

However, the friendship between both countries was affected by World War II. President Juan Antonio Rios suspended relations with Axis countries in 1943. Ties worsened in 1945, when Chile declared war on Japan four months before its surrender.

This situation only lasted until 1949, when trade reopened. Moreover, in 1951 Chile signed a Peace Treaty with Japan in San Francisco. In 1952, the two resumed diplomatic relations. In 1957, both governments agreed to re-open their embassies and legations. Then, the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishi Nobusuki, visited Chile in 1959, signaling an end to all the former troubles.

In the years that followed, the Japanese government installed a number of support agencies in our country. The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) arrived in 1963. The Chilean-Japanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce was set up in the 1980s and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 1983.

In 1993, the Chilean Chapter of the 21st Century Committee for the Pacific Rim between Japan and Latin America (Comité Siglo XXI para la Cuenca del Pacifico entre Japón y América Latina) was founded. It was comprised of members from the economic, academic and media sectors. It endeavored to be an instance of free exchange of views aimed at broadening the relationship to include politics, culture and academic life.

State visits between Chile and Japan

Relations with Japan remained limited to trade, until President Patricio Alywin made the first state visit to Japan in 1992. This occasion was also the first meeting of the Japan-Chile Friendship Parliamentarians’ Union.

Since then every Chilean president has made official visits to Japan: Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle in 1994 and 1997, and Ricardo Lagos in 2003.

We have also invited important representatives of the Japanese government to Chile. Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto arrived in 1996. Prince and Princess Hitachi arrived in 1997. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi arrived during the APEC summit of 2004, during which time he announced intentions to explore the feasibility of an FTA with Chile.

During Feb 23-24, 2006, the first round of FTA negotiations was held in Tokyo. On May 19, the second round began; this time in Santiago. On Sept 22, the negotiations ended.

In March 2007, the foreign affairs minister of Chile, Alejandro Foxley, and of Japan, Taro Aso, signed the Japan-Chile FTA.

At present, an estimated 1,143 Japanese live in Chile. 2,600 residents of Japanese descent in total. There are only 371 Chileans in Japan.