Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru hosted a Ramadan Iftar on Friday in Tokyo, a gathering that brought together around 45 Japan-based ambassadors and heads of Islamic missions from a diverse range of Muslim countries. The event was also graced by the presence of the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, HAYASHI Yoshimasa, and some high-ranking Japanese officials.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Ishiba welcomed his “precious friends” from various Muslim countries and expressed his hopes that this Iftar, a traditional Islamic event marking the end of the day’s fast during Ramadan, would serve as an opportunity to deepen Japan’s bonds of trust and friendship with them further. 

As the international community is at a historic turning point, Ishiba said, strengthening coordination between Japan and Muslim countries is more important than ever. “Today, there is division and confrontation over the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as over responses to increasingly serious global issues.”

He noted that “in the Middle East, the situation continues to be intense, and especially in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation remains extremely dark.” Prime Minister Ishiba then expressed his commitment to proactively contribute to the realization of a two-state solution, a beacon of hope for peace and security in the region. 

Japan has been developing amicable relations with many countries worldwide, including Muslim nations; the Japanese Prime Minister said, “For my 1st overseas visit, after assuming the role of Prime Minister,  I visited Malaysia and Indonesia, where the Muslim population is in the majority. Japan and the Muslim community had shared values that could lead the world towards cooperation, not division and confrontation,” Ishiba said. 

Promoting Osaka Expo 2025 took center stage in Prime Minister Ishiba’s speech as he introduced “Myakumyaku,” the official logo of the Expo, and expressed his hope that many countries would participate, igniting excitement for this global event. The Osaka Expo 2025 is a significant platform for Japan to engage with the international community and strengthen its diplomatic relations, and the Prime Minister’s emphasis on its promotion underscores its importance in Japan’s international engagement.

Ishiba concluded his Ramada speech by saying that, with less than 30 days to go before the opening of the Osaka Kansai Expo, “I ask that you encourage your friends and your people to come to the Expo.”

According to the Foreign Ministry, the list of Muslim representatives who participated included Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

Saudi Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Faisal Binzagr was among those attending the event and emphasized the importance of building bridges.

“It was a beautiful occasion where we could appreciate together the spirit of Ramadan and be part of a gathering that reflects the mutual respect shared between Japan and the Muslim world,” he said. “At a time of challenging global change, it is important to affirm bridges of understanding and respect across humanity.”

The Ambassador thanked the organizers and said that to bring about peace and prosperity for all, it was important to seek a deeper alignment on universal values.