Embassy of Japan in New Zealand
在ニュージーランド日本国大使館
Embassy of Japan is also accredited to Niue|
Cook Islands
Embassy of Japan in New Zealand
在ニュージーランド日本国大使館
Embassy of Japan is also accredited to Niue|
Cook Islands
His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito was born on 23rd February 1960, and is turning 62 this year. His enthronement ceremony took place in October 2019, and since then their majesties have actively engaged in international friendly exchanges.
Their majesties have visited New Zealand in 2002, as Crown Prince and Princess, in the year of 50th anniversary of Japan-New Zealand diplomatic relations. They visited symbolic places of New Zealand such as Te Papa Museum in Wellington, Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, and Milford Sound.
Welcome to our specially setup page for celebrating our Emperor’s Birthday. This year we are going to celebrate this commemoratory day online, introducing our friendly partnership with New Zealand, our economic and cultural ties.
Japan has been a close and longstanding partner with New Zealand. Our diplomatic relations dates back in 1952, which makes this year the 70th anniversary. To celebrate this memorial year, a lot of events are coming up: Japan Festival in June, and Yokai Parade (see below) in the winter.
Turning our eyes to the bilateral relations, not only do Japan and New Zealand share the values such as democracy and the rule of law, we are a partner striving to promote free and open Indo Pacific, through cooperation in security and development field particularly in the Pacific. We are both forerunners of free trade leading the economic architectures like CPTPP and RCEP, and we together tackle the climate change and pursue the sustainable growth through invigorating business activities described below on this page.
What we can show here is a mere fraction of rich and wide-ranged Japan-New Zealand relation, but I hope you find this page informative to you and join us to celebrate our long-lasting friendship.
Japan has a longstanding economic partnership with New Zealand. Japanese businesses and their New Zealand business partners have worked closely together in the primary industries and other areas. In recent years, their efforts have been invigorated by new business areas, such as tackling climate change and pursuing sustainable growth. Here are some examples of these efforts.
Halcyon is a joint venture between Taupo-based Tuaropaki Trust and Japanese leading constructor Obayashi Corporation.
We have developed a green hydrogen production and supply facility and are collaborating on technical innovations which will be key for a hydrogen supply chain in New Zealand.
Our green hydrogen plant uses the latest electrolysis technology to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. Because it uses electricity generated by Tuaropaki Power Company’s geothermal power station, we can claim near zero carbon emissions in terms of production and that the fuel we provide for hydrogen vehicles will produce zero operating emissions.
Halcyon believes that hydrogen has a significant role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Aotearoa/New Zealand. We are also hoping that the experience and expertise acquired through this hydrogen venture will contribute to Japan’s vision to build a hydrogen society.
Green Hydrogen Refuelling station business for fuel cell powered heavy vehicles in New Zealand
Mitsui & Co. has become a strategic investor in Hiringa Refuelling New Zealand Limited ("HRNZ") to develop a network of green hydrogen refuelling stations for fuel cell powered heavy vehicles in New Zealand in Sep 2021.
HRNZ plans to build four fuel stations within 2022, located in logistics hubs in major cities targeting the country's commercial and heavy transport market.
New Zealand has abundant sources of renewable energy from which to produce green hydrogen, and approximately 85% of its electricity now comes from renewables. There is also collaboration between the governments of Japan and New Zealand, which have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on hydrogen.
We look forward to working with Hiringa to create a sustainable 'local production for local consumption' green hydrogen business to address the urgent and complex global challenge of climate change. Click here (PDF)
for more details.
Juken New Zealand Ltd (JNL), a subsidiary of Japan-based parent company WoodOne Ltd, aspires to the global challenge to reduce the effects of climate change.
Our sustainably managed and certified plantation forests in the East Coast and Wairarapa regions help to address climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
In those same locations and Kaitaia, we have four modern, efficient and environmentally clean wood processing mills that provide premium wood solutions for commercial and residential construction in New Zealand and abroad.
JNL uses all parts of the logs (clear sapwood, core wood and waste wood) in our premium wood solutions. One such product is Triboard made in Kaitaia. We take waste wood materials and manufacture a reconstituted panel which continues to store carbon throughout its life cycle.
In an age where wood is becoming increasingly recognised as an effective and natural building material of choice to combat the global effects of climate change.
The Sumitomo Forestry Group engages upstream in sustainable forestry, midstream in
distribution and manufacturing operations, and downstream in housing related operations
both overseas and in Japan. The Group has established a vertically oriented business
centered on wood, and is in the process of expanding horizontally and linking various
locations around the world.
In New Zealand, Tasman Pine Forests Ltd, a plantation company which grows mainly radiate pine, and Nelson Pine Industries Ltd, a wood processing company which produce MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) and LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) from radiata pine logs, has been operating. We would like to introduce the contribution to the mitigation of global warming by highly integrated these two companies. Click here (PDF) for more details.
The Japan Festival Wellington is a large-scale Japanese cultural event attracting around 20,000 visitors, and has continued biennially for more than ten years. While showcasing various Japanese cultural attractions, including exquisite Japanese food, traditional music and amazing performances, the event has also provided networking opportunities for many people, including business professionals, across various areas.
This year we are working closely with the Japan Festival Trust (Organiser), along with the Wellington City Council, to make it larger and more fitting to celebrate 70 years of close diplomatic ties between Japan and New Zealand in 2022. The Festival is a great opportunity for everyone to experience the delights of Japan together!
Japan Festival Wellington Website:
https://japanfestivalwellington.org/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/JapanFestivalWellington/
Have you heard of Japanese yokai? Yokai are traditional supernatural monsters that have permeated every aspect of Japanese culture for hundreds of years through various media forms such as woodprints, children’s games, ghost stories and folktales, anime, and films. These unique, diverse characters and designs have captivated people with their spookiness and mysteriousness, as well as their friendliness and charm.
The Embassy is now preparing for various Yokai -related events, including the Yokai exhibition in August. People are sure to enjoy this unique spiritual world of Japanese aesthetic art. More details to come!
Exhibition leaflet (PDF:9.27MB)
Japanese food is well known in New Zealand and other countries, but what distinguishes Japanese cuisine from others?
In December 2013, Japanese cuisine, “Washoku”, was registered as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage for being "Traditional Dietary Cultures of the Japanese". At that time, Washoku was defined as having four features:
And sake is the best partner for Japanese food. Sake is brewed from rice and water using a combination of rice mould, yeast, and lactic acid bacterium fermentation. The rice and water used is usually locally sourced and the fermentation process is affected by the local microclimate. So much like the marriage of food and wine, sake is naturally the best partner for Japanese food.
You can find Japanese food, food products, and sake in many restaurants and supermarkets here in New Zealand, check them out!
Appointment of Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassadors in New Zealand:
https://www.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_00332.html
The World EXPO 2025 will be held in Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
It themed around “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, and it put concept on “-People’s Living Lab- A laboratory for a future society”.
We think EXPO2025 will be a good occasion to show a sustainable future to everyone around the world.
We are looking forward to participation announcements from many countries and international organizations including New Zealand!
Schedule: 13 April – 13 October in 2025
Venue: Yumeshima, Osaka
Introduction movie by Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QpXMgcltfY
Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition website:
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/
Confirmed Participants for the EXPO 2025：
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ecm/ec/page22e_000942.html
Japan and New Zealand have fostered bonds and friendship in many areas over many decades. These are recent updates in some of the key areas which illustrate our close people-to-people exchanges.
