Message from Ambassador
2025/2/27
Your Excellency PCS Musalia Mudavadi, Dr. Kalonzo Musyoka, Leader of Wiper Democratic Party, honourable Senators, honourable MPs, Permanent Secretaries, Ambassadors, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you very much for joining us today, despite your busy schedule and despite the last-minute change of the time. I am struck and rejoice with the high turnout, with much appreciation. I am particularly honoured to have your presence, Your Excellency Mudavadi.
His Majesty Naruhito, Emperor of Japan, had his 65th birthday on 23rd of this month. It is my special pleasure to celebrate his birthday together with you and all the guests. In the seventh year of his reign, His Majesty is a seasoned monarch of the ancient nation.
Your Excellency,
In my humble view, His Majesty has special attachment to Kenya. For me, the following three facts evidently illuminate it; First, back in 2010, when he was the Crown Prince, His Majesty chose Kenya as a destination for his first Sub-Saharan African visit. Second, His Majesty asked me to convey his message to President Ruto that he was pleased to meet the President during his visit to Japan in February last year. Third and very important, indeed during President Ruto’s visit, at the State Luncheon with him as the guest of honour, His Majesty let his beloved daughter, Princess Aiko, greet the President in Kiswahili. The deep sympathy and affection with Kenya are not only His Majesty’s, but they are broadly and intimately shared by the Japanese public.
Your Excellency,
Kenya and Japan are inextricable like-minded partners. On 5th of December last year, I listened to your lecture on the 60 years path of the Kenyan diplomacy at the Nairobi University. In it, you emphasized three key principles of Kenyan diplomacy, namely liberalism, multilateralism and Pan-Africanism. On liberalism, both Kenya and Japan are strongly committed to the rule-based international order, including Free and Open Indo-Pacific. On multilateralism, Kenya and Japan are firm upholders of the WTO and its liberal trade principles, and active proponents of the UN Security Council reform. On Pan-Africanism, Japan is the original initiator of the economic conference with the participation of the whole African continent, that began with the first TICAD in 1993, and Kenya, for the first time as an African country, hosted TICAD leaders conference in 2016 here in Nairobi. In the same regard, Japan pays the highest respects for Kanya’s role in promoting peace in East Africa. Liberalism, multilateralism and Pan-Africanism – these are the basis of our partnership, and they will continue to be so.
Your Excellency,
Exactly upon that basis, our two nations have dramatically strengthened the relationship in the past two years, through the mutual visits by the two leaders and the visit by yourself to Japan, which advanced our cooperation in trade, investment, defence, health, ICT and other areas greatly. This year, Kenya’s national day at Osaka Expo in June and TICAD 9 in August will give a further big push to the cooperation.
Your Excellency,
Our cooperation in investment is most phenomenal. The number of the Japanese businesses in Kenya now exceeds 120. Since from 2011 the number has been in secular increasing trend and quadrupled, all contributing to the Kenyan economic growth and employment. The modernization of Mombasa Port and the construction of Dongo Kundu SEZ testify Japan’s determination to walk together with Kenya.
Your Excellency,
We keep welcoming enthusiastic Japanese businesses to Kenya, one after another. I call them “hidden gems glowing,” because their operations are still small, quietly serve for the local and national economy in inconspicuous ways, but brilliantly shine in their expertise. Today, I would like to introduce to you a few. Ebara Pumps specializes in water pumps. The enormous challenge in water in Kenya makes the potential of their contribution as enormous. CC Innovation is a subsidiary of Hokkoku Banking and provides consultancy and lending for investors. So far, they are the only Japanese bank on shore of Kenya. Hitachi Channel Solutions supplies ATMs to banking networks. Even in our age of M-pesa, ATMs are very necessary infrastructure for the everyday life of the Kenyan citizens. Uni Charm, who sells sanitary napkins for women in Kenya, switched the production site from Egypt to Kenya just last month, to contribute more for women’s empowerment. The four companies have their showcase booths in the garden. Please, see, touch and feel their services yourself and be convinced with their benefit for the Kenyan economy. But the four gems are only examples. All over the Kenyan economy, many more gems are glowing secretly every day.
Your Excellency,
Kenyan research and development have climbed up to the global competitive stage, as illustrated by the medical research at KEMRI, geothermal power generation in Olkaria and numerous digital innovations by Kenyan startups. Kenya should take pride, and Japan will continue to go along with the Kenyan journey for global excellence.
Your Excellency,
Last month, my government established its Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Nairobi. This elevation of Japan’s representation at UNON reflects the growing importance Japan attaches to UNEP, UN-Habitat and other UN organizations which reside at UNON, the growing functions of UNON as a UN HQs and the growing intensity with which Japan interacts with regional and country offices of UN organizations in Nairobi. But equally, it is the reflection of Japan’s appreciation of how much Kenya commits to the principle of multilateralism and how much Kenya treasures its hosting of UNON at Nairobi. We pay high respect.
Your Excellency,
I always say that both the people of Japan and Kenya are optimistic, have open mind to new things, respect our tradition, work hard, and believe in ourselves. By thinking together, discussing together, and acting together, we learn from each other, inspire each other. That is why the friendship of Kenya and Japan is long. It has been long in the past, it will be long in the future. At the present time, the warm and intimate feeling for, and deep respect of, each other stay long in our hearts and minds.
Your Excellency,
That is the foundation of our bilateral relations. A very solid foundation. His Majesty has turned 65, Your Excellency has turned 64, the Republic has turned 61, and I am going to be 61 in two months. All of us walk together. My chef, Yujiro Sakai, and his cooking assistant, Pascal, have prepared the food today, and Embassy’s staff have set up the venue. Both the Japanese cooking and sake brewing have been inscribed as World Intangible Heritage of UNESCO, and I hope that you will enjoy them today. The recorded national anthems were played by my wife, Yuka, who is a professional composer in classical music, with her own arrangement. These are the humble contributions by us to welcome you and all the guests with the greatest privilege and pleasure.
Thank you very much, and asanteni sana.
Thank you very much for joining us today, despite your busy schedule and despite the last-minute change of the time. I am struck and rejoice with the high turnout, with much appreciation. I am particularly honoured to have your presence, Your Excellency Mudavadi.
His Majesty Naruhito, Emperor of Japan, had his 65th birthday on 23rd of this month. It is my special pleasure to celebrate his birthday together with you and all the guests. In the seventh year of his reign, His Majesty is a seasoned monarch of the ancient nation.
Your Excellency,
In my humble view, His Majesty has special attachment to Kenya. For me, the following three facts evidently illuminate it; First, back in 2010, when he was the Crown Prince, His Majesty chose Kenya as a destination for his first Sub-Saharan African visit. Second, His Majesty asked me to convey his message to President Ruto that he was pleased to meet the President during his visit to Japan in February last year. Third and very important, indeed during President Ruto’s visit, at the State Luncheon with him as the guest of honour, His Majesty let his beloved daughter, Princess Aiko, greet the President in Kiswahili. The deep sympathy and affection with Kenya are not only His Majesty’s, but they are broadly and intimately shared by the Japanese public.
Your Excellency,
Kenya and Japan are inextricable like-minded partners. On 5th of December last year, I listened to your lecture on the 60 years path of the Kenyan diplomacy at the Nairobi University. In it, you emphasized three key principles of Kenyan diplomacy, namely liberalism, multilateralism and Pan-Africanism. On liberalism, both Kenya and Japan are strongly committed to the rule-based international order, including Free and Open Indo-Pacific. On multilateralism, Kenya and Japan are firm upholders of the WTO and its liberal trade principles, and active proponents of the UN Security Council reform. On Pan-Africanism, Japan is the original initiator of the economic conference with the participation of the whole African continent, that began with the first TICAD in 1993, and Kenya, for the first time as an African country, hosted TICAD leaders conference in 2016 here in Nairobi. In the same regard, Japan pays the highest respects for Kanya’s role in promoting peace in East Africa. Liberalism, multilateralism and Pan-Africanism – these are the basis of our partnership, and they will continue to be so.
Your Excellency,
Exactly upon that basis, our two nations have dramatically strengthened the relationship in the past two years, through the mutual visits by the two leaders and the visit by yourself to Japan, which advanced our cooperation in trade, investment, defence, health, ICT and other areas greatly. This year, Kenya’s national day at Osaka Expo in June and TICAD 9 in August will give a further big push to the cooperation.
Your Excellency,
Our cooperation in investment is most phenomenal. The number of the Japanese businesses in Kenya now exceeds 120. Since from 2011 the number has been in secular increasing trend and quadrupled, all contributing to the Kenyan economic growth and employment. The modernization of Mombasa Port and the construction of Dongo Kundu SEZ testify Japan’s determination to walk together with Kenya.
Your Excellency,
We keep welcoming enthusiastic Japanese businesses to Kenya, one after another. I call them “hidden gems glowing,” because their operations are still small, quietly serve for the local and national economy in inconspicuous ways, but brilliantly shine in their expertise. Today, I would like to introduce to you a few. Ebara Pumps specializes in water pumps. The enormous challenge in water in Kenya makes the potential of their contribution as enormous. CC Innovation is a subsidiary of Hokkoku Banking and provides consultancy and lending for investors. So far, they are the only Japanese bank on shore of Kenya. Hitachi Channel Solutions supplies ATMs to banking networks. Even in our age of M-pesa, ATMs are very necessary infrastructure for the everyday life of the Kenyan citizens. Uni Charm, who sells sanitary napkins for women in Kenya, switched the production site from Egypt to Kenya just last month, to contribute more for women’s empowerment. The four companies have their showcase booths in the garden. Please, see, touch and feel their services yourself and be convinced with their benefit for the Kenyan economy. But the four gems are only examples. All over the Kenyan economy, many more gems are glowing secretly every day.
Your Excellency,
Kenyan research and development have climbed up to the global competitive stage, as illustrated by the medical research at KEMRI, geothermal power generation in Olkaria and numerous digital innovations by Kenyan startups. Kenya should take pride, and Japan will continue to go along with the Kenyan journey for global excellence.
Your Excellency,
Last month, my government established its Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Nairobi. This elevation of Japan’s representation at UNON reflects the growing importance Japan attaches to UNEP, UN-Habitat and other UN organizations which reside at UNON, the growing functions of UNON as a UN HQs and the growing intensity with which Japan interacts with regional and country offices of UN organizations in Nairobi. But equally, it is the reflection of Japan’s appreciation of how much Kenya commits to the principle of multilateralism and how much Kenya treasures its hosting of UNON at Nairobi. We pay high respect.
Your Excellency,
I always say that both the people of Japan and Kenya are optimistic, have open mind to new things, respect our tradition, work hard, and believe in ourselves. By thinking together, discussing together, and acting together, we learn from each other, inspire each other. That is why the friendship of Kenya and Japan is long. It has been long in the past, it will be long in the future. At the present time, the warm and intimate feeling for, and deep respect of, each other stay long in our hearts and minds.
Your Excellency,
That is the foundation of our bilateral relations. A very solid foundation. His Majesty has turned 65, Your Excellency has turned 64, the Republic has turned 61, and I am going to be 61 in two months. All of us walk together. My chef, Yujiro Sakai, and his cooking assistant, Pascal, have prepared the food today, and Embassy’s staff have set up the venue. Both the Japanese cooking and sake brewing have been inscribed as World Intangible Heritage of UNESCO, and I hope that you will enjoy them today. The recorded national anthems were played by my wife, Yuka, who is a professional composer in classical music, with her own arrangement. These are the humble contributions by us to welcome you and all the guests with the greatest privilege and pleasure.
Thank you very much, and asanteni sana.
27th February, 2025
MATSUURA Hiroshi
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan
MATSUURA Hiroshi
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan