Jordan-Japan relations strengthened by fight against Daesh — ambassador

AMMAN — Ties between Jordan and Japan were strengthened by the two nations' cooperation in response to the murder of Japanese nationals by the Daesh terror group in Syria, Japanese Ambassador to Jordan Shuichi Sakurai said Wednesday.

“[The Japanese prime minister] appreciates the roles assumed by Jordan for peace and stability, not only in the region, but in the international community,” Sakurai said in a speech at an event in Amman to mark Japan's national day, which commemorates the birthday of the Emperor Akihito.

“We faced the very challenging incident regarding the murder of Japanese nationals in Syria… I would like to express my sincere appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah [and] the government of Jordan for giving us the ungrudging support,” he continued.

“Through [tackling] the incident together, I [was] assured that the ties between both countries proceeded to the upper stage and we have the shared the idea that Jordan and Japan stand by each other,” he added. 

The ambassador noted that despite the challenges in the region, Jordan is still one of the best destinations for tourists.

“Indeed, there is the well-known platform in Jordan to welcome tourists with hospitality... We ... are also a strong supporter to promote the development of tourism in Jordan,” he said.

Sakurai added that while his first year in Jordan since arriving last November “has not been an easy one”, he has gained valuable experiences through working with Jordanians. 

Eisaku Ikegami, director of the Japanese embassy’s cultural sector, said events like these introduce more Japanese traditions to the Jordanian people. 

“We are more than happy to share the Japanese culture… I want to let Jordanians know we have more than sushi and samurai,” Ikegami told The Jordan Times.

He noted that the two countries share common cultural characteristics, such as a tradition of hospitality. 

“Many Jordanians know and love Japanese animation, but I want the Jordanian people to know more about Japan. I hope Jordanians know more about the agriculture, the history and the food,” the embassy official added. 

Ghassan Hilow, a second-year university student who attended the event, told The Jordan Times that his interest in Japan originally developed from being a fan of the animated show “Detective Conan”, which is also known as "Case Closed". 

But he has since come to appreciate how the spirit of the family is still present in both Jordanian and Japanese cultures.