Results of 2017 BBC World Service pollViews of Japan's influence by country(sorted by pos − neg)Country polled Positive Negative Neutral Pos − Neg 3 -53 25 3 18 18 42 18 38 28 39 29 19 31 19 33 5 35 18 36 20 36 37 37 26 40 12 42 5 53 15 55 5 61 11 65
The are handled by Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Japan maintains diplomatic relations with every United Nations member nations except for North Korea, in addition to UN observer states Holy See, as well as Kosovo, Cook Islands, and Niue.
In 19th century, Japanese foreign relations had an earliest beginnings in 5th century and after their opening to the world in 1854 with the Convention of Kanagawa. Japan had rapidly modernized and built a strong military. In early 20th century, Japan was imperialistic seeking control of nearby areas—with major wars against China and Russia. It gained control parts of China including Manchuria, Korea, Taiwan, Okinawa, and as well as Southeast Asia and Pacific islands. Empire of Japan has lost in World War II to then-American President Harry S. Truman and allies, and was stripped of all of its foreign conquests and possessions. (See History of Japanese foreign relations). American General Douglas MacArthur, acting for Allied powers, supervised occupied Japan between 1945 and 1951. Since the occupation ended diplomatic policy, Japan has been based on close partnership with the United States of America after Truman left from office and seeking trade agreements. In the Cold War (1947–1991), Japan was demilitarized, but it allied with America, Mexico, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and among other allied countries in the confrontation with the Soviet Union. It played a major support role in Korean War (1950–1953). In a rapid economic developments in between early 1960s and 1980s, Japan was one of the major greatest economic powers in the world.
Since the death of Emperor Hirohito in January 1989, by early 1990s, Japan became more active assertive, moving from a passive, reactive posture to one of greater international engagement, especially participated in peacekeeping operations by the United Nations, and sent troops to Cambodia, Mozambique, Golan Heights, and East Timor.国連平和維持活動（PKO） , Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In the beginning of 21st century, in early 2001, Japan had focused on maintaining its core relationship with America, especially response to the war on terror, and participating in regional diplomacy, which included supporting stabilization efforts in Afghanistan. Despite the war on terror after 9/11 terror attacks hit America in September 2001, Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force also dispatched their troops to Southern Iraq for the restoration of basic infrastructures. Also, Japanese maritime naval vessels have been assigned to resupply duties in Indian Ocean to the present date.
Foreign policy Beyond its immediate neighbors, Japan has pursued a more active foreign policy in recent years, recognizing the responsibility which accompanies its economic strength. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda stressed a changing direction in a policy speech to the National Diet: "Japan aspires to become a hub of human resource development as well as for research and intellectual contribution to further promote cooperation in the field of peace-building."Komura, Masahiko. "Building Peacebuilders for the Future," Tokyo Peacebuilders Symposium 2008. 24 March 2008. This follows the modest success of a Japanese-conceived peace plan which became the foundation for nationwide elections in Cambodia in 1998.
History
Links Foreign relations of Meiji Japan International relations of the Great Powers (1814–1919) Diplomatic history of World War I International relations (1919–1939) Causes of World War II Diplomatic history of World War II Cold War History of Sino-Japanese relations, China France–Japan relations Germany–Japan relations Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, 1930–1945 History of Japan–Korea relations Japan–North Korea relations Japan–South Korea relations Japanese foreign policy on Southeast Asia Japan–Russia relations Japan–Soviet Union relations Japan–United Kingdom relations Japan–United States relations
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Japan maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051—525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190——191—
Bilateral relations
Africa
Japan is increasingly active in Africa. In May 2008, the first Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize will be awarded at Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), which signals a changing emphasis in bilateral relations. Country Formal relations beganNotes1962See Algeria–Japan relationsSeptember 1976See Angola–Japan relations Angola–Japan relations were established in September 1976, shortly after Angola received formal sovereignty. As of 2007, economic relations played "a fundamental role in the bilateral relations between the two governments". News World Centers1922See Egypt–Japan relations Japan considers Egypt to be a key player in the Middle East and, as such, sees Egypt as a vital part of its diplomacy in the region. The two heads of government have been known to support each other on issues pertaining to the peace process in the Middle East.
Additionally, the two countries claim to share a common vision for world peace. The two countries maintain a "Joint Committee" dedicated to exploring developments in areas of mutual interest to the two countries.1963See Japan–Kenya relations
Japan has an embassy in Nairobi. Kenya has an embassy in Tokyo.1957See Japan–Libya relations Japan has an embassy in Tripoli. Libya has an embassy in Tokyo.See Foreign relations of Madagascar
Japan has an embassy in Antananarivo. Madagascar has an embassy in Tokyo.January 1977See Japan–Mozambique relations
Japan has an embassy in Maputo. Mozambique has an embassy in Tokyo.See Japan-Nigeria relations Japan and Nigeria engage in strong economic and political cooperation. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1960.July 1960See Japan–Somalia relations1910See Japan–South Africa relations
Japan has an embassy in Pretoria. South Africa has an embassy in Tokyo.June 1956See Foreign relations of Tunisia Japan and Tunisia have a mutual free visa agreement. Japan has an embassy in Cité Mahrajène, Tunis. Tunisia has an embassy in Kudanminami, Chiyoda, Tokyo.
Americas
Japan has continued to extend significant support to development and technical assistance projects in Latin America. Country Formal relations beganNotes3 February 1898See Argentina–Japan relations
Argentina maintains an embassy in Tokyo and Japan maintains an embassy in Buenos Aires. Diplomatic relations were restored by the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1952. Argentine president Arturo Frondizi visited Japan in 1960, and subsequently bilateral trade and Japanese investment into Argentina have increased in importance. Japanese imports were primarily foodstuffs and raw materials, while exports were mostly machinery and finished products.
Members of the Imperial Family of Japan have visited Argentina on a number of occasions, including Prince and Princess Takamado in 1991, Emperor and Empress Akihito in 1997 and Prince and Princess Akishino in 1998. Argentine President Raúl Alfonsín visited Japan in 1986, as did President Carlos Menem in 1990, 1993 and 1998.29 August 1967See Barbados–Japan relations
Japan was accredited to Barbados from its embassy in Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) and an honorary consulate in Bridgetown. Since January 2016, Japan opened a new embassy directly in Bridgetown, Barbados. Barbados is represented towards Japan through a non-resident ambassador in Bridgetown.3 April 1914See Bolivia–Japan relations
Bolivia has an embassy in Tokyo. Japan has an embassy in La Paz and a consular office in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. There are around 15,000 Bolivians who are of Japanese descent. (See also Japanese Bolivians)1895See Brazil–Japan relations
Brazil has an embassy in Tokyo and consulates-general in Hamamatsu and Nagoya. Japan has an embassy in Brasília and consulates-general in Belém, Curitiba, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and consular offices in Recife and Porto Alegre.21 January 1928See Canada–Japan relations
Diplomatic relations between both countries officially began in 1950 with the opening of the Japanese consulate in Ottawa. In 1929, Canada opened its Tokyo legation, the first in Asia;Ambassade du Japon au Canada: 80ième anniversaire des relations diplomatiques nippo-canadiennes. and in that same year, Japan its Ottawa consulate to legation form.Foreign Ministry of Japan: Episodes in Japan–Canada Relations.
Some Canadian–Japanese contacts predate the mutual establishment of permanent legations. The first known Japanese immigrant to Canada, Manzo Nagano, landed in New Westminster, British Columbia in 1877.Ambassade du Japon au Canada: 80 années d'histoire, Contact initial. Japan's consulate in Vancouver was established in 1889, 40 years before its embassy was opened in Ottawa in 1929.Numata, Sadaaki. "Japan–Canada Partnership from a Pacific Perspective," Embassy of Japan in Canada. 18 October 2005.
Canadians G. G. Cochran helped in founding Doshisha University in Kyoto, and Davidson McDonald helped in establishing Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.
In the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, a Canadian steamship, the RMS Empress of Australia and her captain, Samuel Robinson achieved international acclaim for stalwart rescue efforts during the immediate aftermath of that disaster. "Capt. Samuel Robinson, Who Won Fame For Rescue Work in Jap Quake, Dies," New York Times. 7 September 1958.
Canadian military attaché Herbert Cyril Thacker served in the field with Japanese forces in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05), for which the Japanese government awarded him the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class and the Japanese War medal for service during that campaign.
Canada and Japan have had diplomatic relations since 1928. Both countries are characterized by their active role in the Asia-Pacific community, as well as a relationship consisting of important economic, political, and socio-cultural ties. As major international donors, both Canada and Japan are strongly committed to promoting human rights, sustainable development and peace initiatives.
Canada–Japan relations are underpinned by their partnership in multilateral institutions: the G-7/8; the United Nations; the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Quad (Canada, the European Union, Japan and the United States), and by their common interest in the Pacific community, including participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Canada in 2009.Nishida, Tsuneo. "Toyako Summit identified a range of global challenges," The Gazette (Montreal). 4 August 2008.See Chile–Japan relations Chile and Japan established diplomatic relations on 25 September 1897. During World War II, relations between both countries were severed. Chilean President Juan Antonio Ríos suspended relations with Japan on 20 January 1943 and in February 1945, he declared a "state of belligerancy". Finally, on 12 April 1945, Chile declared war against Japan. Relations were re-established on 7 October 1952 after the signing of San Francisco Peace Treaty. Japan has an embassy in Santiago de Chile