Serbia and Japan are deepening their cooperation across various sectors, and it is essential to fully capitalize on the longstanding friendship between the two nations, said Akira Imamura, the Ambassador of Japan to Belgrade, in an interview with Radio Belgrade 1. “Our diplomatic relations date back to 1882, when Milan Obrenović corresponded with Emperor Meiji. That marked the beginning of our relationship. We’ve experienced both challenging times, including wars, as well as very positive periods. Today, I believe our ties are strong, particularly in the economic sector. Cooperation in this field is progressing rapidly, with last year seeing many political visits exchanged between the two countries,” Imamura stated.
Bilateral ties accelerated following Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Belgrade in 2008. Imamura recalled that the Western Balkans Cooperation Initiative was also introduced during that time.
“It has two main pillars. The first is promoting reforms and supporting the Western Balkan countries’ efforts toward European Union membership. The second is fostering regional cooperation to achieve reconciliation through joint efforts. Regarding the first pillar, much has been accomplished, particularly in integrating the region economically into the European market, through Japanese investments and aid. There has also been progress in mutual cooperation, especially in energy and tourism,” the ambassador said.
Imamura noted that Japanese investors are pleased with the business environment in Serbia. “The costs of doing business are competitive, there is excellent human potential, and investors receive strong support from the government. For Japanese companies, Serbia’s proximity to EU countries is important. This allows us to serve both the local market and our companies in the EU, minimizing the risk of supply chain disruptions. We are also seeing a trend where one of our companies is constructing a plant in Inđija to support its facility in Novi Sad. This is the first time we’re establishing a supply chain within Serbia, which will send a positive signal to other investors. The Japanese government will also offer support. We’ve begun discussions on a bilateral investment agreement,” Imamura added.
On the political front, Imamura emphasized that high-level exchanges of visits continue, including the recent visit of Japan’s then-Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa to Serbia. The visit underscored that Serbia and Japan maintain good cooperation on the international stage. A key priority for Japan is ensuring regional stability and addressing the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.
“We support a solution through dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, mediated by the European Union. Progress in this dialogue should lead to the normalization of relations between the two sides, which is crucial for their progress on the European path. We support the dialogue and urge all parties to fulfill their obligations under the agreements, including the creation of the Community of Municipalities with a Serb majority,” Imamura stated.
In 2025, Japan will host the World Expo in Osaka, which will start in April. Imamura shared the basic themes of the event in his interview with Radio Belgrade 1.
“The main theme of the Osaka Expo is designing a better and more sustainable society with the right use of technology. We’ve planned the event to serve as a platform for creating such a future, with the participation of many countries. A total of 161 countries will participate, including Serbia. Your pavilion is under construction and will be completed soon. The Expo will begin in mid-April and run for six months. I’ve heard that Serbia’s representatives will be promoting Expo 2027 in Osaka. Serbia will have an excellent opportunity to showcase its current development and rich cultural heritage. Each participating country will have its national day, and Serbia’s is scheduled for September 15,” Imamura highlighted.
The ambassador also reflected on the long-standing mutual support between Serbia and Japan, such as Serbia’s assistance following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as well as Japan’s donations to Serbia after 2000. He mentioned that Belgraders still fondly remember the “yellow buses” that were known as “Japanese” and operated in the city for 20 years.
Imamura also noted that the two countries share strong cultural and sports ties. Japanese films and comics are popular in Serbia, and Japan follows Serbian athletes’ successes, particularly those of Novak Djokovic. Additionally, the current coach of the Serbian national football team, Dragan Stojković “Pixy,” has become a legend in Japan, having played for Nagoya in the 1990s and receiving an imperial decoration later on.
