Japan's National Day Reception 2022
2022/3/1

The Embassy of Japan held a reception to celebrate the 62nd birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan at the Ambassador’s residence on February 23, 2022. Around 100 guests from the government, business, media, diplomatic corps, and international organizations attended the reception. Hon. Dr. Uzziel NDAGIJIMANA, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, was the guest of honor.

Since this year marks the 60th Anniversary of Friendship between Japan and Rwanda, this reception was a good opportunity to look back on the path of their relation and to confirm their cooperation toward further development of both countries.

“In my understanding Japan’s technology, discipline and ethics as well as finance are what Rwanda wants to introduce and invite from Japan. I will work to build mutually supportive economic cooperation and win-win bilateral relation, which makes our two countries enjoy the fruits of our efforts and mutual benefits”, said Ambassador IMAI. He showed his determination to do his best to produce tangible results in this commemorative year of the 60th Anniversary of Friendship and of holding the TICAD8 in Africa. Ambassador IMAI also introduced a Japanese business philosophy “Sanpo Yoshi” which means triple-win for the buyer, the seller and society and emphasized “As it applies exactly the same with diplomacy, let’s put our efforts together to realize a triple-win for Japan, Rwanda and the word.”


Minister NDAGIJIMANA expressed his heartfelt congratulations to His Majesty the Emperor on behalf of the Government of Rwanda and appreciated the organization of this celebration as a gesture of the friendship and solidarity given the context of Covid-19. He also expressed gratitude toward the continuous cooperation of the two countries realized through ODA including grand aid, technical cooperation as well as people-to-people exchange such as the dispatch of JOCV since 1962, especially after 1994. Emphasizing that there is enormous room to enhance government-to-government, people-to-people and business-to-business links in the pursuit of shared interests, the Minister pledged Rwandan firm commitment to the process of TICAD and welcomed the active role of Japan for the organization of EXPO2026 in Osaka.
On this occasion, Japanese companies based in Rwanda showcased some of their products and activities such as Bloom Hills Rwanda (gentian flowers cultivation and export), Organic Solution Rwanda Ltd. (microbiological products), Green Leaf Motors Ltd. (exhibition of a brand-new Mitsubishi PHEV), TOYOTA Rwanda (exhibition of brand-new model of bestselling car).