Japan To Observe Foundation Day Tomorrow
By Shareen Han

Bandar Seri Begawan - Japan will commemorate its National Foundation Day on February 11, the day when the first emperor, Jimmu, was first crowned in 660 BC, based on the, earliest Japanese history records.

Celebrations during this day are low-key, compared to the current emperor's birthday on December 23, but it is still a public day for expressing patriotism and affection for the country.

Bilateral relations between Brunei Darussalam and Japan first started in 1984, when the Japanese Embassy first opened its doors in the sultanate.

A source from the Japanese Embassy said His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei has made several official visits to Japan.

The first visit was in 1984, while His Majesty attended the Apec summit in Osaka in 1995, followed by the Asean-Japan Commemorative Summit Meeting in 2003.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan made his first visit to Brunei during the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah in 2004.

Brunei and Japan have recently signed the Economic Partnership Agreement, which would remove tariff barriers to trade, so that more Japanese products would be made available in Brunei at cheaper prices.

The foreign ministers of Brunei and Japan had agreed to launch negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement in May 2006, during the Fifth Ministerial Meeting for Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Doha, Qatar. The free trade agreement was expected to be implemented within this year.

About 60 Japanese expatriates are currently working in Brunei in various fields, including the manufacturing sector.

Meanwhile, economic, technical, cultural and educational cooperation between Brunei and Japan is promoted further through the Brunei-Japan Friendship Association, which was established in 1998.

It was initiated by His Excellency Pg Setia Negara Pg Hj Yusof Pg Hj Abd Rahim, the former Brunei Ambassador to Malaysia.

Japan has an estimated population of 127.46 million, of which more than 12 million live in its capital city of Tokyo and home of the Japanese Imperial Family.

Tokyo has been the capital city of Japan since 1868, and is one of the world's largest and most populated metropolitan area which is partly powered by Bruneian gas.

The Japanese system of government is founded on the Constitution of Japan, but a parliamentary system or the national legislature of Japan, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is called the Diet.

The Diet consists of two houses: House of Representatives and the house of Councillors, which are both elected under a parallel voting system. Japan is also well known for its farming and forestry industries, more than 41 per cent of its forests are replanted areas, and it is one of the largest importing countries of agricultural products in the world, as about 13 per cent of Japan's land is cultivated for farming. However, much of Japan's economic strength lies in its manufacturing sector, especially the production of cars.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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