On November 11, 2017, Embassy of Romania to Japan organized a Symposium on Romania-Japan relations in the hall of Building No.1 at Josai Educational Corporation’s Tokyo Kioicho Campus with Josai Institute for Central European Studies and Japan-Romania Society as co-hosts. The symposium was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Mr. Nicolae Xenopol (1858~1917), the First Romanian Diplomatic Envoy to Japan. Around 100 participants including officials of the Embassy, participators from Japan-Romania Society and citizens were present.

Mr. Xenopol was a politician, diplomat, economist and writer. Additionally, he was one of the founders of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. In October 1917, he came to Japan with his wife to establish diplomatic relation between Romania and Japan, and to open the Romanian Legation. He respectfully presented to Emperor Taisho the credential letter by the Romanian minister and successfully accomplished his mission, but unfortunately passed away in December because of the worsening of his chronic kidney disease. Japanese government organized a solemn funeral service in honor of the allied diplomat.

In her opening remark, H.E. Mrs. Tatiana Iosiper, Ambassador of Romania to Japan said that Diplomatic Envoy Mr. Xenopol gave his blood to his country as a diplomat, and that his efforts and sacrifices were never done in vain. Simultaneously the Embassy mounted a special exhibition of the diplomatic documents related to Mr. Xenopol, housed in Romania. Subsequently, Dr. Kenji Sugibayashi, President of Josai International University gave an opening speech, saying that Romania and Japan are neighbors located on each side of Russia; Romania is geographically distant from Japan, but Japan feels sympathetically close to Romania. He wishes that this event will become a good opportunity to develop exchanges between both countries by looking back on their history. Mrs. Akiko Igaya, Executive Director of Japan-Romania society also gave an opening remark. She expects those who are fans of Romania to further develop their interests; on the other hand, she wishes those who are not yet familiar with the country will become interested in wake of the symposium.

Prof. Dr. Shigeo Mutsushika, the Graduate School of International Relations, University of Shizuoka, and Director of Wider Europe Research Center, University of Shizuoka, Japan gave a keynote speech on the subject titled “What can be seen from the Negotiations between Japan and Romania to establish diplomatic relations”. In his speech, he stated that the negotiation made a century ago to establish the diplomatic ties between Romania and Japan created a precedent for the diplomacy on national security between Asia and Europe in the following years.

After the coffee break, Mr. Natsuo Amemiya, Former Ambassador of Japan to Romania, Visiting Professor at Ehime University, Former executive board member of the Japan Foundation spoke on the theme, “A bridge towards friendship: Japan-Romania relations”. Further, Mr. Kosei Miya, Essayist and Photographer, made a speech on the subject, “Romania and Myself”. Mr. Amemiya continued his speech in saying that “Romania is a friend of Japan and each have enjoyed a solid, continuous cordial relation.” Additionally he introduced various supports given to Japan at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Mr. Miya, who says that he has been fascinated by the country for the last half century, presented many episodes and enthusiastically explained his experience; “The moment I meet a Romanian, I feel as close to the person as a brother; parting with a Romanian turns out to be a teary farewell. Romanians have taught me the fabulousness of human-beings.”

In the question and answer session in which, as moderator, Dr. Nobuhiro Shiba, Specially Appointed Professor of Josai International University and Deputy-director of Josai Institute for Central European Studies, participated, the person in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan revealed that there was no recitation in their internet website as to the visit to Japan of Diplomatic Envoy Mr. Xenopol. For that reason, he explained that Japan was scheduled to receive him as an envoy extraordinary, not to be the minister plenipotentiary, to negotiate the establishment of diplomatic relations at a later time. Although the negotiation documents have not yet been uncovered despite detailed research, Japan intends to cooperate with Romania to specify the date of the establishment of the diplomatic relations.