Greetings from Ambassador Soma
2022/1/5
A message from Ambassador of Japan SOMA Hirohisa
My name is SOMA Hirohisa, and I arrived in the Republic of the Marshall Islands on December 23, 2024. I look forward to working with the people of the Marshall Islands from now on.
Japan and the Republic of the Marshall Islands have been deepening the friendly and cooperative relationship for over 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1988, after the independence of the Marshall Islands, but even before that, Japan and the Marshall Islands had a history of exchanges as Pacific neighbors and friends for over 100 years. As a result, words of Japanese origin such as “amimono” and “yakyu” have been preserved in the Marshallese language, and many people of Japanese descent are active in the political and business fields.
In 2024, the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was held, and the leaders reaffirmed the relationship between Japan and Pacific Island countries and regions to tackle common challenges and “stride forward together” towards the future, and adopted “the Tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) Leaders’ Declaration” and “the Joint Action Plan” as the outcome of the discussions. On the occasion of PALM10, the Japan-Marshall Islands Summit Meeting was held between Prime Minister KISHIDA and President Heine, and they exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation and providing support for sustainable development.
As neighboring countries connected by vast stretches of the ocean, the relationship between the two countries has developed beyond a one-on-one connection to a relationship as partners working together to solve common issues in the regional and international arena.
I believe that this positive trend has continued because of the tireless efforts of the both peoples to date, as well as the deepening of mutual understanding through diverse people-to-people exchanges.
Although we have faced some difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to work together with the many people who are making efforts in various ways here to further consolidate this trend and further enhance the partnership between our two countries.
All of the staff of the Embassy will do their utmost, so we ask for your continued support.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of the Marshall Islands
SOMA Hirohisa
Japan and the Republic of the Marshall Islands have been deepening the friendly and cooperative relationship for over 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1988, after the independence of the Marshall Islands, but even before that, Japan and the Marshall Islands had a history of exchanges as Pacific neighbors and friends for over 100 years. As a result, words of Japanese origin such as “amimono” and “yakyu” have been preserved in the Marshallese language, and many people of Japanese descent are active in the political and business fields.
In 2024, the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was held, and the leaders reaffirmed the relationship between Japan and Pacific Island countries and regions to tackle common challenges and “stride forward together” towards the future, and adopted “the Tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) Leaders’ Declaration” and “the Joint Action Plan” as the outcome of the discussions. On the occasion of PALM10, the Japan-Marshall Islands Summit Meeting was held between Prime Minister KISHIDA and President Heine, and they exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation and providing support for sustainable development.
As neighboring countries connected by vast stretches of the ocean, the relationship between the two countries has developed beyond a one-on-one connection to a relationship as partners working together to solve common issues in the regional and international arena.
I believe that this positive trend has continued because of the tireless efforts of the both peoples to date, as well as the deepening of mutual understanding through diverse people-to-people exchanges.
Although we have faced some difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to work together with the many people who are making efforts in various ways here to further consolidate this trend and further enhance the partnership between our two countries.
All of the staff of the Embassy will do their utmost, so we ask for your continued support.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of the Marshall Islands
SOMA Hirohisa