By Arun Ranjit

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Zenji Kaminaga was born in 1943 in Tochigi Prefecture, northern Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from Kyoto University, Faculty of Law and entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1967.

H.E. Kaminaga served as the Director of Cultural Division II in 1983, and Middle East Division I in 1986 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He had also served as Interpreter of late Emperor Hirohito in the Imperial Household and concurrently as Visiting Professor (Foreign Affairs) of Saitama University (Graduated Course) from 1985 to 1988.

He served as Secretary in the Embassy in USA and the Japanese Mission for European Community in Belgium; Counsellor in the Embassy in the Philippines and Lagos; Minister in the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva and also in the Embassy of India and Indonesia. He was also the Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman.

Ambassador Kaminaga, who took his assignment in Nepal from 30th of November 2001, is married and has three children.

He has three books: The Wealth of Asia (2001), The Wisdom of Europe (1992) and Asian BCG (1998) to his credit. Some of his hobbies include bird watching, photography, reading and writing poems, Japanese calligraphy, golf, tennis and yoga.

Ambassador Zenji Kaminaga shared some of his views with The Rising Nepal recently.

Excerpts of his views:

TRN: Your Excellency, Nepal and Japan both have constitutional monarchs. Would you kindly shed light on the monarchy that exists in Japan?

Ambassador: It is stated in the Japanese Constitution that the Emperor shall be “the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people” and derives his position from “the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power”. Japanese people have immense respect and faith on this constitution. The Emperor performs acts, in matters of state which are provided in the Constitution, such as attesting the appointment of Ministers of State and some other high officials, calling the National Diet, promulgating laws and treaties, awarding honours, attesting the credentials of ambassadors as well as receiving foreign dignitaries. In these matters of state, the Emperor acts on the advice and approval of the Cabinet.

Since the Enthronement in 1989, Emperor Akihito, together with Empress Michiko, have been fulfilling a wide variety of official duties in relation to Their Imperial position as the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people.

Looking at the relationship between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Nepal, I am extremely happy to say that there exists close ties between both of the Families through a number of frequent exchange of visits. Deep respect for the monarchy is a particular similarity between the people of Japan and Nepal.

TRN: How do you assess Nepal-Japan relations?

Ambassador: I am extremely pleased with the ever-growing relations of friendship and cooperation between Japan and Nepal. It widely ranges from the close ties between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Nepal as I mentioned earlier, the frequent exchanges of personnel both at a governmental and private level and to economic and technical cooperation.

I am happy to say that Japan and Nepal have enjoyed a century-old unblemished friendly ties. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Nepal in 1956, the Government of Japan has been extending various types of cooperation to His Majesty’s Government for its socio-economic development. Recently, the Japanese Government has been supporting the efforts made by the Government of Nepal towards the restoration of peace in the country.

Nepal and Japan have been also enjoying cordial relations at people to people level which is based on the basis of social and cultural similarities. Rev. Ekai Kawaguchi, the first recorded Japanese who ever visited Nepal in 1899, is characterized as the founder of such relations between the two countries. Just three years after his visit, the Government of Nepal sent eight Nepali students to Japan in 1902 for studies and I am very grateful to say that this year also marks the 100th anniversary of their visit to Japan.

TRN: Japan is the biggest donor country of Nepal. Would you like to identify the areas in which Japan is more interested to extend financial assistance in future?

Ambassador: The Government of Japan has always been responding to Nepal’s request for her development by establishing and developing prioritized economic infrastructure, encompassing almost all sectors indispensable for its socio-economic development.

Japan’s cooperation to Nepal dates back to 1969. Since then, Japan has been extending economic and technical assistance to Nepal with the objectives of supporting the economic growth, fulfilling basic human needs and assisting human resource development. In a span of more than thirty years, ending fiscal year 2000, Japan has provided a total assistance of 249.83 billion yen.

As a development partner, Japan is very much concerned with the overall development in Nepal. Japan’s assistance will remain focused towards the alleviation of widespread poverty, which has been the major challenge of the Government of Nepal. Therefore, existing priority sectors of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Nepal are in line with the priority areas identified in the Poverty Reduction Strategy paper or the country’s 10th Five Year plan. Bearing this fact in mind, the cooperation will be prioritized based upon the development policies, plans and priorities of both the countries. Japan has identified (i) human resource development (ii) social sectors such as reproductive health, primary heath care, education (iii) agriculture development (iv) economic infrastructure and (v) environmental conservation as the prioritized areas for extending financial assistance to meet the challenges of socio-economic development of Nepal.

TRN: What prospects do you see for the promotion of tourism between Nepal and Japan? What kind of strategies should Nepal adopt for attracting a larger number of Japanese tourists?

Ambassador: Nepal is a beautiful country, blessed with a diversity of natural beauty such as the scenic Himalayas in addition to its rich cultural heritage, exotic wildlife, and hospitable people. Japanese people love to visit Nepal because of its natural beauty and cultural similarities between the two countries. Japan is the second largest tourist generating country for Nepal and some 41,000 Japanese tourists visited the country in 2001.

However, Nepal needs to make some efforts in the areas of basic infrastructure such as sanitation, public toilet, and garbage management to maintain its beauty and attract more tourists.

The present day world being a competitive one, Nepal ought to augment its competitiveness in terms of tourism marketing. Many people in Japan do not know enough about the natural beauty of Nepal and its cultural heritage. For this, the Nepal Tourism Board needs to make additional promotional activities in Japan. Opening up a Tourism Information Center in Japan would be one of the right steps in this regard.

TRN: Are you satisfied with the outcome of the various projects being conducted under Japanese assistance?

Ambassador: Many of the projects implemented under Japanese ODA have achieved satisfactory results. I believe that they have greatly contributed to the improvement of life of the Nepalese people. The construction of TU Teaching Hospital, National Tuberculosis Center, Kulekhani Hydro-power Plant, physical facilities in primary schools under the Basic and Primary Education Programme (BPEP), radar installation at the Tribhuvan International Airport, rural telecommunications, storage facilities of iodized salt, etc., are some of the examples from which Nepalese people are being immensely benefited.

Here, I would also like to mention about the on-going construction of the Sindhuli Road that is going to exert great beneficial impact on transport of goods and people between Kathmandu and South East part of Nepal and on the agricultural activities of the farmers residing along side of the road in Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchowk and Ramechhap districts.

I believe that promoting the culture of ownership and self-reliant efforts by both the Government and its people could guarantee the benefit from the cooperation.

TRN: What suggestions would you like to give for the expansion of trade between Nepal and Japan?

Ambassador: A total of 73 Japanese joint venture industries have been established in Nepal as at the end of the fiscal year 2000/01. To invite more Japanese investment into Nepal, the country needs to put emphasis on further simplifying the legal and administrative systems. A good investment environment is equally important for attracting foreign investment.

With regard to promoting Nepal-Japan trade, Japanese market is highly quality-oriented. Nepal exported goods worth Rs.1,341.1 million to Japan in fiscal year 2000/01. This consisted mainly of items such as woolen shawls, garments, leather goods, and carpet. For the sustainability of these products, Nepal needs to get specialized and augment the quality of such exportable products.

As Nepal has a comparative advantage in agro-products, a better specialization on such products as fruits and processed fruits, sericulture, medicinal herbs etc. could be beneficial for the country in the long run. More importantly, the Nepalese private sector should put additional efforts in identifying other potential items that could be exported to the Japanese market. Information Technology (IT) is one of such areas where the emphasis can be laid.

TRN: Will Your Excellency kindly shed light on the role that experts have to play to strengthen the relationship between the two countries in the field of art, culture and literature?

Ambassador: There are many similarities between Japan and Nepal in the field of culture and religion. Exchange of visits among cultural figures and artists of both the countries play an important role in strengthening the cultural ties between the two countries.

In this, regard, the Embassy of Japan has been making utmost effort to introduce Japanese culture through the presentation of traditional arts performances, Ikebana (flower arrangement), Tea Ceremony as well as modern arts for many years.

Academic peoples’ exchange programme is another area to be developed. In this field Japanese Government annually provides scholarship to Nepali students and Japan Foundation also has a special fellowship programme. An alumni of Japan returned students (Japan University Students Association, Nepal-JUSAN), which currently has more than 125 members, has been active in promoting cultural ties between the two countries. For any information on art, culture, literature, media, please contact with Embassy through Japan Resource Centre website (http://www.np.emb-japan.go.jp).

TRN: As an envoy of a democratic country like Japan, what has been your experience during your stay in Nepal about the functioning of the democratic system in Nepal? Do you have any suggestions with reference to your country’s experience?

Ambassador: Generally speaking, political stability, peace and security are the pre-requisite for the socio-economic development of a country. In addition to it, good governance is also essential for further enhancing political stability in a country. My country has enjoyed long stability and peace. I believe determination and united efforts could bring changes in any country and Nepal is no exception. With strong leadership and willpower, Nepal will definitely see better times in the days ahead.

TRN: How do you look upon the visits of Nepalese political leaders, government officials and journalists to Japan? Is the Japanese government satisfied with those people who gained their knowledge and skill in Japan for the development of Nepal and the Nepalese people?}

Ambassador: There are so many Nepalese political leaders, government officials and journalists who have been to Japan. At the same time, many of their counterparts in Japan have visited Nepal, too. This kind of frequent visits to Japan has helped Nepali people to have a closer perspective on the society, culture and lifestyle of Japan and its people. Further more expanding this sort of exchanges of opinion leaders between the two countries will certainly contribute to share the common perspectives in the issues such as security in Asia, and global issues like environment and terrorism.

My Government highly expects that all the Nepali people who go to Japan for study and trainings, return to Nepal and make proper and maximum use of the knowledge, skills and technical know-how, which they learnt in Japan for the further development of Nepal.

TRN: What suggestions do you have for expanding people-to-people contact and for promoting activities among the people of the two countries?

Ambassador: There is no doubt that people-to-people exchange in any social group and ages will be one of the major factors for further strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries including NGO activities, tourists, etc.

To master the language in each area is also a very useful way for mutual understanding. So, it is a matter of pleasure to hear that more than 15 Japanese Language Institutes are running in Nepal. Many Japanese are coming to Nepal to master Nepali in the educational institutions such as the Campus of International Languages of the Tribhuvan University.

I believe the core of long lasting friendship and expansion of good relations is to be based on people’s sincere attitude. In this regard I hope a sincere attitude prevails in whatever the level of exchange of people would be between Nepal and Japan.