Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lowered its level of warning against travel to Israel for Japanese citizens.
Two categories have now been established for visits to Israel. The first category is for areas where Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not recommend travel by Japanese citizens, including Judea, Samaria, Gaza, Jerusalem and adjacent areas. The second category is for areas for which the ministry issues no warnings, and leaves it to the travelers' discretion. This category includes travel to Israel and visiting all areas.
Israel-Japan Chamber of Commerce chairman Miki Ron said the lowering of Japan's warning against visits to Israel was partly thanks to numerous official and commercial Israeli requests to Japanese government, including by the Israel-Japan Chamber of Commerce.
At a reception that he hosted to mark the birthday of Japan's Emperor Akihito last Thursday, Japan's Ambassador to Israel Jun Yokota told the many guests about the importance of the easing of the warning. He said he considered it an important step toward tighter commercial and cultural relations between the two countries, and that it was clear sign of the Japanese government's confidence in the signs of progress toward peace in the Middle East.
Ron added that a delegation of 13 members of the Japanese Diet (parliament) and a four-member delegation from the Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) were scheduled to visit Israel in January 2005. He said these visits were unquestionably a sign of the significant improvement in the Japanese government's attitude toward close ties with Israel.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on December 6, 2004