Collaboration in industry, development, or culture. Czech-Japanese relations began to take shape as early as the time of Masaryk

The roots of Czech-Japanese relations go deep into history, specifically before the establishment of Czechoslovakia. In 1918, before official diplomatic relations were established, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk visited the East Asian island nation. Diplomatic missions were exchanged in 1920.

The period of communism cooled relations between the two countries, and their development only resumed after the Velvet Revolution. Notable milestones included President Václav Havel's visit to Japan in 1995 and the visit of the Japanese Emperor and Empress to Czechia in 2002. "The fact that both countries have built very strong relations, particularly in the economic sphere, is evident from the current presence of more than 280 Japanese companies in Czechia," said Japanese Ambassador to Czechia, Kansuke Nagaoka.

The second-largest foreign investor
The current economic cooperation between the two countries is most evident in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Japan is the second-largest foreign investor in Czechia. Most companies are linked to the automotive industry, with a significant portion of their production intended for export to the European Union. In recent years, Japanese firms in Czechia have increasingly contributed to the field of green technologies. A typical example is the production of heat pumps or recyclable packaging materials.

"Japanese investments play an important role in the development of the Czech economy and industry, strengthening Czechia's involvement in global manufacturing and supply chains. With the presence of more than 280 Japanese entities, many of which are investing in modern technologies and innovations, Czechia has become an attractive partner for cooperation," emphasizes Jan Michal, CEO of CzechInvest. "Japanese companies create thousands of jobs, bring know-how, and also increase the competitiveness of Czech businesses internationally. These investments are often accompanied by initiatives focused on sustainable development, which aligns with the priorities of both the EU and Japan," adds Michal.

The two countries also build their mutual relations with consideration of social ties, especially in the fields of culture, music, and the arts. A good example is Japanese students who often gain deeper knowledge in these areas while in Czechia. "Japanese attention has long been attracted by figures such as Alfons Mucha, Bedřich Smetana, and Karel Čapek," adds Kansuke Nagaoka. Japanese artists are also active in several Czech ballet companies. In Japan, Czech cuisine, especially beer, is particularly popular.

Host of this year's EXPO
The primary focus of Czech-Japanese cooperation currently revolves around the upcoming World Expo 2025, which will take place in Osaka, Japan, starting on April 13. "In the interest of the success of the Czech National Pavilion at the exhibition, the Japanese Embassy is in close contact with the Commissioner General of Czechia's participation, Ondřej Soška, and his team. The biggest challenge so far has primarily been obtaining the building permit for the pavilion with its innovative design," outlined the Japanese Ambassador.

According to the Czech Commissioner General Ondřej Soška, EXPO represents a unique opportunity for Czechia, not only for showcasing cultural and artistic heritage but also for presenting cutting-edge technologies and innovations to both the general public and businesses. "An example of this is our innovative pavilion made from CLT panels, or the telecommunications technology of the company 2N, with whom we entered into a partnership this January. They are the developers of the world's first IP intercom. I am confident that the Czech National Pavilion will captivate and inspire Japanese visitors, and that the presentation at EXPO 2025 will help Czech companies find customers and partners not only in Japan but across the entire Indo-Pacific region," says Ondřej Soška.

The flourishing Czech-Japanese relations, which are also fueled by opportunities like EXPO 2025, are highly valued by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which sees immense potential in the World Expo. "We want to fully leverage our participation in EXPO 2025 to strengthen our business relationships and international cooperation. The concept of World Expos is evolving, and economic and scientific diplomacy is playing an increasingly important role. Our goal is to confidently present Czech companies, their top-notch innovations, and technologies that have great potential to succeed globally," emphasized Jiří Kozák, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Czech-Japanese cooperation in the future should also address current international issues. "One area we plan to focus on, given the growing awareness of the inseparable connection between security in Europe and East Asia following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is cooperation in the field of security and defense," concludes Nagaoka. This is also evidenced by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) and the Czech Ministry of Defense, which focuses on collaboration in the defense industry.

Czech Recipients of Japanese Honors

Věra Čáslavská (athlete)
Dana Drábová (nuclear engineer)
Jaroslav Skála (long-distance flight pilot Prague–Tokyo in 1927)
Matěj Taufer (mechanic of the long-distance flight Prague–Tokyo in 1927)
Věnceslava Hrdličková (sinologist)
Zdenka Švarcová (orientalist)
Zdeněk Thoma (Czech photographer and publicist, member of the Sakura Expedition, EXPO 1970)
Vlasta Winkelhöferová (Japanese studies expert)
Vlasta Čiháková-Noshiro (Japanese studies expert)
Josef Lébl (founder of CzechInvest)
Jan Kavan (politician)
Jan Sýkora (Japanologist)
Vlastislav Matoušek (composer)