Japanese Embassy Reveales Factor Behind Strong Indonesian and Japanese Ties

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Director of the Information and Culture Section of the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia, Hoshino Daisuke, revealed the reason behind the close people-to-people relationship between Indonesia and Japan that has lasted for decades. Daisuke said that mutual trust is a key factor behind the strong bond between the two nations.

"Well, the reason why Japan and Indonesian people are very strongly tied together is the mutual confidence," the director said to RRI Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta on Friday, June 12, 2026.

Daisuke said that the Japanese people "like Indonesian people very much", and Indonesian people are "very pro-Japanese people". One example he highlighted is on culinary.

"They enjoy Japanese culture, Japanese food, and Japanese culture is everywhere here in Jakarta, I know this," he said.

"So, this close confidence in both directions is the key to the strong relations between Indonesia and Japan," Daisuke said.

Relations between Indonesia and Japan date back to around the 17th century, when Japanese settlers were first recorded to settle in Dutch East Indies. Closer contact occurred during Japan’s occupation of Indonesia in World War II, when Indonesians were exposed to Japanese language and culture - sometimes by force.

However, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1958 and their growing influence in Asia, people-to-people exchanges became increasingly intensive. There are about 230,000 Indonesians in Japan, while there are about 10,000 Japanese in Indonesia.