Indonesian Representative in Tokyo Enhances Indonesia-Japan Relations

RRI.CO.ID, Fukuoka - The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo held a series of diplomatic activities in Fukuoka, Japan, from October 1 to 4, 2026. The activities included a diplomatic reception, a seminar on start-up financing, the Indonesia Fukuoka Festival, as well as immigration and consular services for Indonesian citizens.

The Diplomatic Reception was organized by the Indonesia-Kyushu Friendship League, led by the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Fukuoka and supported by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, at the Ballroom of Hotel New Otani Fukuoka on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The event was part of the commemoration of the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia's Independence and served as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan Maria Renata Hutagalung welcomed the organization of the reception. She said people-to-people ties between Indonesia and Japan are an important foundation for strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

“The number of Indonesian citizens in Kyushu has increased significantly, from 5,610 in December 2021 to 36,446 at the end of 2025, representing an increase of 549.66%. The increase in the number of Indonesian citizens is expected to further enhance cooperation in various fields, particularly with the Kyushu region, especially Fukuoka Prefecture,” she said, according to an official statement issued Thursday, October 6, 2026.

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Fukuoka Kazuyuki Ishibasi said Indonesia-Japan relations and cooperation in the Kyushu region continue to grow. As chairman of the Indonesia-Kyushu Friendship League, established in 1974, Ishibashi said the organization serves as a bridge for cooperation between the two countries in the region.

Strengthening cooperation also focused on developing start-ups. The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, together with Dopang, the Bank Indonesia Tokyo Representative Office, BNI Tokyo, Pertamina, the Fukuoka City Government, JETRO, and several other partners, held a seminar titled “Bridging Start-up Ecosystem and Financing Between Indonesia and Japan” on Friday, October 2, 2026.

The forum, attended by 60 participants from start-up founders, investors, banks, local government, and the entrepreneurial community in Kyushu, discussed efforts to expand financing access for Indonesian start-ups. “Indonesia offers one of the largest digital consumer markets in Southeast Asia, a community of young founders, as well as deep operational experience in sectors such as financial technology, logistics, and e-commerce,” Maria Renata Hutagalung said.

Meanwhile, the Indonesia Fukuoka Festival was held on October 3 and 4, 2026, by various Indonesian communities with the support of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo. The event served as a gathering for Indonesians while also strengthening ties with Japanese communities.

Counsellor for Information, Social and Cultural Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo Iqbal Mohammad Amrullah, said the high level of public participation in the event demonstrated increasingly close people-to-people relations between Indonesia and Japan. “Equally important, and serving as the main foundation of the strong relationship between the two countries, is the increasingly close relationship between the people of Indonesia and Japan, based on mutual respect,” he said.

The Indonesia Fukuoka Festival also featured a variety of traditional Indonesian arts and cultural performances, as well as 23 culinary booths. In addition to Indonesians, the event attracted Japanese visitors, including those who were enthusiastic about learning to play the angklung and exploring various Indonesian traditional textiles. As part of the series of activities, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo also provided immigration and consular services for Indonesian citizens in Fukuoka.