Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Presents Credentials to Emperor Naruhito

RRI.CO.ID, Tokyo – Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Nurmala Kartini Pandjaitan Sjahrir, officially presented her credentials to Emperor Naruhito of Japan during a ceremony held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on August 18, 2026. Kartini said that during the meeting, Emperor Naruhito expressed his condolences over the earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

“During my conversation with His Majesty Emperor Naruhito, he expressed his sympathy over the earthquake disaster in East Nusa Tenggara,” Kartini said in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 18.

She also said that the Japanese Emperor recalled his meeting with President Prabowo Subianto in Tokyo last March. She added that Emperor Naruhito expressed his hope that Indonesia-Japan relations would continue to develop positively and be further strengthened in the future.

“The Emperor also expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome during his visit to Indonesia with Her Majesty Empress Masako in 2023. He hopes that Indonesia-Japan relations will continue to develop well and be further enhanced in the years ahead,” Kartini said.

On the occasion, she conveyed Indonesia’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation with Japan across various fields. She also emphasized the importance of Japan to Indonesia and praised Japan’s progress in successfully combining traditional values with technological advancement.

Kartini arrived in Japan on February 12, 2026, and presented a copy of her credentials to Japan’s Director-General of Protocol on February 17, 2026. Following the ceremony, Kartini said that strengthening several strategic Indonesia-Japan cooperation programs, as well as protecting and providing services to Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Japan, would be among her priorities as ambassador.

She expressed hope that the Indonesian community in Japan could serve as representatives of Indonesia among Japanese society. “The number of Indonesians in Japan continues to grow. There are currently more than 260,000 Indonesian citizens in Japan. We certainly hope to collaborate with the Indonesian community in Japan as ambassadors of our nation,” she said.

Kartini also encouraged Indonesian citizens in Japan to work professionally, adapt to the local culture, and maintain Indonesian cultural values. The presentation of credentials took place one day after Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day anniversary. The presentation of credentials by foreign ambassadors to the Emperor of Japan is one of the traditions of the Japanese Imperial Household that continues to be observed to this day.

Under the tradition, foreign ambassadors are escorted by Imperial Palace protocol officials from Tokyo Station before being taken to the Imperial Palace, located directly across from the station.