2017 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Japan. This relationship may have begun as early as the 15th century when the Melaka Sultanate traded with the Ryukyu kingdom. It was reaffirmed when Japan became one of the earliest countries to establish an embassy in the newly independent Federation of Malaya.
Our trade history as a nation with Japan can be traced all the way back to the 1970s. Japan's industrialization strategy created a high demand for Malaysian commodities then. In the 1980s, our bilateral relationship flourished when policies, incentives and cooperation proposed between both countries set the tone and pace for a healthy affiliation between both nations throughout the years.