Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua attended the celebration of the 66th Birthday of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito of Japan, hosted by the Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga, H.E. Mr. INAGAKI Hisao, and graciously attended by Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister stated that the occasion was not only a celebration of His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday, but also a reflection of the enduring friendship between Tonga and Japan – a relationship grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and a commitment to cooperation across generations.

He reflected on the continued strengthening of the partnership over the past year, including the visit of Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Tonga to Japan in April 2025 as honoured guests at Tonga National Day at the Kansai Osaka Expo. The dinner hosted by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, he noted, symbolised the warmth between the two royal families and the close ties between the two nations.

The Prime Minister also extended congratulations to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her administration following Japan’s recent snap election, and conveyed Tonga’s intention to continue close cooperation under her leadership, particularly in areas of resilience, security, and sustainable development across the Pacific. He acknowledged Japan’s steadfast support to Tonga, including the upgrade of Fua’amotu International Airport, the introduction of e-passports, and the provision of Official Security Assistance such as drones and uniforms for His Majesty’s Armed Forces. He further recognised the contribution of education, culture, and sport, including the soroban programme, Japanese language learning, and rugby, in strengthening people-to-people ties.

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister affirmed his Government’s commitment to deepening the partnership further. He highlighted opportunities to expand cooperation in climate change adaptation, maritime security, and regional stability, in line with the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy, noting that together Tonga and Japan can continue to build a future that is resilient, prosperous, and peaceful.

The evening marked both a celebration of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito’s 66th birthday and the strong and valued partnership between Tonga and Japan.

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Naʻe me’a ʻa e ʻEiki Palemia, Lord Fakafanua, ‘i he ouau ko hono katoanga’i ʻa e hokosia ‘e He’ene ‘Afio ‘Emipola Naruhito ‘o Siapani, hono ta’u 66, ‘a ia na’e fakahoko ‘e he ʻAmapasitoa ʻa Siapani ki Tonga, Inagaki Hisao, pea naʻe ‘afio fakalangilangi ai ʻa ʻEna ʻAfifio, Kingi Tupou VI mo Kuini Nanasipauʻu.

ʻI he’ene me’a, na’e pehe ‘e he ‘Eiki Palemia, ko e ouau ni, ‘oku ‘ikai ngata pe ‘i hono katoanga’i ‘o e ‘aho ‘aloʻi ʻo ʻEne ʻAfio ko e ʻEmipola, ka ko e faingamalie ke toe vakai ki he va fakakaume’a tuʻuloa ʻo Tonga mo Siapani – he ko e fengaue’aki ʻoku fakatefito ʻi he fefakaʻapaʻapa’aki, fevahevahe’aki ‘i he ngaahi ‘ulungaanga mahu’inga, pea mo e tukupā ki he fetokoni’aki, ‘i he ngaahi to’utangata.

Naʻa ne me’a ki he hokohoko mafana ʻa e vā ngaue fakataha, ‘i he ta’u kuo hili, ʻo kau ai ʻa e me’a ʻaʻahi ʻa e Pilinisi mo e Pilinisesi Kalauni ‘o Tonga ki Siapani ʻi ʻEpeleli 2025, ko e fakaafe fakalangilangi ki he ʻaho fakafonua ʻo Tonga ʻi he Faka’ali’ali koloa ‘i Kansai Osaka. Naʻa ne fakatokanga’i, ko e talitali ‘ilo efiafi na’e fakahoko ‘e He’ena ʻAfifio ʻEmipola ʻo Siapani, ko e fakaʻilonga ia ʻa e mafana ‘i he fetu’utaki ‘a e ongo fale faka-Tu’i, pea mo e vāofi ‘a e ongo fonua.

Naʻe fakahoko ai pe ‘e he ‘Eiki Palemia mo ‘ene talamonu ki he Palemia foʻou ʻo Siapani, Sanae Takaichi, pea mo hono puleʻanga, hili ʻa e ikuna he fili fakavavevave na’e toki fakahoko, pea na’a ne fakapapau’i ‘e kei hokohoko atu ‘a e ngaue vaofi mo Tonga lolotonga ‘ene taki e fonua, tautefito ki he ngaahi ‘elia ‘o e matu’uaki ‘a e ngaahi faingatamaki, maluʻi, pea mo e fakalakalaka tuʻuloa ʻi he Pasifiki. Naʻa ne fakamalo ki he ngaahi tokoni tu’uma’u ‘a Siapani ki Tonga, ʻo kau ai ʻa e fakaleleiʻi ʻo e Malaʻe Vakapuna Fakavahaʻapuleʻanga Fuaʻamotu, kamata ‘o e ngaue ki he paasipooti fakaʻilekitulonika, pea mo e ngaahi me’a ngaue ki he polokalama Tokoni Maluʻi Fakapuleʻanga, hange ko e drone pea mo e teunga maʻa e Kau Tau ʻa ʻEne ʻAfio. Naʻa ne hoko atu ki hono fakahounga’i ‘a e ngaahi tokoni ki he ako, talafakafonua, pea mo e sipoti, pea kau kiai mo e polokalama solopani, ako’i ‘o e lea faka-Siapani, pea mo e ‘akapulu, ki hono fakamalohia ‘a va fengaue’aki ‘o e kakai ‘o e ongo fonua.

Ki he kahaʻu, naʻe fakamahino ʻe he ʻEiki Palemia ʻa e tukupā ʻa e Puleʻanga ke toe fakaloloto ʻa e vā fengaue’aki. Naʻa ne faka’ali’ali ʻa e ngaahi faingamālie ke fakalahi ʻa e fengaue’aki ‘i he liliu ngofua ki he feliuliuaki ʻo e ʻea, maluʻi ‘i tahi pea mo e nonga fakafeituʻu, ke fenāpasi mo e Palani ‘a e Pasifiki ‘oku ‘iloa ko e 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy, ʻa ia na’a ne fakaha ai ko Tonga mo Siapani, ‘e hokohoko atu ‘a ‘ena langa ha kaha’u ‘oku ne matu’uaki ‘a e ngaahi fakatamaki, tu’umalie pea mo melino.

Ko e katoanga, na’a ne maaka’i fakataha pe, ‘a e ‘aho ‘alo’i ‘o e ‘Emipola, pea mo e va fengaue’aki mafana mo mahu’inga ‘o Tonga mo Siapani.