Japan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Iwai Fumio, has reaffirmed Tokyo’s firm commitment to Egypt’s cultural, educational and regional initiatives during a reception in Cairo marking the birthday of the Emperor of Japan.
Addressing guests at the event, Ambassador Iwai described the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum as a “historic milestone”, commending Egypt’s achievement in showcasing its ancient civilisation to the world on an unprecedented scale. He noted that the museum is now attracting around half a million visitors per month, underscoring its rapidly growing stature as a global cultural landmark.
Japan has been a longstanding partner in the museum project, providing extensive financial and technical cooperation. This has included specialised training programmes in conservation and restoration for Egyptian professionals. The ambassador highlighted Japan’s contribution to heritage preservation, particularly its support for the restoration and display of King Khufu’s solar boat — one of the most significant archaeological treasures of ancient Egypt.
Education at the Core of Bilateral Cooperation
Education continues to represent a cornerstone of Egypt–Japan relations, Ambassador Iwai stressed, describing it as a priority area for cooperation in 2026. He pointed to intensified high-level engagement between the two countries, including several reciprocal visits by education ministers over the past year.
He also praised the expansion of Egyptian–Japanese schools across the country, which incorporate Japanese educational methodologies – most notably the holistic “Tokkatsu” system that promotes character development, teamwork and collective responsibility – alongside core academic curricula.
At the tertiary level, institutions such as the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST) stand as flagship models of academic collaboration. Bilateral cooperation further extends to technical and vocational education initiatives designed to equip students with practical skills aligned with labour market needs.
Backing Egypt’s Role in Regional Peace
Beyond cultural and educational ties, the Japanese ambassador commended Egypt’s efforts to advance peace and stability across the region, particularly with regard to developments in Gaza. He reiterated Japan’s support for Egypt’s humanitarian and diplomatic initiatives, affirming Tokyo’s readiness to contribute to regional stability through coordinated international action.
The ambassador’s remarks reflect the deepening strategic partnership between Cairo and Tokyo, anchored in shared priorities of sustainable development, human capital investment and cultural exchange.
