Lula arrives in Japan: "A historic partnership that grows stronger"

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, accompanied by a delegation of ministers and parliamentarians, landed this Monday, March 24, at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) at 10:02 a.m. local time (+12 hours from Brasília time).

"I have arrived in Tokyo for an official visit to celebrate 130 years of friendship between Brazil and Japan. Here in Japan, I will meet with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, as well as business leaders. I will also witness the signing of strategic agreements in science and technology, health, and education. Our historic partnership grows stronger, looking forward to a future of innovation, growth and new opportunities for our peoples," the president posted on his Instagram profile. 

Our historic partnership grows stronger, looking forward to a future of innovation, growth and new opportunities for our peoples”

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Republic

The visit will continue until Thursday, March 27, when the president will head to Hanoi, Vietnam, for the second part of the trip to Asia. This will be Lula's fifth visit and his first State visit to Japan.

ONE PER YEAR – Japan only holds one State visit per year. The last one took place in 2019 with then-U.S. President Donald Trump. Since then, due to the pandemic, there have been none. The relationship between Brazil and Japan was elevated to a Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014 during the visit of then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Brazil.

HIGH-LEVEL – Since 2023, with the end of the pandemic, high-level contacts have intensified. In 2023, President Lula attended the G7 Summit in Hiroshima. In May 2024, then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made an official visit to Brazil, and in November, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba participated in the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where he held a bilateral meeting with President Lula.

EMPEROR – On Tuesday (March 25), President Lula and his delegation will be honored at a Welcome Ceremony at the Imperial Palace. Next, the President will meet with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. In the evening, the President will attend a dinner in his honor at the Imperial Palace.

BUSY AGENDA – Wednesday (March 25) will be the busiest day of Lula’s visit to Japan. The agenda includes a meeting with Japanese trade unions and participation in the Brazil-Japan Business Forum. On the Brazilian side, business leaders from sectors such as food, agribusiness, aerospace, beverages, energy, logistics, and steelmaking, among others, will be present. In the late afternoon, Lula will meet with Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Akasaka Palace. Then, both will participate in an Act Signing Ceremony, after which a dinner will be offered to Lula and his delegation. Bilateral agreements are expected to be signed in areas such as science and technology, sustainable fuels, education, fisheries, pasture/agricultural land recovery, and others.

INVESTMENTS – “Brazil and Japan have a trade relationship worth 11 billion dollars. It is small for the greatness of Japan and Brazil. I hope that, through this visit, Japan will get to know Brazil better. I am bringing several ministers, trade unionists, and parliamentarians. Our goal is to attract more investments and to establish partnerships between Brazil and Japanese companies to discuss the issue of energy transition in particular, which is very powerful and something the world urgently needs,” stated Lula last week during an interview with Japanese journalists from the Asahi, Yomiuri, Nikkei, JIJI press, TBS, NHK, and Kyodo media outlets.

FLOW – “I hope that our trade flow grows, that Japan sells more to Brazil, and that Brazil sells more to Japan. I know that Japan imports nearly 60% of all the food it consumes. And today, Brazil is a country that is becoming the world’s food shopping center. I hope for more friendship, more democracy, more multilateralism, and more exchange of scientific and technological experience,” emphasized Lula.

PRESS CONFERENCE – On Thursday (March 27), a press conference and a Farewell Ceremony with Emperor Naruhito are scheduled. The departure to Vietnam is scheduled for 12 p.m. local time (midnight from Wednesday to Thursday, in Brasília), with an expected arrival in Hanoi at 4 p.m. local time (4 a.m. Brasília time).

130 YEARS – Brazil has the largest Japanese-descendant population outside of Japan, estimated at over 2 million people, while Japan is home to the fifth-largest Brazilian community abroad, with 210,000 nationals. In 2025, the 130th anniversary of Brazil–Japan diplomatic relations will be celebrated. Last year, Brazil and Japan recorded a trade exchange of USD 11 billion, with a Brazilian surplus of USD 146.8 million. Brazil mainly exports poultry (fresh or frozen), aluminum, pork, pulp, coffee, and iron ore. Imports consist mainly of vehicle parts and accessories, measurement instruments and devices, piston engines, and other products from the manufacturing industry.

AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR – Japan is one of Brazil's main and most traditional partners in Asia. It is the ninth-largest source of foreign investment in Brazil, with around USD 35 billion in investment stock in 2023, representing a 24% increase compared to 2022. In recent years, the automotive sector has received significant investments from Japanese investors. In 2024, Toyota announced investments of BRL 11 billion by 2030, and Honda, BRL 4 billion, also by 2030.