Relations between Poland and Japan are excellent, Ambassador Kusumoto says Courtesy of the Japanese Embassy in Poland

Ewa Boniecka: Diplomatic relations between Japan and Poland have a long, unbroken history. How would you evaluate our relations right now?

Ambassador Kusumoto: Political relations between Japan and Poland are excellent. Last year marked the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and we have enjoyed friendly relations for many long years. This is an important asset, which is confirmed by many mutual visits at the highest level.

In 2002, the emperor and empress visited Poland, and former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited your country in 2003. In return, President Lech Kaczyński visited Japan in 2008, as did Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

We now have a new government in Japan and our relations are set to develop even further under the Hatoyama government. Next year when Poland assumes the presidency of the European Union, our political dialogue could become very involved and include discussions about important international issues. So I would like to underline that Japanese-Polish political relations are becoming more and more important, both for our countries and for the international community.

What are the main factors affecting our economic relations?

I think that Japanese investment in Poland is the most significant factor in our economic relations. There are now 254 Japanese companies in Poland, among them 72 manufacturing companies. They produce cars, including Toyota, and many kinds of high-tech TV products, like LCD TV sets. They bring in modern technology and employ Polish specialists. And, even while the world economy is experiencing difficulties, the number of Japanese companies in Poland is growing.

In 2008, the value of our investment here reached €415 million. And because Japanese companies are involved in global business, many products manufactured by them in Poland end up in other markets as well.

How about the value of mutual trade?

The value of mutual trade reached $1.76 billion in 2009, and the potential for this to grow further certainly exists. However, let’s remember that bilateral trade is very much connected with international trade flow, as are Japanese-Polish relations. So far, Polish exports to Japan include some engine parts, furniture, feathers and pork meat. Poland is eager to export more of its agricultural products to Japan.

Let’s talk about Toyota’s present difficulties, which stem from vehicle malfunctions. To what extent are they affecting the Polish market?

Toyota dealerships are now asking the owners of more than 70,000 Toyota cars in the Polish market to bring their cars into service stations. It will take about three to four months to complete the whole operation. Toyota deeply apologizes to its Polish customers, and to clients from other countries as well, for possible faults in some cars.

Which markets are priorities for Japan currently?

We need all the big markets, so Japanese companies conduct business in the US, Asia and Europe. The European Union, with its 500 million inhabitants, is becoming a very important market for us.

But nowadays there are Asian economies developing at a fast pace – China in particular, but also India, Vietnam and South Korea – so we pay a lot of attention to the development of Asian regions and see opportunities to do business there. The Asian countries are not only open and keen on our investments, but they are also becoming huge markets for Japanese products. At the same time, China and other Asian countries are doing business in Japan, and all together this opens up tremendous opportunities for our economies.

These processes are creating a new arrangement on the world economic arena, with China becoming the main rival for the US, and for Japan. We’re an important economic partner, but also a competitor.

How about Russia? Are you investing in Siberia?

Russia is a very important partner for Japan, being our close neighbor. And the Russian Far East and Siberia are very rich in natural resources, in particular oil and gas, which we don’t have in Japan. Our companies are therefore engaged in some investments in Siberia, but it is not easy, due to the harsh climate, weak infrastructure and other conditions.

Nonetheless, both our countries are interested in promoting business and new Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okada recently visited Russia to discuss how we can cooperate with each other.

At the same time, on the political arena, we have important issues to settle concerning territorial disputes about islands and the conclusion of a formal peace treaty between our countries. While the Soviet Union did not agree to talk about those problems, Russia has agreed to negotiations with Japan. It isn’t easy for both sides to make progress, but these talks are continuing.

How would you describe Japanese priorities in foreign policy and your role in the global community?

As with every country, security issues are of utmost importance to us. In this context, our alliance with the US plays a crucial role, covering not only our immediate security, but related issues in all other areas. We also pay a lot of attention to developing good relations with our neighbors, China and South Korea. We hope that North Korea, with whom relations remain difficult, will sit down to talk about getting rid of its nuclear weapons.

Japan is ready to play a more active political role in the world. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has a new idea for establishing a forum for regional cooperation among East Asian countries, pointing to the example of the European Union, although obviously European conditions are entirely different than those in East Asia. Japan is not a member of [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations], but cooperates with ASEAN member countries, and our main goal is to bring more peace and unity to the Asian region.

Japan is also developing close political relations with the European Union and we are among the EU’s biggest trade partners. We are closely following the EU’s Eastern Partnership program, which we support because it will help bring democracy to six former Soviet republics.

Has the Japanese nation truly accepted its break with its military past, as portrayed in so many films? Does history play an important role in modern Japan?

Over three million Japanese were killed during WWII, and almost all the biggest cities were bombarded. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were hit by atom bombs. Since WWII, the Japanese nation has accepted that Japan should be a country of peace. This history, including our own profound sorrow and regret, is a very important issue and all Japanese are very serious about it, particularly with respect to our neighbors – China, Korea, and other Asian countries.

After WWII, legally speaking, these war issues were settled by the San Francisco Peace Treaty and other agreements. But still, on various occasions we extended regrets and apologies for WWII sufferings.

Japanese-Polish cultural ties are quite strong, particularly those concerning music. Does this translate into a deeper understanding between our societies, which are so geographically distant?

This year, Poland celebrates the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, and Japan shares with Poland a love of his music. Many Japanese will be coming to Poland, in particular for the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in October.

There are also major centers for Japanese language and studies in Warsaw, Kraków, Toruń and Poznań. I have been an ambassador in Poland for five months and I am deeply touched by Poles’ strong interest in Japanese traditions and customs, your fondness for sushi – our cuisine’s specialty – and your friendly attitude towards Japan.