Bridging cultures, building futures: Celebrating Japan-Tanzania relations

IN September 2014, I had the honour to visit Japan. It was part of the INDEX programme offered by the Japanese government, through the Embassy of Japan in Tanzania. Little did I know, it was not just a trip but an immersion into a world of rich culture, profound history, and genuine hospitality.

Perhaps, it remains my most extraordinary international experience to date. In Japan I learned some Japanese cultures, and I was informed as I arrived in Japan on what was referred to as the Heisei era, or what they translated as “achieving peace” a period that spans as early as 1989 until 2019. So, my visit in 2014, was within such period.

In my first week, I was honoured to meet part of the Royal Emperor family, in which his Majesty Emperor Emeritus Akihito greeted each visiting youth with his own national language.

“Habari yako, karibu sana Japani” he said, in a soft tone, speaking Swahili, which translates into How are you? Welcome to Japan! It was a moment of cultural connection, a beautiful exchange of languages and hearts.

When you arrive in Japan for the first time, there is the obvious home feed mindset, “the land of Toyota” the most popular Japanese car maker in Tanzania for most Tanzanians, except a few of us, where I am a Nissan geek, and Mazda comes next.

But in my stay, both in Toyama, Tokyo city at the prestigious Hotel New Otani, and to the intimate home stay experience with the Nomura family in Ishikawa, are lifetime memories, an indelible imprint on my soul. I believed in bridging cultures, a people-to-people friendship, creating a person-to-person diplomacy, where each can learn from each other’s culture.

When I sat down in my hotel room, the questions that came to my mind were: “how did they get here? Looking outside the window, after climbing the famous Tokyo Tower and Tokyo sky tree is a testimony of a nation so advanced with a people so humble. It was a humbling realisation that progress, and tradition can coexist harmoniously.

While each country and culture are unique, hard work is the whole ball game. The second question measuring apples to apples, was back at home “How do we get here?” this is not a tale of two cultures but a bridge between cultures, experiencing a nostalgia, and keeping friendship ties.

Therefore 9 years later after 2014, in September 2022, I invited my Japanese friends Tomoko Okawara, Sakino Yamate San, Triin Bostrov, an Estonian I met in Japan, Sadam Alwarlart a Jordanian friend, who for cultural experience to join me during my Nuptial celebration, at my wedding in September 2022.

For them, it was also an opportunity to visit the land of the Kilimanjaro and the indispensable Serengeti National Park, in my country Tanzania.

What I truly cherished about Japan and Japanese people is what I personally refer to as keeping the Japanese idea thriving, where I realised Japanese people despite all the industrilisation, modernity, automation and robotics-they are a people that respect their heritage and culture and most Japanese people have a respectful approach and pragmatic skill to learn and accommodate other people’s cultures as well.

Under these ideals, it is a skill worth learning from. During our travels through Tanzania, I witnessed my Japanese friends immerse themselves in the local culture with enthusiasm.

From sampling roadside delicacies to engaging with Maasai artisans, they embraced every moment with open hearts and minds. It was a beautiful exchange of traditions, a testament to the power of cultural understanding.

However, it reflected a deep-rooted respect for heritage and an openness to embrace other cultures, particularly from Ms Tomoko Okawara.

Watching people from one of the most advanced economies embrace the cuisine of my people was an ideal worth learning from. Of course I am open minded, in Japan I went into temples and learned Zen and a little bit of Buddhism.

Therefore, in each Japanese event, as the soft hues of twilight cascade over the vibrant cityscape of Dar es Salaam, when a gathering of diplomats, dignitaries, and esteemed guests will converge at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday sometime in February 2024, for folks that understand Japan it is a valuable connection.

For me it is not only an honorouble noble invitation, it is a celebration that transcends borders. As I partake the Emperor’s Birthday celebration, in Satow’s Diplomatic Practice point of view, I was also celebrating the new Reiwa era, as taught in the Index Programme in 2014, which translates to mean “beautiful harmony.” As this commemoration lives, it is significant also to learn from some of the best practices of Japan culture.

Environmental Planning Japan is geographically mountainous and along geological fault lines, as the country is dependent on imports of most materials, Japan has reduced electrical energy dependency on hydro sources, and uses nuclear power, and in a few areas wind.

The Japanese ministry called the Environmental Management Beaurae, was created to manage natural disasters, particularly Earthquakes and Tsunamis with advanced skill safety protocols, which could be worth learning from, as we face climate change and heavy rainfall which causes havoc when most areas get flooded and infrastructure is broken.

Discipline and Hygiene On December 5, 2022, during the FIFA world cup, world soccer fans were amazed by Japanese national team soccer fans, when they began picking every litter and garbage in the stadium.

Perhaps it was the only nation in the whole tournament with a people so disciplined and picked litter, despite losing the match. It was accountability through civic responsibility, a shining example of a society grounded in respect and discipline. In my humble opinion, being civilised is not only a question of material prosperity and intellectual advancement, but how prudent you are as u relate to other people, content of your character matters.

As most February’s celebrate his Majesty the Emperor of Japan’s birthday, the occasion not only commemorates the illustrious reign of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito but also serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring bond between Japan and Tanzania.

The writer is an alumnus of the Global Leadership Programme and Japanese Culture INDEX 2024, who works as an Advocate of the High Court, and a Contributing Columnist reachable via: +255747130688 and Email: novartigoshaj@gmail.com.