Japan And Israel To Partner In Space?

(Image: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Credit: Moshe Milner, GPO via Ynet News)

While Prime Minister Olmert was "out and about" convincing Japan to increase the economic ties between the two nations (to a tune of $5 billion), it looks as if Israel and Japan may have a future together in the heavens above.

(Ynet News) The joint declaration, signed between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, states that the two countries will deepen their cooperation in economic and political issues. [...]

The two governments vowed to operate direct flights between the two countries in order to deepen the economic ties between them. The statement also notes the cooperation in terms of science and technology. A meeting on this issue will be held in Tokyo later this year.

The two countries also welcomed the continued cooperation in the field of space research.

[Note: Emphasis mine.]

While Israel has been pursuing a relationship with Japan for quite some time, it would be interesting to see both of these hi-tech countries conquer the final frontier together, especially after Japan previously launched their "all too cool" lunar satellite.

Japan To Israel: Lets Be Business Buddies

(Image: Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso with Prime Minister Olmert. Credit: AP via Ynet News)

It looks as if Israel's previous attempts at courting the land of the rising sun are beginning to pay off.

(Ynet News) In an attempt to encourage ecnomic cooperation between private companies, Matsuda said, "We have cancelled some of our visa restrictions on Israelis to Japan, in order to allow Israel businesspeople to come to Japan. Furthermore, we are attempting Israeli PR in Japan. Most Japanese know about the conflict between Israel and its neighbors, and few are aware that as a Jewish country there is a very high level of scientific and technological development here.

"We are trying to increase the extent of tourism between the two countries, and for that purpose we are trying to promote a route of direct flights between Japan and Israel, in contrast to the situation today.

Israel has been seeking to partner with Japan (business wise) and at least one Jewish company already has a strong market within the Asian empire.

Japan seems to be very interested in Israel's defense technology (among other things) but ironically it was Israel's attitude towards the West Bank that drew Japan's attention.

Israel Woes Japanese Christians

The Israeli government is attempting to encourage Japanese citizens of the Christian faith to visit the holy land.

(Jewish Exponent) About 1 percent of Japan's 127 million citizens are Christians.

Aharonovitch called on the Christian leaders to show support for Israel by visiting "the country where the Bible is your calling card and guide book" in the coming year, as Israel marks the 60th anniversary of statehood.

He said that only 7,000 Japanese tourists visited Israel last year, and that he was working with Japanese officials to speed up the planned inauguration of direct flights between the two countries, tentatively scheduled for 2010.

The Israeli government hosted an event in Tokyo in order to apparently stress not only the similarities between the two groups, but also encourage the Christian community to help influence their government as well.

Of course these people really need to visit Israel (as Jewish falafels are second to none) although I wonder why it would take three years to establish direct flights between the two countries?

Will Japan Invest In Israel?

I guess after the kosher cookie swept the land of the rising sun away, Israel is looking to increase its presence within Japan.

(Globes Online) Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor foreign trade administration director of Asia Pacific division Amiram Halevy-Laher said that the investment houses and corporations attending the forum has invested $500 million in Israel in recent years, and that the event had drawn substantial interest from Japanese companies.

Addressing the forum, Fischer urged the Japanese executives to invest in Israel. According to Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor bilateral trade agreements division director Boaz Hirsch, the event represented yet a further indication of the warming of economic relations with Japan. This has been seen primarily in a new openness towards Israel, and an interest on the part of the Japanese, to form economic ties.

Israel has already begun partnering with China, and it looks like it wants to deepen its economy with the eastern economic powers that be (at least for now). Unlike Israel, Japan is recognized globally as a technology leader, and Israeli exposure could help both nations maintain a competitive edge within their respective regions.

Israeli Cookies Invade Japan

(Hat Tip: Isreality)

It's called the Jerusalemite pretzel, and it seems to have attracted the taste buds in a region where pastries are not very popular.

(Ynet News) The Abadi Bakery was founded in Syria and reopened at the Mahane Yehuda open market in Jerusalem 70 years ago. The bakery's bagel-shaped cookies had already conquered Israel, and may also become a big hit in Japan.

How did the Japanese come to discover the Israeli cookies? Officials at the Israeli embassy in Tokyo said that a local food company first came across the cookies at an international food festival.

They must have enjoyed the taste of those cookies, enough to purchase over four million cookies for NIS 1.5 million (which is about USD $350,000).

Despite having spent time in Israel, I never had the chance to actually partake of this delicacy. I guess it's one more thing to add to the list when I go later on this year.