00:00For nearly seven decades, Japan and Malaysia have built a relationship anchored in trade,
00:11exchange and trust. That foundation has held through economic cycles,
00:16political change and shifting regional dynamics. Over lunch, FMT spoke with Japan's ambassador
00:22to Malaysia, Noriyuki Shikata, about where that relationship stands today and where it may be
00:28heading. Your Excellency, thank you so much for having us here today. Thank you very much. It's a real
00:37honor to be at the residence. Thank you so much for this beautiful appetizer. Would you be able
00:46to explain a little bit about what influenced you to create this and what's in this dish?
00:58We've been served a delicious array of sushi and really Japanese culinary tradition here on this plate,
01:13inspired also with some touches of Malaysian food. Right, right. I think both Japan and Malaysia have
01:21deep culinary traditions, very rich culinary traditions. If you were to describe your
01:27favorite dish in terms of Japanese cuisine and your favorite dish in Malaysian cuisine,
01:32what would they be and why? There are so many Japanese dishes that I like. For example,
01:39for example, sukiyaki or miso soup or okonomiyaki, for example. You know, great thing about the
01:49Malaysian environment, especially living in Kuala Lumpur is there are so many Japanese restaurants
01:57which are very good. And my hypothesis is because Malaysia has different dishes like Malay,
02:09Indian, Chinese, Nyonya. And many chefs are good at cooking different styles of cuisines. So what
02:19I'm finding after coming here during the last one year is there's so much potential for the
02:29fusion between Japanese and Malay cuisine.
02:33For Shikata, food offers a practical example of how cultural exchange can strengthen ties between
02:41countries.
02:43In Malaysia there has been a look with policy since the 1980s. I have been advocating personally
02:51look at each other's policy. So now I see more Japanese students, for example graduating from
02:59Japanese high schools, come to Malaysia to study. And Malaysia offers such an ethnically, religiously
03:07diverse environment which we may not have in Japan.
03:12we have to use this one.
03:21It's the best tool to teach people as a craftsman.
03:23And here is a little more important for the food in the Korean culture.
03:26It's a big issue to teach people. You can use this part of the food industry.
03:30It's a big issue in the parliament, that is that it's a big issue.
03:35Let the food industry ensure that the food industry has all of these things.
03:39and they are also in the Japanese food and coconut milk.
03:49Let's talk a little bit about international relations, geopolitics, which we touched on earlier.
03:54In 2023, Malaysia and Japan sort of upgraded our relationship from a standard base from what it was before to something called the Comprehensive Institute Partnership or CSP.
04:06Could you give a little bit of explanation of what that is and what that looks like for both countries in the long term?
04:11Right. Our relations have been elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership.
04:19That includes not only educational exchange, higher education, but more cooperation in the more advanced technology areas.
04:32Many Japanese companies have been investing in green investments in Malaysia.
04:39What we are trying to promote is broader collaboration in the fields of security, economics, education or even cultural exchanges.
04:54That cooperation is taking place against a more uncertain regional backdrop.
05:00There are lots of uncertainties in the international political landscape.
05:06Even when we look at the regional landscape, there are issues including in the situation of Myanmar or continuing border conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia.
05:23What we wish to support is to promote this idea of free and open Indo-Pacific.
05:31Economic security is also reshaping Japan's foreign policy priorities.
05:40During the last several years, our government has been tackling the issue of coming up with a new economic security policy, including introduction of new economic security legal framework.
05:57And this is a part of broader national security policy.
06:03It is very important to have our own strategic industries.
06:09And we wish to diversify the countries that we import our essential resources.
06:19This could translate into more trade and investment between Japan and Malaysia.
06:31We are like-minded countries.
06:33And Malaysia is a trusted country for Japan.
06:38Today the main dish is welcome.
06:59Food, in this case, is not just symbolic.
07:02It is opening doors to new areas of trade and investment.
07:08There is a renewed interest on the side of Japanese companies
07:13to invest in Malaysia in the food sector.
07:18And this also could be coupled with the introduction of smart agriculture.
07:26So when I go to Cameroon Highlands, there are Japanese farmers.
07:32Start-up companies started to produce Japanese-style strawberries
07:38that could be brought to KL or exported to Singapore.
07:43So this is a new collaboration taking place,
07:49including introduction of halal culture to Japanese companies.
07:56Today's dessert is a Korean food from Chicago.
08:03It's a hot sauce that's made with cinnamon, but it's original.
08:08It's a green one that's used in Malaysia.
08:11It's a red one that's used in Malaysia.
08:13It's made with an axi.
08:15It's made with an axi.
08:17Your Excellency, I think one thing that Japan is really known for is its technology advancement.
08:27Malaysia has a lot to learn and can learn a lot and there's a sort of reciprocal relationship there.
08:33Malaysia is looking to explore nuclear energy and I think Japan has many lessons to share.
08:41What do you think can be the future of such a collaborative partnership?
08:45For the Japanese energy mix, civil nuclear power plant is very important.
08:51Of course, we had Fukushima nuclear power plant accidents in 2011.
08:59We have learned lessons, you know, hard way.
09:03At the same time, after the incident, we have further strengthened safety measures
09:12and I do know that Malaysia has a plan to introduce civil nuclear power plants in this country.
09:22And this is something we would be most delighted to collaborate with Malaysia.
09:30While discussions on nuclear energy point to the future,
09:33Japan's energy relationship with Malaysia is already anchored in existing supply arrangements.
09:39We trust Malaysia as a very reliable supplier of energy, especially energy.
09:49I think in my position as an ambassador of Japan to Malaysia,
09:53we wish to promote cultural exchange, educational exchange,
09:57and to let more Japanese, especially young people,
10:03to come to Sabah or Sarawak or Peninsula.
10:07And that this would be conducive to our long-term relationship based on trust.
10:17From the table to the policy arena,
10:19Japan and Malaysia's relationship is evolving beyond symbolism into substance.
10:25Rooted in trust and shaped by shared priorities,
10:29from energy and education to sustainability and advanced industry,
10:33both countries are looking not just at where they have been,
10:37but where they can go together.
10:41In a region marked by uncertainty,
10:43this is a partnership built for the long term.
10:46Hanakam FMT.
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