Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a working visit to Japan from 21 to 27 August 2025.

In Tokyo, Senior Minister Lee called on, was hosted to lunch by, and received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. Senior Minister Lee also met former Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, Mrs Abe Akie, spouse of the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, Japanese business leaders, members of the Japan-Singapore Parliamentary Friendship League, and a group of young Japanese politicians. Senior Minister Lee also attended a National Day reception with about 600 overseas Singaporeans in Tokyo. These meetings reflected the strength and depth of Singapore’s ties with Japan and provided opportunities for advancing bilateral cooperation in important areas of mutual interest like the digital economy, green economy, defence technology, and sustainability, ahead of the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan in 2026.

In Osaka, Senior Minister Lee attended the Singapore National Day Celebrations at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and toured the Japan Pavilion, Pasona Natureverse Pavilion, and Singapore Pavilion. He also attended a reception with Singaporeans at the Singapore Pavilion. Senior Minister Lee also had fruitful meetings with Japanese business leaders based in Osaka and Kansai and visited the Shimano Advanced Manufacturing Facility. These meetings reaffirmed Singapore’s longstanding and deep economic ties with Japan. 

Senior Minister Lee will depart Japan for Singapore today. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

27 AUGUST 2025