Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's historic three-day visit to Israel was ended hurriedly due to an Islamic State (ISIS) hostage crisis involving two Japanese nationals.
The visit highlights the meteoric developments in the Israeli-Japanese alliance that has been blossoming since Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's visit to Japan last May.
Areas the two sides are focusing on significantly include promoting exchanges between the defense establishments of Japan and Israel, along with cooperating in the field of new energy and cyber security.
The closer relationship between the two countries allows for economic cooperation. The expansion of Israeli exports and investment into the Japanese market will bring about more growth in the Israeli economy, as Japan has the third largest economy in the world. Israel also intends to open a trade office in Osaka for the Kansai Region of Japan, in the western region of the main Honshu island from Kanto where Tokyo is located.
The office will supplement the current Tokyo office and expand Israel's trade ties. Joint research grants awarded by Israel are also to be increased by a whopping 50% in 2015, and Israel is likewise to prepare for the planned visit of 500 young leaders from Japan in a program set to span three years.
Both countries are to promote two-way tourism, and work to advance the topics of direct flights and arrangements for working holidays. Likewise, a new "Sport for Tomorrow" program to promote bilateral cooperation and exchanges in the field of sport is to be advanced.
