4 July 1995
I would like to express my heartfelt welcome to His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Africa on this occasion of his first visit to Japan as a State Guest. It is with great pleasure that I spend this evening in his company here.
The Republic of South Africa has made a strong impression on all people by overcoming a past of racial and tribal antagonisms and peacefully and democratically promoting internal reform. I would like to express my profound admiration for the faith and courageous conduct with which Your Excellency, after enduring long years of trials and tribulations, brought freedom to the people of your country.
Today, throughout the world, all manner of confrontations give rise to unending conflicts in which many lives are lost. I believe therefore that people should earnestly seek to understand each other's standpoints and move forward together with peace as their goal. To a world such as this, Your Excellency's unsparing efforts to promote harmony within your own country in a spirit of reconciliation and through dialogue have brought bright hope.
Relations between Japan and the Republic of South Africa began in 1910, when my country appointed Mr. Ieppe Julius Honorary Consul of Japan in Cape Town. With the subsequent development in trade, Japan's first consulate in Africa was established in Cape Town in 1918. Then, in 1926, a regular ocean service started, linking Kobe and Durban. Thereafter, relations between our two countries went through many vicissitudes, and, after a period of 50 years, diplomatic relations were re-established three years ago. I am truly happy to note that, since Your Excellency's country was reborn last year as a new democratic State, relations between our two countries have rapidly become close, with not only a cooperative relationship in the fields of politics and economy, but with briskly increasing exchanges in the areas of culture and sports as well.
It is my hope that Your Excellency's visit will further deepen the feelings of mutual trust and understanding between our two countries, and that Japan and the Republic of South Africa will together redouble their cooperation directed towards peace and prosperity.
I sincerely hope that while in Japan, Your Excellency will be able to deepen your exchanges with many people from a wide variety of fields of activity, so that Your Excellency's visit, although brief, may be a very fruitful one.
I should now like to propose a toast to the good health and happiness of His Excellency President Nelson Mandela, and to the happiness of the people of the Republic of South Africa.