Indonesia–Japan relations
Encyclopedia
Indonesia–Japan relations are foreign bilateral relations between Indonesia
and Japan
. Indonesia and Japan are two Asian nations which share historical, economic, and political ties, which have grown especially close since World War II
. Japan is Indonesia's largest export
partner and also a major donor of development aid to Indonesia through Japan International Cooperation Agency
. Indonesia is Japanese vital supplier of natural resources such as liquid natural gas. Both countries are members of G20 and APEC. Today in Indonesia there are about 11,000 Japanese expatriates whereas in Japan there are approximately 24,000 Indonesian nationals working and training.
Indonesia has an embassy in Tokyo and a consulate in Osaka
. Japan has an embassy in Jakarta
and consulates in Medan
, Denpasar
, Surabaya
, and Makassar
.
(now Indonesia
) (see: Japanese migration to Indonesia
). A larger wave came in the 17th century, when Red seal ships
traded in Southeast Asia. In 1898 the Dutch East Indies colonial records show 614 Japanese residing in the Dutch East Indies (166 men, 448 women). As the Japanese population grew, a Japanese consulate was established in Batavia in 1909, but for the first several years its population statistics were rather haphazard. Beginning in the late 1920s, Okinawan fishermen began to settle in north Sulawesi
. There was a Japanese primary school at Manado
, which by 1939 had 18 students. In total, 6,349 Japanese people lived in Indonesia by 1938.
In 1942 Japanese Empire invaded Southeast Asia (see: Japanese occupation of Indonesia
). The Japanese seized the key oil production zones of Borneo
, Java
, Sumatra
, and Dutch New Guinea (the modern day Indonesian province of Papua, which was also conveniently abundant in highly valuable copper
) of the late Dutch East Indies
, defeating the Dutch forces and were welcomed ecstatically as liberating heroes by the oppressed Indonesian natives according to their indigenous Javanese prophecy. The Japanese encouraged the spread of Indonesian nationalist sentiment. Although this was done more for Japanese political advantage than from altruistic support of Indonesian independence, this support created new Indonesian institutions and elevated political leaders such as Sukarno
. Through recruiting Indonesian nationalist leaders,the Japanese attempted to rally Indonesian support and mobilize the Indonesian people in support of the Japanese war efforts. The experience of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia varied considerably, depending upon where one's location and social position. Many who lived in areas considered essential to the war effort endured torture
, sex slavery, arbitrary arrest and execution, and other war crimes. Many thousands of people were taken away from Indonesia as forced laborers, or romusha
, for Japanese military projects.
To gain military support from Indonesian people in their war against Western Allied force
, Japan began to foster Indonesian nationalistic movements by providing Indonesian youth with military training and weapons, including the formation of volunteer army called PETA
(Pembela Tanah Air – Defenders of the Homeland). The Japanese military training of Indonesian youth originally was intended to rally the local's support to bolster the collapsing power of Japanese Empire. However later this military training became a significant asset for the Indonesian Republic during the National Revolution
from 1945 to 1949.
In 1945 with the Japanese on the brink of defeat, the Dutch sought to re-establish their authority in Indonesia, and requested the Japanese army "preserve law and order" in Indonesia. Unfortunately for the Dutch, the Japanese favored helping Indonesian nationalists prepare for self-government. On 7 September 1944, as the war was going badly for the Japanese, Prime Minister Koiso promised independence for Indonesia, although the Prime Minister failed to set a date for this independence. On 29 April 1945, Japanese occupation force formed the BPUPKI (Indonesian Independence Effort Exploratory Committee) , a Japanese-organized committee for granting independence to Indonesia. The organization was founded on April 29, 1945 by Lt. Gen. Kumakichi Harada, the commander of 16th Army in Java. Indonesian independence meeting and discussion were prepared through this organization, although the later Indonesian Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945 was held independently by Sukarno, Hatta, and Indonesian youth without official support of Japan.
soldiers chose to remain in Indonesia and fight alongside local people against the Dutch colonists in the Indonesian National Revolution
; roughly one-third were killed, of whom many are buried in the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery
), while another third chose to remain in Indonesia after the fighting ended, some of them becoming decorated as Indonesian independence heroes.
In the 1970s, Japanese manufacturers, especially those in the electronics sector, began establishing factories in Indonesia; this encouraged the migration of a new wave of Japanese expatriates, mainly managers and technical staff connected to large Japanese corporations. The Japanese automotive
industry also began to dominate Indonesian market and today Japanese car manufacturers enjoys the largest market shares in Indonesia. Simultaneously Japanese consumer products began to pour into Indonesian market.
However the Japanese economic domination over Indonesia has led to the popular opposition that escalated into the Malari incident
, (abbreviations of Indonesian: Malapetaka Limabelas Januari or "Fifteen January disaster") when anti-Japanese and anti-foreign investments demonstration led to riots on 15 January 1974, during Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei's state visit to Jakarta on 14—17 January 1974.
Japanese investment in Indonesia has steadily increased since 1980s continued well to 21st century.
, liquefied natural gas
, coal
, minerals, paper pulp
, seafood such as shrimp
and tuna
, and coffee
. Traditionally Indonesia has been regarded as a major market of Japanese automotive and electronic goods. For Japanese businesses, Indonesia has been a location for low-cost manufacturing operations as well as being the source of various natural resources required by those operations. Approximately 1,000 Japanese companies operate in Indonesia which employ approximately 300,000 people. Major Japanese factories are concentrated east of Jakarta with high concentrations in Bekasi
, Cikarang
and Karawang
, West Java
.
A new trend in Japanese direct investment in Indonesia has emerged as a result of increasing incomes, a large population, and the increase in consumption of consumer goods in Indonesia. Consequently Japanese direct investment is no longer limited to traditional sectors but now also include retail, media, and consumer products sectors. Japanese restaurant chains such as Ootoya, Yoshinoya
, and Ebisu Curry, minimarkets such as 7-Eleven
, fashion, retail and household appliances stores such as Sogo
and MUJI, and bookstores such as Kinokuniya have recently entered the market in Indonesia. Taisho Pharmaceutical
recently acquired Bristol Myers Indonesia. There is much more potential for Japanese investors preparing to enter the Indonesian market. The investment of these new corporations is encouraged by the success of several Japanese companies. Ajinomoto
is planning the construction of a new $50 million (USD) factory in Indonesia.
, Japanese culture has also influenced Indonesian youth through pop culture phenomenon such as manga
, anime
, J-Pop
, and video games. Popular Japanese animation programming such as Doraemon
gained popularity among Indonesian families and children. Conversely, many Japanese have become interested in Indonesian culture. Indonesian cultural icons such as batik
, gamelan
, and Indonesian dances have gained Japanese attention. Bali
and Borobudur
have become popular destinations for Japanese tourists: Japan is one of the largest sources of tourism in Bali.
There are over 85,000 Indonesians studying the Japanese language
, the largest number in Southeast Asia and the sixth largest in the world. The Indonesian interest in the Japanese language has been kindled by the increasing amount of Japanese business in Indonesia since 1980 s and the sizable number of Japanese tourists visiting Indonesia. Proficiency in Japanese has become quite an asset for Indonesian workers.
In Jakarta
, Grand Wijaya Center and Blok M
have clusters of businesses catering to Japanese expatriates, including restaurants and supermarkets selling imported food products; Blok M, in particular, is noted for its concentration of izakaya
. As a result of the high number of Japanese–style businesses and entertainments, the area around Blok M and Melawai Raya Street have come to be known as as Jakarta's "Little Tokyo".
). Among ASEAN countries, Indonesia is the largest Japan's Official Development Assisstance
recipient.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Indonesia and Japan are two Asian nations which share historical, economic, and political ties, which have grown especially close since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Japan is Indonesia's largest export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
partner and also a major donor of development aid to Indonesia through Japan International Cooperation Agency
Japan International Cooperation Agency
The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan...
. Indonesia is Japanese vital supplier of natural resources such as liquid natural gas. Both countries are members of G20 and APEC. Today in Indonesia there are about 11,000 Japanese expatriates whereas in Japan there are approximately 24,000 Indonesian nationals working and training.
Indonesia has an embassy in Tokyo and a consulate in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. Japan has an embassy in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
and consulates in Medan
Medan
- Demography :The city is Indonesia's fourth most populous after Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung, and Indonesia's largest city outside of Java island. Much of the population lies outside its city limits, especially in Deli Serdang....
, Denpasar
Denpasar
Denpasar is the capital city of the province of Bali, Indonesia. It has a rapidly expanding population of 788,445 in 2010, up from 533,252 in the previous decade. It is located at .-History:...
, Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
, and Makassar
Makassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
.
Colonial–era relations
In early 17th century Japanese settlers were first recorded to settle in Dutch East IndiesDutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
(now Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
) (see: Japanese migration to Indonesia
Japanese migration to Indonesia
Large-scale Japanese migration to Indonesia dates back to the late 19th century, though there was limited trade contact between Indonesia and Japan as early as the 17th century. There is a large population of Japanese expatriates in Indonesia, estimated at 11,263 people...
). A larger wave came in the 17th century, when Red seal ships
Red seal ships
were Japanese armed merchant sailing ships bound for Southeast Asian ports with a red-sealed patent issued by the early Tokugawa shogunate in the first half of the 17th century...
traded in Southeast Asia. In 1898 the Dutch East Indies colonial records show 614 Japanese residing in the Dutch East Indies (166 men, 448 women). As the Japanese population grew, a Japanese consulate was established in Batavia in 1909, but for the first several years its population statistics were rather haphazard. Beginning in the late 1920s, Okinawan fishermen began to settle in north Sulawesi
North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia. It is on the island of Sulawesi, and borders the province of Gorontalo to the west . The islands of Sangihe and Talaud form the northern part of the province, which border Davao del Sur in the Philippines.The capital and largest city in North Sulawesi is...
. There was a Japanese primary school at Manado
Manado
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
, which by 1939 had 18 students. In total, 6,349 Japanese people lived in Indonesia by 1938.
In 1942 Japanese Empire invaded Southeast Asia (see: Japanese occupation of Indonesia
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
). The Japanese seized the key oil production zones of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, and Dutch New Guinea (the modern day Indonesian province of Papua, which was also conveniently abundant in highly valuable copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
) of the late Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies campaign
The Dutch East Indies campaign of 1941–1942 was the conquest of the Dutch East Indies by forces from the Empire of Japan in the early days of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Forces from the Allies attempted unsuccessfully to defend the islands. Indonesia was targeted by the Japanese for its...
, defeating the Dutch forces and were welcomed ecstatically as liberating heroes by the oppressed Indonesian natives according to their indigenous Javanese prophecy. The Japanese encouraged the spread of Indonesian nationalist sentiment. Although this was done more for Japanese political advantage than from altruistic support of Indonesian independence, this support created new Indonesian institutions and elevated political leaders such as Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
. Through recruiting Indonesian nationalist leaders,the Japanese attempted to rally Indonesian support and mobilize the Indonesian people in support of the Japanese war efforts. The experience of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia varied considerably, depending upon where one's location and social position. Many who lived in areas considered essential to the war effort endured torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
, sex slavery, arbitrary arrest and execution, and other war crimes. Many thousands of people were taken away from Indonesia as forced laborers, or romusha
Romusha
were forced laborers during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia in World War II. The U.S. Library of Congress estimates that in Java, between four and 10 million romusha were forced to work by the Japanese military. About 270,000 of these Javanese laborers were sent to other Japanese-held areas...
, for Japanese military projects.
To gain military support from Indonesian people in their war against Western Allied force
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
, Japan began to foster Indonesian nationalistic movements by providing Indonesian youth with military training and weapons, including the formation of volunteer army called PETA
PETA (Indonesia)
PETA or was an Indonesian volunteer army established on 3 October 1943 in Indonesia by the occupying Japanese. The Japanese intended PETA to assist their forces oppose a possible invasion by the Allies...
(Pembela Tanah Air – Defenders of the Homeland). The Japanese military training of Indonesian youth originally was intended to rally the local's support to bolster the collapsing power of Japanese Empire. However later this military training became a significant asset for the Indonesian Republic during the National Revolution
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
from 1945 to 1949.
In 1945 with the Japanese on the brink of defeat, the Dutch sought to re-establish their authority in Indonesia, and requested the Japanese army "preserve law and order" in Indonesia. Unfortunately for the Dutch, the Japanese favored helping Indonesian nationalists prepare for self-government. On 7 September 1944, as the war was going badly for the Japanese, Prime Minister Koiso promised independence for Indonesia, although the Prime Minister failed to set a date for this independence. On 29 April 1945, Japanese occupation force formed the BPUPKI (Indonesian Independence Effort Exploratory Committee) , a Japanese-organized committee for granting independence to Indonesia. The organization was founded on April 29, 1945 by Lt. Gen. Kumakichi Harada, the commander of 16th Army in Java. Indonesian independence meeting and discussion were prepared through this organization, although the later Indonesian Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945 was held independently by Sukarno, Hatta, and Indonesian youth without official support of Japan.
Indonesian Republic–era relations
After the end of the 1942-1945 Japanese occupation of Indonesia, roughly 3,000 Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
soldiers chose to remain in Indonesia and fight alongside local people against the Dutch colonists in the Indonesian National Revolution
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
; roughly one-third were killed, of whom many are buried in the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery
Kalibata Heroes Cemetery
Kalibata Heroes Cemetery , in Kalibata, South Jakarta is a military cemetery in Indonesia. More than 7000 people who are military casualties and veterans from Indonesian War of Independence were buried...
), while another third chose to remain in Indonesia after the fighting ended, some of them becoming decorated as Indonesian independence heroes.
In the 1970s, Japanese manufacturers, especially those in the electronics sector, began establishing factories in Indonesia; this encouraged the migration of a new wave of Japanese expatriates, mainly managers and technical staff connected to large Japanese corporations. The Japanese automotive
Automotive industry in Japan
The Japanese automotive industry is one of the most prominent industries in the world. Japan was the world's largest vehicle manufacturer in 2008 but lost one rank in 2009 to current leader China...
industry also began to dominate Indonesian market and today Japanese car manufacturers enjoys the largest market shares in Indonesia. Simultaneously Japanese consumer products began to pour into Indonesian market.
However the Japanese economic domination over Indonesia has led to the popular opposition that escalated into the Malari incident
Malari incident
The Malari incident was a student demonstration and riot that happened from 15 to 16 January 1974. In reaction to a state visit by Japan Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, students held a demonstration protesting corruption, high prices, and inequality in foreign investments...
, (abbreviations of Indonesian: Malapetaka Limabelas Januari or "Fifteen January disaster") when anti-Japanese and anti-foreign investments demonstration led to riots on 15 January 1974, during Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei's state visit to Jakarta on 14—17 January 1974.
Japanese investment in Indonesia has steadily increased since 1980s continued well to 21st century.
Economic relations
Japan has been investing in Indonesia for decades, particularly in the automotive, electronic goods, energy, and mining sectors. Prior to the formation of the Indonesian Republic, the Japanese had viewed Indonesia as a important source of natural resources. The Japanese need of natural resources was among the reasons that led the nation to advance further to the south in their military conquests during World War II. Today Indonesia is Japan's major supplier for natural rubberRubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, liquefied natural gas
Liquefied natural gas
Liquefied natural gas or LNG is natural gas that has been converted temporarily to liquid form for ease of storage or transport....
, coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, minerals, paper pulp
Pulp (paper)
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
, seafood such as shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
and tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
, and coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
. Traditionally Indonesia has been regarded as a major market of Japanese automotive and electronic goods. For Japanese businesses, Indonesia has been a location for low-cost manufacturing operations as well as being the source of various natural resources required by those operations. Approximately 1,000 Japanese companies operate in Indonesia which employ approximately 300,000 people. Major Japanese factories are concentrated east of Jakarta with high concentrations in Bekasi
Bekasi
Bekasi is a city in West Java, Indonesia, located on the eastern border of Jakarta in the Jabodetabek metropolitan region. To the south is Bogor Regency, east is Bekasi Regency....
, Cikarang
Cikarang
Cikarang is the capital of Bekasi Regency, West Java in Indonesia. Jababeka is the biggest industrial estate in Southeast Asia. Property projects have also been built in Cikarang, such as Lippo Cikarang, Cikarang Baru, and Kota Delta Mas. The last one is the office complex of Bekasi.-Cikarang Dry...
and Karawang
Karawang
Karawang is the capital of the Karawang Regency of West Java, Indonesia. It is located 32 miles east of Jakarta. Karawang has a population of 2,150,610 ....
, West Java
West Java
West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
.
A new trend in Japanese direct investment in Indonesia has emerged as a result of increasing incomes, a large population, and the increase in consumption of consumer goods in Indonesia. Consequently Japanese direct investment is no longer limited to traditional sectors but now also include retail, media, and consumer products sectors. Japanese restaurant chains such as Ootoya, Yoshinoya
Yoshinoya
Yoshinoya is the largest chain of beef bowl restaurants and one of the Japanese chains of fast food, which was established in Japan in 1899. Its motto is "Tasty, low-priced, and quick"...
, and Ebisu Curry, minimarkets such as 7-Eleven
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co...
, fashion, retail and household appliances stores such as Sogo
Sogo
Sogo Co., Ltd. is a department store chain that operates an extensive network of branches in Japan. It once owned stores in locations as diverse as Beijing in China, Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, Taipei in Taiwan, Jakarta, Medan, Bandung & Surabaya in Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Singapore,...
and MUJI, and bookstores such as Kinokuniya have recently entered the market in Indonesia. Taisho Pharmaceutical
Taisho Pharmaceutical
is a Japanese pharmaceutical company based in Tokyo.-History:Taisho was established in 1912 to produce over-the-counter drugs. The company moved into prescription drug R&D in 1955.-Products:...
recently acquired Bristol Myers Indonesia. There is much more potential for Japanese investors preparing to enter the Indonesian market. The investment of these new corporations is encouraged by the success of several Japanese companies. Ajinomoto
Ajinomoto
Ajinomoto Co. Inc. , is a Japanese food and chemical corporation which produces seasonings, cooking oils, TV dinners, sweeteners, amino acids and pharmaceuticals...
is planning the construction of a new $50 million (USD) factory in Indonesia.
Cultural exchange and tourism
Because of its unique culture, Japanese culture enjoyed popularity in Indonesia. Aside from the classic hallmarks of Japanese culture such as kimono, ikebana, origami, or samuraiSamurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
, Japanese culture has also influenced Indonesian youth through pop culture phenomenon such as manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, J-Pop
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
, and video games. Popular Japanese animation programming such as Doraemon
Doraemon
is a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio which later became an anime series and an Asian franchise...
gained popularity among Indonesian families and children. Conversely, many Japanese have become interested in Indonesian culture. Indonesian cultural icons such as batik
Batik
Batik is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and Singapore.Javanese traditional batik, especially from...
, gamelan
Gamelan
A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included....
, and Indonesian dances have gained Japanese attention. Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
and Borobudur
Borobudur
Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
have become popular destinations for Japanese tourists: Japan is one of the largest sources of tourism in Bali.
There are over 85,000 Indonesians studying the Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, the largest number in Southeast Asia and the sixth largest in the world. The Indonesian interest in the Japanese language has been kindled by the increasing amount of Japanese business in Indonesia since 1980 s and the sizable number of Japanese tourists visiting Indonesia. Proficiency in Japanese has become quite an asset for Indonesian workers.
In Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, Grand Wijaya Center and Blok M
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is less modern than some of the developments near Kota,...
have clusters of businesses catering to Japanese expatriates, including restaurants and supermarkets selling imported food products; Blok M, in particular, is noted for its concentration of izakaya
Izakaya
An is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. They are popular, casual places for after-work drinking.-Name:...
. As a result of the high number of Japanese–style businesses and entertainments, the area around Blok M and Melawai Raya Street have come to be known as as Jakarta's "Little Tokyo".
Japanese development aid
Japan is one of the largest donors of development aid to Indonesia; this development aid is facilitated through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICAJICA
KF3 is a kart racing class for top drivers aged 12 to 15 .This class used to be called Junior Intercontinental A and has changed since January 2007 when CIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc air-cooled two-stroke engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go water-cooled two-stroke...
). Among ASEAN countries, Indonesia is the largest Japan's Official Development Assisstance
Official Development Assistance (Japan)
The Official Development Assistance is an arm of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The goal of the office is to help developing nations with supplies, civil engineering and other assistance. The ODA was started in 1954 after Japan signed the Colombo Plan, which pledges to provide aid to...
recipient.
Country comparison
 Indonesia |
 Japan |
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 229,965,000 | 127,380,000 |
| Area | 31,919,440 km² (735,355 sq mi ) | 377,873 km2 (145,883 sq mi) |
| Population Density | 119.8/km² (312.7/sq mi) | 337.6/km2 (874.4/sq mi) |
| Capital | Jakarta Jakarta Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre... |
Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... |
| Largest City | Jakarta Jakarta Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre... - 8,500,000 |
Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... – 12,783,000 (32,450,000 Metro) |
| Government | Presidential Presidential system A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it.... (republic Republic A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of... ) |
Unitary Unitary state A unitary state is a state governed as one single unit in which the central government is supreme and any administrative divisions exercise only powers that their central government chooses to delegate... parliamentary Parliamentary system A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined.... constitutional monarchy Constitutional monarchy Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution... |
| Official languages | Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) Indonesian language Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries.... |
Japanese Japanese language is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an... (de facto) |
| Main religions | 86.1% Islam, 8.7% Christianity, 1.8% Hinduism, 1% Buddhism, 2.4% other | 83.9% Shinto Shinto or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written... , 71.4% Buddhism Buddhism Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th... , 2% Christianity Christianity Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings... , 0.6% Other (Figures exceed 100% since the people of Japan widely practice Shinto and Buddhism jointly) |
| Ethnic groups | See Ethnic Groups of Indonesia Ethnic groups in Indonesia There are over 300 ethnic groups in Indonesia. 95% of those are of Native Indonesians ancestry.The largest ethnic group in Indonesia is the Javanese who make up 41% of the total population. The Javanese are concentrated on the island of Java but millions have migrated to other islands throughout... |
98.5% Japanese Japanese people The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries... , 0.6% Other, 0.5% Korean, 0.4% Chinese Chinese people The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity .... |
| GDP (nominal) | $511.765 billion ($2,246 per capita) | $5.100 trillion ($38,559 per capita) |
| Military expenditures | $4,740 million | $48.86 billion (FY 2008) |