On 25 August, 2022, I had the honour to present the letter of credential to H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, which officially let me start my activities as Ambassador of Japan in the United Republic of Tanzania.
Last December, Tanzania celebrated the 60th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Tanganyika, while I happened to become 60 years old as well. Unlike myself Tanzania is now in the midst of its powerful youth as a country. The average age of the population of 62 million is about 18 years old*, and the population continues to grow by about 3% or 1.8 million people every year.
*The average age of population of 120 million in Japan is about 48 years old.
Daily news that I see in Tanzania bring back fond old memories of mine from Japan. During Japan's post-war period, the population growth rate was about 3% at the peak of the first baby boom (Japan’s population in 1946 was 76 million). When I grew up in the second baby boom in 1960s and 70s, the number of children in elementary schools was steadily increasing. I still clearly remember the atmosphere with full of expectations and changes for tomorrow in daily life. While we suffered from two energy crises (1973 and 1977), frenzy inflation and serious environmental issues, we were also excited with new and cool things happening to us such as Shinkansen-Super-Express (bullet train), the Expo70-Osaka and other large-scale events. I am very curious about how and what kind of future young Tanzania will be entering into.
Japan, which is quite far from Tanzania geographically and ethnically, has also much in common with this beautiful country. Both of the countries are blessed with wonderful nature, splendid mountains such as Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Fuji, and tropical islands like Zanzibar and Okinawa with a long history and rich culture. Moreover, in both countries kind and gentle people welcome you warmly no matter where you are originally from. I believe that Japan and Tanzania can and should learn from each other and work together in tackling various national, regional and global challenges in a unique way.
As Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, I would like to do my utmost to promote exchange and cooperation between Japan and Tanzania. To this end, I would like to ask for the support from you all.
Yasushi Misawa