National Day Reception 2026 - Celebrating the 66th Birthday of His Majesty Emperor of Japan
2026/2/23
On February 11, the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia hosted a reception to celebrate the 66th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Around 450 guests, including the Guest of Honour, The Honourable Haji Akmal Nasrullah bin Haji Mohd Nasir, Minister of Economy Malaysia, attended the reception.
At the ceremony, The Honourable Haji Akmal Nasrullah bin Haji Mohd Nasir proposed a toast, extending congratulations on the Emperor’s Birthday and expressing his hope to further strengthen the Japan–Malaysia relations. At his remarks, Ambassador SHIKATA Noriyuki paid tribute to Malaysia’s achievements as the ASEAN Chair in 2025 and reaffirmed the intention to further deepen bilateral cooperation following the Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae’s visit to Malaysia in October 2025. Ambassador Shikata also highlighted cooperation in the field of maritime security through OSA (Official Security Assistance), as well as broader collaboration in the areas of energy and economic security, including decarbonization cooperation under the Asia Zero Emission Community (such as CCS, ammonia-fired power generation, and civil nuclear energy), stable LNG supply, rare earths, and AI. He also commended the long-standing people-to-people exchanges and educational cooperation between the two countries, expressing his expectation for further expanding exchanges that deepen mutual understanding among the younger generation in Japan and Malaysia. The ceremony also featured solo performances of the national anthems of Japan and Malaysia by opera singer Ms. SUZUKI Saori.
At the entrance, an ikebana arrangement using Malaysian flowers was displayed in anticipation of GREEN×EXPO 2027. In addition, numerous booths were set up inside and outside the venue to showcase Japan’s advanced technologies, products, and food and beverage items. A live cooking performance featuring Japanese sushi such as Aomori Prefecture salmon, as well as sukiyaki using Miyazaki Prefecture Wagyu beef, was also presented. Guests enjoyed Japanese cuisine and drinks such as sake while experiencing the wide-ranging appeal of Japan.
At the ceremony, The Honourable Haji Akmal Nasrullah bin Haji Mohd Nasir proposed a toast, extending congratulations on the Emperor’s Birthday and expressing his hope to further strengthen the Japan–Malaysia relations. At his remarks, Ambassador SHIKATA Noriyuki paid tribute to Malaysia’s achievements as the ASEAN Chair in 2025 and reaffirmed the intention to further deepen bilateral cooperation following the Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae’s visit to Malaysia in October 2025. Ambassador Shikata also highlighted cooperation in the field of maritime security through OSA (Official Security Assistance), as well as broader collaboration in the areas of energy and economic security, including decarbonization cooperation under the Asia Zero Emission Community (such as CCS, ammonia-fired power generation, and civil nuclear energy), stable LNG supply, rare earths, and AI. He also commended the long-standing people-to-people exchanges and educational cooperation between the two countries, expressing his expectation for further expanding exchanges that deepen mutual understanding among the younger generation in Japan and Malaysia. The ceremony also featured solo performances of the national anthems of Japan and Malaysia by opera singer Ms. SUZUKI Saori.
At the entrance, an ikebana arrangement using Malaysian flowers was displayed in anticipation of GREEN×EXPO 2027. In addition, numerous booths were set up inside and outside the venue to showcase Japan’s advanced technologies, products, and food and beverage items. A live cooking performance featuring Japanese sushi such as Aomori Prefecture salmon, as well as sukiyaki using Miyazaki Prefecture Wagyu beef, was also presented. Guests enjoyed Japanese cuisine and drinks such as sake while experiencing the wide-ranging appeal of Japan.