JapanβPortugal relations are the current and historical diplomatic, cultural and trade relations between Japan and Portugal. The history of relations between the two nations goes back to the midth century, when Portuguese sailors first arrived in Japan in , and diplomatic relations officially restarted in the 19th century with the Treaty of Peace, Amity and Commerce.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to meet the Japanese, in the 16th century. The firearms they introduced subsequently had a great impact on the unification of Japan, and the following era of trade spurred economic development.
Both nations are members of the World Trade Organization. Since Japan has had associate observer status in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. In , Japanese citizens were registered in Portugal [ 3 ] and Portuguese were registered in Japan.
The first affiliation between Portugal and Japan started in , when Portuguese explorers landed in the southern archipelago of Japan, becoming the first Europeans to reach Japan. As soon as the first Portuguese arrived in , Portuguese traders and merchants began looking for trading opportunities in Japan. This period of time is often entitled Nanban trade , where both Portuguese and Japanese would engage in mercantilism and cultural exchange.
The cargo of the first Portuguese ships called kurofune , " Black Ships ", by the Japanese upon docking in Japan were basically cargo coming from China silk, porcelain, etc.
