150 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan

At the Embassy of Japan in Bern, Alain Berset celebrates 150 years of bilateral relations. With Ambassador Ryuhei Maeda, he performs the kagami-wari, the ritual opening of a sake cask, before some 130 guests.

His speech recalls the mission of Aimé Humbert: having arrived in Yokohama in April 1863, it waited nearly a year before being received, then concluded the treaty within a few days, in February 1864. Switzerland was the first landlocked country to establish relations with Japan.

Speeches on this site

• 150 ans de relations diplomatiques entre la Suisse et le Japon (French-language page)

Sources

• FDHA, press release of 25.03.2014