President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono The End Of His State Visit In Japan In History Today, November 29, 2006

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono & Ani Yudhoyono took a photo with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe & Akie Abe shortly before the dinner in 2013. (Twitter/@sbyudhoyono)

JAKARTA History today, 16 years ago, November 29, 2006, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) ended his state visit in Japan. He left Japan via Haneda International Airport. SBY and his entourage continued their state trip to Russia.

Previously, SBY's visit to Japan was to maintain the warmth of the friendship between Tokyo and Jakarta since the Soekarno era. At that time, SBY was hosted by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Sacrinas Michiko Shoda.

Relations between Indonesia and Japan had experienced ups and downs. Japan has colonized the bumiputras for 3.5 years. These memories are considered to hurt the Indonesian people. Moreover, the actions of the Japanese colonialists were even worse than the Dutch colonialists.

The bumiputras were squeezed like dairy cows until they were thin. All for the sake of war that was inflamed by Japan. Hate for Japan then ingrained. Even though Japan was initially believed to be the savior. However, Indonesian independence opened up everything. Mainly the space of peace between Indonesia and Japan.

The two countries signed two agreements. First, the peace agreement. Second, the war stamp agreement. The peace made Soekarno soar its lighthouse project. Many of the buildings and monuments to the iconic initiation were financed from the war pasing fund.

The relationship between Indonesia and Japan got better when Soekarno married the colors of the Japanese state, Neoko farto in 1962. This warmth resulted in cooperation in various sectors. Some of the cooperation is related to the arts and cultural sectors.

On December 9, 1957 was drafted a draft of the stamp agreement, and finally on January 20, 1958, the agreement documents were signed by Foreign Ministers Fujiyama Aiichiro and Subandrio. The 1958 war pampasan agreement was part or derivative of the 1951 San Francisco agreement. These two agreements became a new foothold in bilateral relations between Indonesia and Japan after decades in advance relations with Indonesia were not considered as Indonesia but as a Dutch East Indies country under Dutch occupation.

This agreement is divided into two, the first is the peace agreement and the second is the war stamp agreement. For the peace agreement, it regulates matters related to the desire to end the status of war and create a peaceful situation between the two countries. This agreement contains seven articles, and the war pasing that must be paid by Japan is regulated and enforced in article 4 in the agreement, "said Moh. Gandhi Amanullah in the book Equatorial Sun: Indonesian Relations - Japan in the Specifics of Sastra and Social Culture (2020).

The harmonious relationship between Japan and Indonesia lasted a long time. In fact, the relationship was maintained until SBY became the 6th President of Indonesia. In order to maintain this good relationship, SBY also visited Japan on 26-29 November 2006.

SBY's state visit included visiting Japan's Emperor and treasurer at Imperial Palace on November 27, 2006. The day after, SBY received an honorary doctorate in Media and Government from Keio University. Only on November 29, 2006, SBY ended his visit to Japan and continued his visit to Russia.

The President of the Republic of Indonesia, YM Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Mrs. Kristiani, along with their entourage, will hold a state visit to Japan on November 26-29, 2006. While in Japan, the President and Mrs. Kristiani will hold an honorary visit to the Emperor of Japan and his wife.

His Majesty the Emperor and wife will hold a state dinner to honor the President and Mrs. Kristen. The President will also hold a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The Japanese government sincerely welcomes the visit of the President and Mrs. Kristen, where this visit will strengthen the friendly relations that have been established between Indonesia and Japan," it wrote on the official website of the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia.