Japan–Trinidad and Tobago relations Japan–Trinidad and Tobago relations Japan and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago have had established diplomatic relations since May 1964, two years after the isles had attained their independence in 1962. Relations between Japan and Trinidad and Tobago have been strengthened over the years by many visits. Eric Williams, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, made official visits to Japan in 1974 and 1975. The Embassy of Japan at Port of Spain, was opened in 1979. In 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan paid a visit to Trinidad and Tobago as part of his wider
Hakubun Shimomura deputy chief cabinet secretary in the first government of Shinzo Abe in 2006. Shimomura was again appointed to the Cabinet by Shinzo Abe as minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology on 26 December 2012. As minister, Shimomura expanded the ability of local schools to provide Saturday classes and pushed for the globalization of Japanese universities by increasing English skills and hiring more foreign faculty. He oversaw preparations by the Organising Committee for the 2020 Summer Olympics on behalf of the national government in Tokyo before being replaced by Olympics Minister Toshiaki Endo on June 25, 2015. Following the