Two naval ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze, made a port call in Muara on Thursday, docking in Brunei for three days.
Led by Rear Admiral Takahiro Nishiyama, Commander of the Japan Training Squadron of JMSDF, the ships carried 570 Japanese naval personnel including 200 newly commissioned officers of the 74th General Officer Candidate Course.
The visit, which was part of the Overseas Training Cruise 2024, aimed to promote friendship and goodwill with visiting countries and to contribute to the realisation of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’. It also provided trainee officers with on-the-job training opportunities through sea cruises.
The commanding officer of JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze and personnel were welcomed by Charge d’Affaires of the Japanese Embassy Atsushi Suda and Assistant Chief of Staff Operations Commander Malek Fadillah, Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) as well as officers from RBN.
During their stay from 30 May until 2 June, the Japanese naval personnel are set to visit the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Museum, Kampong Ayer, Brunei Arts and Handicraft Centre and mosques, among others.
What’s more exciting, a Japanese cultural show will be presented by the personnel onboard the ship including a harmonious performance by the JMSDF Band, Yosuka at Times Square Shopping Centre on 1 June 2024 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Brunei diplomatic relations. The celebration is dubbed “2024 Japan-Brunei Friendship Year” with hopes to deepen the bilateral cooperative relationship further.
After Brunei, the JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze naval ships will navigate their way to Victoria Port in Seychelles before continuing their journey to 10 other ports around the globe.
The overseas training cruise started on 20 May and will end on 11 November 2024, covering 13 ports in 11 countries namely – Japan, Brunei, Seychelles, South Africa, Senegal, Italy, Turkiye, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
