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\t\t\t\t\t\t28\/10\/2025<\/span> The European Space Agency has announced it is establishing a new presence in Tokyo, Japan, its first in Asia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n ESA will now have a staff member working in the heart of Tokyo\u2019s thriving innovation hub X-NIHONBASHI, reinforcing ESA\u2019s long-standing and trusted partnership with Japan and working to deepen cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Japan\u2019s vibrant and rapidly growing space ecosystem, including its start-up sector.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The announcement was made by Eric Morel de Westgaver, ESA Director of Strategy, Legal and External Matters, during a keynote speech at Nihonbashi Space Week. Marking more than than 50 years of achievements shared by Europe and Japan he said: \u201cThis is a treasured cooperation, older than ESA itself, dating back to Japan’s cooperation with the European Space Research Organisation, one of ESA’s precursor organisations. Today, ESA and JAXA are together in low Earth orbit with the Earth observation mission EarthCARE, travelling through the Solar System to Mercury with BepiColombo and closing in on the asteroid system Dimorphos with Hera.\u201d<\/p>\n The speech also highlighted the growing cooperation between ESA and Japan, exemplified by new plans for Europe’s Ramses and Japan’s Destiny+ planetary defence missions to launch together.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General said: \u201cOur relationship with Japan is built on decades of trust and scientific excellence.\u00a0 The establishment of an ESA presence in Japan signals our clear intention to elevate our cooperation with Japan across all domains of space \u2013 from Earth observation and planetary defence to science, human and robotic exploration and commercialisation. This will allow us to foster closer ties not only with JAXA but also with Japan\u2019s dynamic and innovative space industry.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Hiroshi Yamakawa, JAXA President said: \u201cJAXA warmly welcomes the establishment of ESA\u2019s presence in Japan. Over the years, ESA and JAXA have built a strong partnership through collaborations across a wide range of space activities. In November 2024, we signed a joint statement on Next Big Cooperations. We are confident that ESA\u2019s presence in Japan will enable closer communication, deepen the relationship between our two agencies, and contribute to addressing global challenges and advancing space science and technology.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The decision to establish a permanent ESA presence in Japan follows the successful ESA delegation visit to Tokyo during Nihonbashi Space Week in November 2024, led by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. That visit culminated in the signing of the\u202fJoint Statement on Next Big Cooperations\u202fbetween ESA and JAXA, setting the course for an ambitious new chapter in European-Japanese space collaboration.\u00a0The\u202fJoint Statement on Next Big Cooperations\u202f\u00a0outlines ambitious areas for future joint missions, including planetary defence, Earth observation, low Earth orbit and exploration, and space science. ESA\u2019s representation in Japan will be based in an office situated at the X-NIHONBASHI Tower, operated jointly by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. and Cross U, key players in Japan\u2019s open innovation landscape. The facility has become a nexus for the growing space business community in Japan, bringing together start-ups, academia, government agencies \u2013 and now ESA \u2013 to catalyse new ventures and collaborative opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n By establishing a presence in Japan, ESA will be able to support joint programmatic initiatives on-site from Tokyo, facilitate inter-agency coordination, and act as a bridge between European and Japanese stakeholders in the governmental and commercial space sectors. The new ESA office in Tokyo builds on the model of ESA\u2019s Washington Office, serving as a strategic outpost for deepening bilateral engagement.\u00a0<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s space sector continues to show global leadership and innovation, making it a natural and valued partner for ESA. With common interests and shared challenges \u2013 including sustainable use of space, climate monitoring, and fostering a competitive space economy \u2013 the ESA-Japan relationship stands as a cornerstone of global space cooperation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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