Japanese and Ethiopian relations in the 1930s

Tigrai Online December 2, 2014

In the 1930s relationship between Japan and Ethiopia was so strong a marriage was arranged between an Ethiopian prince and a Japanese woman

In the 1930s relationship between Japan and Ethiopia was so strong a marriage was arranged between an Ethiopian prince and a Japanese woman. Kuroda Masako proposed marriage between Araya Abebe of Ethiopia [Right] and Kuroda Masako of Japan At the home of Mr. Sumioka. Front row, right to left: Araya Abeba, Foreign Minister Heruy Woldesilassie, Lij Teferi, and the interpreter, Daba Birru. In the back row are Mr. and Mrs. Sumioka. Picture taken from Heruy's Dai Nihon. “Marriage Alliance: The Union of Two Imperiums, Japan and Ethiopia?” This paper was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Florida Conference of Historians.

Japan is one of the biggest supporters of Ethiopian development. In January 2014 the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Ethiopia to strengthen the historical relationship of the two countries.

Shinzo Abe announced Japan will give 500 million Yin to help with Ethiopia's Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP).