Tokyo meets the world: Djibouti

[The ambassadorship] has been a very good experience for me. I knew Japan through books, TV and the media [before arriving], but just as Africa appears very far away for the Japanese, Japan seemed very distant for me. Still, I have always been fascinated by Japanese culture and traditions, and when the decision was taken to send me to Japan, I was very happy. My background is in teaching and I had taught my students about Japan, but was not personally familiar with the country. 

When I arrived at Narita for the first time and passed through the city, its forests of buildings and highways, I saw it was very clean but seemingly empty – because I only noticed the buildings. On a different note, when I got to Narita, the [Japanese] ambassador was waiting for me and we got in a car together, and he told the driver massugu (‘straight ahead’). That’s my grandmother’s name, so I was like ‘Oh my god, the Japanese even know my grandmother’ [laughs]. Then he said migi (‘right’), and that word is the same in my language. Those were funny coincidences.

Living here, I’ve come to appreciate the coexistence of tradition and modernity – the kimono and nanotechnology. Some countries have forgotten their traditions and adopted everything from elsewhere, but Japan is different.

Djibouti is a small country, but we are located very strategically. We are the gateway to Africa, and [neighbouring] countries such as Ethiopia use Djibouti as their point of access to the sea. We are a free zone similar to Singapore, and at the international level we are trying to facilitate peaceful interaction. 

When I arrived in Japan, some people asked me ‘What is Djibouti?’. After a while, it became ‘Where is Djibouti?’. Now they say ‘Djibouti is good’. That’s partially thanks to our people-to-people diplomacy here, including organising festivals and other events in places like Yokohama and Hibiya Park together with other African nations.

We share values such as solidarity and hospitality with Japan, and have been able to demonstrate this through initiatives such as aiding with the reconstruction of [the city of] Minamisoma in Fukushima. Djibouti is also known for peace, and though we host foreign forces including those of the JSDF, this is not for war but for peace. 

The JSDF is contributing to Djibouti by providing education, building roads and aiding the population [in other ways]. Djibouti is the only country that hosts JSDF forces outside of Japan, but we also have the [Japan-funded] Collège de Fukuzawa junior high school, established in 1995.

Japan is already playing a very significant role in development, especially through TICAD, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development. Japan advances transfer of competence, creating jobs and improving education through schemes including the ABE Initiative (African Business Education Initiative for Youth, established in 2013). When I go back to Djibouti, my ambition is to open a language school teaching Japanese and English, and to increase the number of scholarships for Djiboutian students. 

On the other hand, through my work with Japanese educational institutions, I have noticed that the stereotype of Africa has to change, not only in Japan but all over the world. People only see war and other negative aspects. That’s why I’ve begun working with Princess Takamado, who about 25 years ago started a project called ‘Japan through diplomats’ eyes’. My proposal to her was to show Africa – and the rest of the world – through Japanese diplomats’ eyes, starting with Djibouti.

I also recently finished my book; it’s called ‘My Years in the Rising Sun – Under the Shadow of My Flag’. It’s about my experience in Japan and what Africa can learn from Japan, including how to use soft power. When I go home, I hope to continue to consolidate relations between Japan and Djibouti.

Tokyo has been the best school of life for me. I really appreciate the people and the city, how it’s organised. [Tokyo] is like a collection of small villages, and you have solidarity between neighbours even if you don’t see them that often.

I have to mention safety too. I once found a wallet full of money that someone had forgotten in a toilet. I was with my financial counsellor and we went to the police together. We handed in the wallet and the policeman said that if nobody comes to collect it within three months, all the money is yours. But even if someone comes, you get 10 percent. That’s an incentive to honesty. Of course someone came for the wallet, so we couldn’t get all the money [laughs]. But you don’t see that anywhere else, it’s exceptional. You forget your phone somewhere, come back an hour later and it’s still there.

There’s a lot in Tokyo that I’ll miss, but I know I won’t be leaving forever. The world is a village nowadays, so I can always come back.

I live in Nakameguro and walk around the river early every morning. I am very familiar with the people, and the Meguro River and Ebisu Garden Place are the best spots in Tokyo for the cherry blossoms. Nakameguro is my place.

Not Djiboutian food specifically, but as I mentioned we are the gateway to the Horn of Africa, and not far from Nakameguro there’s the Ethiopian restaurant Queen Sheba. The owner, Mr Salomon, has been living here since the 1970s. His restaurant is small but very good, and before the pandemic they had live music every Friday night. That’s the place if you’d like to taste our regional food. In addition, Djiboutians love fish, and for our national days I’ve often had my friend Kimura-san from Sushi Zanmai come over and do a tuna show. I started eating tuna in Japan and like it a lot.

Well, we have four athletes competing at the Games and I am very excited for them. I think organising the Games under these circumstances is only possible in Japan, thanks to the Japanese culture and way of doing things. Not all danger can be excluded, but the risk can be greatly reduced. The athletes have been working towards these Games for years, and for some this will be their last opportunity to take part in the Olympics. Being selfish, you could say ‘Let’s cancel the Games’, but considering how sports is the common language of the world, I think holding the Olympics is a great positive and I am optimistic.

Djibouti has set a number of sustainability-related goals for 2035, including in the use of geothermal, hydro and solar power. What we need is knowhow, so I think Japan and Djibouti can work together on these initiatives as well as on health and education. Nelson Mandela used to say that education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world, and I believe it is important for Japan, Djibouti and the rest of the world to interact and pool our efforts to enhance education, especially vocational education. This will help people take charge of their own lives rather than wait for assistance, and is crucial for achieving the sustainability goals. Interview by Masashi Takahashi, coordination by Hiroko M. Ohiwa