Japan–Serbia relations

Japanese-Serbian relations are the bilateral relations between Japan and Serbia. Both countries have signed diplomatic missions on May 20, 1997. Japan has an embassy in Belgrade and Serbia has an embassy in Tokyo and an honorary consulate in Osaka.

History
In the late 19th century, Japan had emerged from a small, weak island state to the Empire, while Serbia gained independence from the Ottoman Empire and established the Kingdom of Serbia. Through Russia, Serbia had started to set up relations with Japan. However, before 1914, both countries did not have any official relations.

World War I
At World War I, after the Serbian resistance regarding the Austro-Hungarian Army invading Serbia, Japan announced war on the Central Powers in late 1914. From here, Japan began to send aid, materials and supplies to Serbia through the Mediterranean Sea and Russia, growing the relationship between the two countries. Japan also opposed what they called "brutal occupation" by the Austrians and Bulgarians after they invaded Serbia in 1915. After then, Japan focused their actions mainly in Asia.

World War II
However, in World War II, Serbia now became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Japan had supported Germany and its ally, making the relationship between the two drop to the lowest point in its history. Yugoslav officials in Japan were expelled out of Japan, as Japan was a part of the Axis. From there, the struggling relations between Japan and Serbia started, with much hostility between both.

Yugoslavia–Japan relations
Josip Broz Tito assumed power after the collapse of the Kingdom and quickly restored back relations with Japan, which was now crumbling. Tito was seen as friendly and good with Japan, as Tito, unlike other Communist leaders, did not side with anyone at that time. Japan and Yugoslavia signed their first treaty of friendship in the late 1950s, and their relations until the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991 were spectacular.

Modern Serbia-Japan relations
Despite having a long and quality relations with Serbia, Japan, however, also had supported the independence of the disputed territory of Kosovo.

Trade and aid
Japan is considered one of Serbia's most important trading partners in Asia. One of the most notable interactions between the two countries took place in 2003 when Japan donated 93 city buses to the city of Belgrade.

In late 2020 a foundation stone for a Japanese factory of tires was laid in Inđija, with the total investment being 382 million euros.

Diaspora
There are a large amount of Serbian expats in Japan, most of them being football players who seek careers in Japan.

Miscellaneous
The most recent census data records 86 Japanese nationals living in Serbia.

In November 2003, the Japanese Commercial Forum in Serbia and Montenegro was founded.