From the exchanging of envoys to the bond between the two monarchies, from a Thai football star in J-League to a Japanese actor in a major Thai movie, from Thai liquor to Japanese dessert, Japan and Thailand have treasured a relationship that has strengthened, politically and culturally, in recent years.
To commemorate the 130th Anniversary of Japan-Thailand diplomatic relations, the Embassy of Japan in Thailand and Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an official reception to open a commemorative exhibition last week at Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall. The exhibition, open to the public free of charge, will continue until Oct 8.
The opening was presided over by Iwao Horii, parliamentary vice-minister for foreign affairs of Japan, and Virasakdi Futrakul, deputy minister of foreign affairs.
The "130 Years of Japan–Thailand Friendship" exhibition is made up of three sections, explaining three levels of the countries' relationship: royal to royal, government to government, and people to people. At the entrance, pla ta pien paper mobiles resembling Thai pla nil fish greet visitors on one side, with Japanese red-and-white carp mobiles on the other.
Text, photographs, videos and objects fill the space, and the content highlights the exchange between the two countries through history. Evidence in Japan point out that in the 15th century, merchant ships from Siam traded with the Ryuku Kingdom. During the Ayutthaya period in the 17th century, a community of 1,000 Japanese resided in the city of Ayutthaya, called Baan Yipun. And while Japan practised an isolation policy from mid-19th to early 20th century -- corresponding with the early Rattanakosin period -- in the reign of King Rama V the two kingdoms officiated the ties.
In 1887, 130 years ago, Prince Devavongse Vorapakarn of Siam and the vice-foreign minister of Japan signed the Declaration of Amity and Commerce, heralding modern-day diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Besides the official connection, the exhibition features a number of cultural objects that reflect the people-to-people connection.
The Okinawa liquor Awamori, for instance, was inspired by Siamese alcoholic beverages brought by merchants; Awamori is still made in Japan from Thai rice. On the other hand, the Thai dessert foi thong (sugared egg threads) was first introduced to Siam by Maria Guyomar de Pina, a Japanese-Portuguese lady in the late 17th century; in Japan, there's a dessert called keiran somen, similar to foi thong.
The pla nil fish that decorate the entrance comes with a well-known story. Crown Prince Akihito of Japan presented 50 tilapia to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The King raised and bred the fish in the palace, calling them nil -- black -- in reference to the stripes on the body. Later the Department of Fishery distributed the fish to farmers, making it one of the most popular freshwater fish today.
The exhibition showcases several pop-cultural items and brands with both Japanese and Thai DNA. Last Life In The Universe (2003), one of the best-known Thai films among foreigners, is the story of a depressed Japanese man living in Bangkok; James Jirayu is a Thai actor who has a following in Japan, along with singer Stamp Apiwat; Thai footballer Chanathip Songkrasin is now playing with Sapporo in J-League; and the Thai all-girl group BNK48 is modelled after the Japanese AKB48.
"130 Years of Japan-Thailand Friendship" is on view at Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, until Sunday. The hall is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-7pm.
