Pretoria – Japan and South Africa have taken a significant step in strengthening bilateral agricultural ties, launching their first Joint Agriculture Working Committee (JAWC) with a series of engagements held in Pretoria last week.
The launch was marked by a reception at the Japanese Embassy on 20 April, where Ambassador Shimizu Fumio, Japan’s Vice-Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Watanabe Yoichi, and South Africa’s Department of Agriculture Director General Mooketsa Ramasodi all addressed guests.
Adding a cultural touch to the evening, Tateno Chisato, the 2025 Miss Sake Japan, introduced sake, the traditional Japanese rice-based alcoholic beverage, pairing it with both Japanese and South African cuisine. She also shared tips on how sake can be enjoyed alongside local South African agricultural products. 
The following day, delegates from the public and private sectors of both countries sat down for detailed discussions covering areas of shared interest. Topics on the table included agricultural technology, agricultural support and technical cooperation, knowledge sharing, innovation and human resource development. The activities of Japanese companies currently operating in South Africa were also presented during the sessions.
On 22 April, Japanese participants visited Witklip Boerdery for a firsthand look at agricultural practices in South Africa, an outing aimed at deepening mutual understanding between the two sides.
