Overview: A milestone in Europe-Japan space collaboration
ESA announced a permanent presence in Tokyo as part of a broad effort to strengthen the strategic partnership with Japan. The move, unveiled during Nihonbashi Space Week, follows decades of shared achievements between Europe and Japan in space research, weather monitoring, and planetary exploration. In his keynote, ESA Director of Strategy, Legal and External Matters, Eric Morel de Westgaver, underscored that this collaboration predates the formation of ESA itself, tracing back to Japan’s cooperation with the European Space Research Organisation and its successors. He highlighted joint endeavors in low Earth orbit, Earth observation missions like EarthCARE, interplanetary missions such as BepiColombo to Mercury, and the Hera mission that will study the asteroid Dimorphos.
Historical ties and the path forward
The history of European-Japanese space cooperation is long and fruitful. The new presence in Japan will build on this legacy, strengthening lines of communication and fostering joint programmatic activities across a broad spectrum—from Earth observation to planetary defence, science, and commercialisation. Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General, stated that the relationship is grounded in decades of trust and scientific excellence. Establishing an on-the-ground ESA office in Tokyo signals a clear intention to deepen ties with JAXA and with Japan’s dynamic space industry, spanning government agencies, research institutions, and startups.
Joint missions on the horizon
The expanded partnership envisions closer collaboration on ambitious missions. Notably, Europe’s Ramses mission and Japan’s Destiny+ planetary defence initiative are slated to be pursued together. The joint statement on Next Big Cooperations, signed during a November 2024 ESA delegation visit to Tokyo, maps out cooperative opportunities across several domains: planetary defence, Earth observation, low Earth orbit activities, space exploration, and space science. The new Tokyo presence is designed to facilitate on-site programmatic work and stronger inter-agency coordination, enabling partners to align research, technology, and mission planning in real time.
What the Tokyo office means for stakeholders
ESA’s representation in Japan will be housed in an office at the X-NIHONBASHI Tower, operated by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. and Cross U. This facility already serves as a hub for Japan’s growing space business community, bringing together start-ups, academia, and government players. The ESA office will act as a bridge among European and Japanese stakeholders in both the governmental and commercial sectors, supporting joint programmatic initiatives and facilitating closer inter-agency communication from Tokyo. This model mirrors ESA’s Washington Office, which has long served as a strategic outpost for bilateral engagement with the United States and its partners.
Why Japan is a natural partner for ESA
Japan’s space sector is at the forefront of global leadership and innovation. Shared challenges—such as sustainable use of space, climate monitoring, and maintaining a competitive space economy—make Japan a natural ally for Europe. The ESA-Japan partnership stands as a cornerstone of international cooperation in space, with potential benefits extending from scientific discovery to the practical deployment of space infrastructure and services that support both continents’ interests.
Quotes that frame the moment
“This is a treasured cooperation, older than ESA itself, dating back to Japan’s cooperation with the European Space Research Organisation,” Morel de Westgaver noted. JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa welcomed the move, emphasizing that closer communication and intensified collaboration will help address global challenges and advance space science and technology.
Outlook
With the Tokyo office in place, ESA aims to accelerate joint missions, foster collaboration with Japan’s space industry, and catalyse new ventures across Earth observation, planetary defence, and exploration. The partnership aligns with shared objectives: sustainable space activities, climate intelligence, and robust space economies. As ESA and JAXA deepen their ties, Europe and Japan are poised to drive scientific breakthroughs while delivering tangible benefits for people on Earth.
