ESA Establishes a Permanent Presence in Tokyo to Strengthen Europe-Japan Space Partnership
In a decisive move to deepen bilateral cooperation, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced the establishment of a permanent presence in Tokyo. The announcement, delivered by ESA’s Director of Strategy, Legal and External Matters, Eric Morel de Westgaver, came during Nihonbashi Space Week and marks a significant milestone in a collaboration that spans more than five decades. Since the early days of cooperation with the European Space Research Organisation, which predated ESA, Europe and Japan have worked side by side on some of the most ambitious space missions.
Morel de Westgaver highlighted how ESA and Japan are already collaborating in multiple frontiers—from Earth observation to interplanetary exploration. “This is a treasured cooperation, older than ESA itself, dating back to Japan’s cooperation with the European Space Research Organisation,” he said, pointing to current and upcoming missions such as EarthCARE in low Earth orbit, BepiColombo navigating the Solar System toward Mercury, and Hera approaching the asteroid system Dimorphos. He also pointed to joint plans for the Ramses mission in Europe and Destiny+ in Japan as a sign of maturing and expanding cooperation.
Statements of Mutual Commitment
Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General, framed the Tokyo presence as a strategic next step in a long-running partnership grounded in trust and scientific excellence. “The establishment of an ESA presence in Japan signals our clear intention to elevate our cooperation with Japan across all domains of space,” he stated. The new office will work to strengthen ties with JAXA and Japan’s dynamic space industry, supporting Earth observation, planetary defence, science, human and robotic exploration, and space commercialization.
Hiroshi Yamakawa, JAXA President, welcomed the move and reflected on historical collaboration: “JAXA warmly welcomes the establishment of ESA’s presence in Japan. Over the years, ESA and JAXA have built a strong partnership through collaborations across a wide range of space activities.” He cited the November 2024 joint statement on Next Big Cooperations, underscoring that ESA’s presence in Japan will facilitate closer communication and joint initiatives capable of addressing global challenges and advancing science and technology.
What the Tokyo Presence Means for Collaboration
The decision to locate a permanent ESA office in Tokyo follows a productive delegation visit to Nihonbashi in November 2024, led by Aschbacher. That visit culminated in a Joint Statement on Next Big Cooperations between ESA and JAXA, laying out a roadmap for future joint missions in planetary defence, Earth observation, low Earth orbit and exploration, and space science. By operating from a hub in Tokyo—specifically at the X-NIHONBASHI Tower, managed by Mitsui Fudosan Co. and Cross U—ESA will be able to engage more directly with Japan’s space ecosystem, including startups, academia, and government agencies.
The new office will serve as a practical base for on-site program management, closer inter-agency coordination, and a bridge between European and Japanese stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. In effect, Tokyo will complement ESA’s Washington Office, creating a strategic outpost that enhances bilateral engagement and accelerates cooperative ventures.
Implications for Joint Missions and Global Challenges
Japan’s leadership in space innovation and space traffic management aligns with ESA’s priorities around sustainable space activities, climate monitoring, and a competitive European space economy. The shared mission goals—ranging from planetary defence to Earth observation, and from space science to exploratory missions—signal a harmonized approach to addressing global challenges. The Tokyo presence is poised to streamline project planning, resource sharing, and risk assessment for joint missions such as Ramses and Destiny+, while enabling new collaborations in emerging areas like commercialisation and space-based data services.
Looking Ahead
As ESA and Japan deepen their collaboration, the Tokyo office will likely become a focal point for public-private partnerships, cross-border research programs, and joint ventures that leverage Europe’s and Japan’s complementary strengths. The partnership encapsulates a broader international strategy: to advance space science, safeguard Earth, expand human knowledge, and foster a robust, innovative space economy that benefits citizens on both sides of the globe.
