The decision to establish a permanent ESA presence in Japan follows the successful ESA delegation visit to Tokyo during Nihonbashi Space Week in November 2024, led by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. That visit culminated in the signing of the Joint Statement on Next Big Cooperations between ESA and JAXA, setting the course for an ambitious new chapter in European-Japanese space collaboration. The Joint Statement on Next Big Cooperations  outlines ambitious areas for future joint missions, including planetary defence, Earth observation, low Earth orbit and exploration, and space science. ESA’s representation in Japan will be based in an office situated at the X-NIHONBASHI Tower, operated jointly by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. and Cross U, key players in Japan’s open innovation landscape. The facility has become a nexus for the growing space business community in Japan, bringing together start-ups, academia, government agencies – and now ESA – to catalyse new ventures and collaborative opportunities.

By establishing a presence in Japan, ESA will be able to support joint programmatic initiatives on-site from Tokyo, facilitate inter-agency coordination, and act as a bridge between European and Japanese stakeholders in the governmental and commercial space sectors. The new ESA office in Tokyo builds on the model of ESA’s Washington Office, serving as a strategic outpost for deepening bilateral engagement.

Japan’s space sector continues to show global leadership and innovation, making it a natural and valued partner for ESA. With common interests and shared challenges – including sustainable use of space, climate monitoring, and fostering a competitive space economy – the ESA-Japan relationship stands as a cornerstone of global space cooperation.