1900 - 1980

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1939: The first official partnership between Bulgaria and Japan was created

1939: Japanese diplomatic mission opened in Bulgaria (Sofia)

1942: Bulgarian diplomatic mission opened in Japan (Tokyo)

1944 September: Japan suspended diplomatic relations with Bulgaria

1959 September: Exchange of the official documents between Japan and Bulgaria recognizing the restoration of the relations between the two countries 

1970: Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Todor Zhivkov visited Japan

1979: TIH Crown Prince and Princess of Japan visited Bulgaria

 

1980 - 1990

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1983: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Shintaro Abe visited Bulgaria

1987: TIH Prince and Princess Mikasa of Japan visited Bulgaria

1988: Vice Prime Minister of Japan, Shin Kanemaru visited Bulgaria 

 

1990 - 2000

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1990: President of Bulgaria, Zhelyu Zhelev visited Japan

1991: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Viktor Valkov visited Japan

1992: Chairman of House of Representatives of Japan, Yoshio Sakurauchi visited Bulgaria

1993: Chairman of National Assembly of Bulgaria, Alexandor Yordanov visited Japan

1996: HIH Princess Sayako of Japan visited Bulgaria 

1996: Chairman of National Assembly of Bulgaria, Blagovest Sendov visited Japan

1997: President of Bulgaria, Petar Stoyanov visited Japan

1999: Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Evgenii Bakardjiev visited Japan

 

2000 - 2010

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2000: Chairman of House of Representatives of Japan, Tamisuke Watanuki visited Bulgaria

2000: Vice President of Bulgaria, Todor Kavaldjiev visited Japan

2001: Chairman of National Assembly of Bulgaria, Ognyan Gerdjikov visited Japan

2002: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy of Bulgaria, Nikolay Vassilev Vassilev visited Japan

2002: Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Kenshiro Matsunami and Chairman of the House of Councilors of Japan, Hiroyuki Kurata visited Bulgaria

2003: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Solomon Passy visited Japan

2004: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoriko Kawaguchi and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Isao Matsumiya visited Bulgaria

2004: Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Simeon Saxe Coburg visited Japan

2005: Vice President of Bulgaria, Angel Marin and Minister of Economy of Bulgaria, Milko Kovachev visited Japan

2005: Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Takayoshi Tsuneda visited Bulgaria

2006: Chairman of National Assembly of Bulgaria, Georgi Pirinski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Disaster Management Policy, Emel Etem, and Minister of Health of Bulgaria, Radoslav Gaydarski visited Japan

2006: Vice President House of Councilors of Japan, Giichi Tsunoda visited Bulgaria

2007: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Ivailo Kalfin and The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Science of Bulgaria, Daniel Valchev visited Japan

2007: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Taro Aso visited Bulgaria

2008: Minister for Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria, Emilia Maslarova and The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Science of Bulgaria, Daniel Valchev visited Japan

2009: HIH Prince and Princess Akishino of Japan visited Bulgaria 

2009: President of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Ivaylo Georgiev Kalfin visited Japan

 

2010 - Present

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2010: Minister of Environment and Water of Bulgaria, Nona Karadjova visited Japan (COP10 High-Level Ministerial Segment）

2011: Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Nikolai Muradenov, Minister of Agriculture and Food of Bulgaria, Miroslav Naidenov, and Minister of Culture of Bulgaria, Vezhdi Rashidov visited Japan

2011 January: Japan-Bulgaria Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held

2012: Chairman of National Assembly of Bulgaria, Tsetska Tsacheva and Minister of Economy and Energy of Bulgaria, Delyan Dobrev visited Japan (Attendance at the Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety)

2012 May: Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ryuji Yamane visited Bulgaria

2014: Vice President of Bulgaria, Margarita Popova visited Japan

2014: Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Takao Makino and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, Ryo Doi visited Bulgaria

2015: Minister of Education and Science of Bulgaria, Todor Tanev visited Japan

2015: State Minister of Defense of Japan, Akira Sato, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Kentaro Sonoura and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan Hiromi Mitsubayashi visited Bulgaria

2016: Minister of Economy of Bulgaria, Bojidar Loukarski, Minister of Youth and Sports of Bulgaria, Krasen Kralev, and Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria, Nikolina Angelkova visited Japan

2017: Minister of Education and Science of Bulgaria, Krasimir Georgiev Valchev visited Japan

2017: Chairman of House of Councillors Japan-Bulgaria Parliamentary Friendship Association, Hiromi Yoshida visited Bulgaria

2018: Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Tomislav Donchev, and Chairperson of National Assembly of Bulgaria, Tsveta Karayancheva visted Japan

2018 January: Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe visited Bulgaria

2018 September: Japan-Bulgaria Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held

2019: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Taro Kono visited Bulgaria

2019: President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev and Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Ekaterina Zaharieva visited Japan

2019 August: Japan-Bulgaria Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held

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Sources:

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

https://www.mofa.go.jp

The Imperial Household Agency

https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/