Forging closer ties with Malaysia

Lunch with Japanese ambassador Takahashi Katsuhiko and his wife,Mami, at their residence. - YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Takahashi Katsuhiko, arrived in Malaysia in November last year expecting the assignment to be a routine one.

After all, he had visited Malaysia before on numerous business trips and holidays. The diplomat, who also speaks Arabic, is comfortable with Malaysia’s Muslim setting, having served in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, mostly in the Middle East and African affairs bureaus.