ESA opens first Asian office in Tokyo to deepen space cooperation with Japan

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye 

The European Space Agency (ESA) has officially established its first presence in Asia with the opening of a new office in Tokyo, marking a major milestone in its long-standing partnership with Japan.

The new office, located in the X-NIHONBASHI innovation hub, will strengthen ESA’s collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and foster closer engagement with Japan’s dynamic and rapidly expanding space sector, including its growing start-up ecosystem.

The announcement was made by Eric Morel de Westgaver, ESA’s Director of Strategy, Legal and External Matters, during his keynote speech at Nihonbashi Space Week. He highlighted the deep history of cooperation between Europe and Japan, citing joint missions such as EarthCARE in low Earth orbit, BepiColombo’s journey to Mercury, and Hera’s approach to the asteroid system Dimorphos.

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher described the move as a “clear signal” of ESA’s intention to elevate cooperation with Japan across all areas of space activity, from Earth observation and planetary defence to exploration and commercialization. “Our relationship with Japan is built on decades of trust and scientific excellence,” he said. “This new presence will allow us to work even more closely with JAXA and Japan’s innovative space industry.”

JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa welcomed the development, noting that it will enhance communication and collaboration between the two agencies. “We are confident that ESA’s presence in Japan will deepen our relationship and contribute to addressing global challenges through space science and technology,” he said.

The decision follows a successful ESA delegation visit to Tokyo during Nihonbashi Space Week in November 2024, which culminated in the signing of the Joint Statement on Next Big Cooperations between ESA and JAXA. The agreement outlines ambitious future collaborations in planetary defence, Earth observation, low Earth orbit operations, and space exploration.

By establishing a permanent base in Tokyo, ESA aims to facilitate inter-agency coordination, support joint projects on-site, and act as a bridge between European and Japanese stakeholders in both governmental and commercial space sectors. The Tokyo office mirrors ESA’s Washington office model, serving as a strategic outpost for international partnership and innovation.