Zambia and Japan share long standing bilateral relations that date back to 1964. 59 years ago, at the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, 11 men and a single woman walked with just a placard in front of the audience with the name Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). The relationship between Zambia and Japan is not only auspicious but memorable as Japan became one of the countries to first recognise Zambia as an independent state. The two countries have continued to enjoy good diplomatic relations since then.  The friendship was further cemented by a State visit by Zambia s’ first Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda in 1980 at Shimomaruko Plant. Zambia and Japan have forged a firm friendship since Zambia’s independence in 1964. In 1983, Their Majesties the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita, then Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess, were welcomed in Zambia as State Guests. The late First Republican President, H.E. Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, warmly hosted them at the State House and personally guided them to the Victoria Falls. During this Imperial visit, President Kaunda expressed his wish for an academic institution to train veterinarians in the country. This wish was later embodied in the form of the Veterinary School at UNZA, through cooperation between the two Governments and various stakeholders on both sides. The establishment and development of this institute since then has been a symbolic flagship project of Japan-Zambia cooperation. Since then bilkateral relations between the two countries hascontinued to grow to date.