Prabowo Receives Miniature of Warship Mikasa from Japanese Defence Minister

President Prabowo Subianto received a souvenir model of the battleship Mikasa from Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi during a meeting at the President’s private residence, Kertanegara IV, Jakarta, on Friday evening. The gift symbolises personal closeness and the strengthening of defence cooperation between the two countries. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi revealed that the miniature ship came from Yokosuka, his hometown. Through his official X account, Koizumi noted that President Prabowo warmly welcomed the gift, given the Head of State’s military background. “When meeting at President Prabowo’s private residence in Indonesia, I brought a model of the battleship Mikasa from Yokosuka, my hometown, as a souvenir,” Koizumi wrote on Saturday. Beyond the gift, the meeting discussed Japan’s appreciation for President Prabowo’s attention to the National Defence Academy in Yokosuka. Prabowo is seen as actively encouraging the dispatch of Indonesian students to pursue military education there. The dinner was also attended by several graduates of the academy, including Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono. Koizumi also highlighted the importance of maritime security in Indonesian waters, particularly in the Malacca Strait and Lombok Strait. He stressed that the stability of these shipping lanes is a crucial issue for regional and global security. “I feel this visit serves as a catalyst for Japan and Indonesia to further deepen cooperation for the stability and prosperity of the region and the world,” Koizumi added. The strategic meeting was also attended by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto. Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Koizumi agreed to promptly follow up on the discussions to strengthen bilateral relations in the future.