When Two Defence Ministers Relax in Bali: Walking Along the Beach While Enjoying the "Sunrise"

There was an interesting moment behind the series of official agendas for the signing of cooperation between Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro. A few hours before their formal meeting in Jakarta on Monday (4/5/2026), the two instead started the day in a simple manner by strolling casually along the Bali beach, enjoying the morning air and the sunrise. In one photo, the Bali sky appeared layered with thin clouds. Sjafrie and Shinjiro stood with their backs to the camera, watching the sun rise on the horizon. Orange rays reflected on the sea surface. Not far from them, fishermen’s boats were anchored at the edge of the beach. Sjafrie wore a white polo shirt with black patterns, red sports trousers, and red shoes. Meanwhile, Shinjiro wore a dark blue polo shirt, dark trousers, and sandals. They were also seen sitting side by side on the edge of a boat while holding bottles of mineral water. There were no suits or ties. Just two defence ministers chatting lightly on the beach edge. A similar atmosphere was seen when they sat facing each other in the lounge area of an accommodation, enjoying time without an official agenda. “This morning (last Monday), on the suggestion of Minister Sjafrie @sjafriesjams, we started the day by watching the sunrise and walking along the beach,” wrote Shinjiro, quoted by Kompas.com on Tuesday (5/5/2026). Shinjiro’s visit to Bali was indeed short, only about 12 hours. However, according to him, the brief time was enough to feel the atmosphere of Bali while building warmer communication.