Both ship companies lined the rails as part of the ceremonial port entry.
Welcoming the ship and her crew of 110, New Zealand Defence Force Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Shane Arndell, highlighted the visit as an example of the importance of maintaining strong maritime partnerships in an increasingly contested environment.
“The deteriorating security situation we can all observe makes these visits by partner navies such as the JMSDF, proof of our ongoing friendship and continued focus on interoperability,” he said.
Over the past 12 months, New Zealand has hosted visits by fleet units from the Australian, Canadian, French, Republic of Korea and United States navies. This time last year two other JMSDF vessels, the helicopter carrier JS Ise and destroyer JS Suzunami, also visited Wellington.
But while port visits from friends are welcome and reciprocated, the real value according to Commodore Arndell, comes from the opportunities to conduct training and operations together at sea.
“Both countries have recently been working together in bilateral and multilateral exercises, including last year’s Exercise Talisman Sabre – a warfare exercise in Australia – and multi-national cooperative activities in and around Southeast Asia,” he said.
“New Zealand and Japan have a strong and long-standing economic trade and defense relationship with a shared commitment, along with other like-minded navies, to a more peaceful, secure and prosperous region. Everything we do is aimed at upholding the international rules based system.”