The last episode of friendship for the 19th century is a story about the “Nittaiji Temple” or “Japan-Thai Temple," which was built in Nagoya around the turn of the century. In 1898, a British archaeologist found a clay pot which contained human bones in the northern part of India. These human bones were later confirmed as the real bones of Buddha, or a relic of Buddha, when the ancient script on the clay pot was decoded. The precious relic was donated by the British Government, which then ruled India, to His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, and it was enshrined in the temple Wat Saket. Upon request from Japan to share the relic, His Majesty decided to donate the relic as a gift to all Japanese Buddhists, regardless of their sectoral denominations. Leaders of various Buddhist sects in Japan got together and, after discussions, decided to cooperate with each other to build a completely new temple to receive the gift, which doesn't belong to any specific sect. His Majesty King Chulalongkorn very kindly donated the relic, together with a golden statue of Buddha and some money for the construction of a new temple. Thus, the Nittaiji Temple was built in 1904. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej visited the temple in 1963. The new main building to enshrine the Golden Buddha was completed in 1984, where writing of His Majesty King Bhumibol is on display. A statue of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn was completed in front of the main building in 1987. The Nittaiji Temple is definitely a symbol of the good bilateral relationship between Japan and Thailand.
As I have briefly explained, from the 19th to the 20th century when both countries were in the process of modernization and integration into the international community, the bilateral relationship between Japan and Thailand expanded into much broader areas. In 1952 diplomatic relations were restored between Japan and Thailand after the Second World War.