Japan's diplomacy at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) is criticized for historical omissions and inflated attendance figures, contrasting sharply with China's rapidly growing and tangible engagement in Africa, particularly in East Africa.

• While Tokyo claimed 33 African heads of state and government attended TICAD 9, independent verification revealed only 13 heads of state were present.
• Japan’s trade with Africa in 2024 was approximately US $8.9 billion, significantly dwarfed by China’s nearly US $296 billion in the same year.
• China-Africa trade grew 12.4% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025 to reach US $134 billion, with notable growth in agricultural exports like Ethiopian coffee, which saw a 70% increase to China.