The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) destroyer Murasame paid a three-day goodwill visit to Qatar, a statement from the Japanese embassy said Tuesday.The ship, which departed from Yokosuka-Japan on October 5, arrived at Old Doha Port on November 2, and continued its journey to Bahrain before participating in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.This marks the fourth time a Japanese vessel has visited Doha, fostering strong defence ties between Japan and Qatar. Previous visits occurred in 1991, 2001, and 2012. However, this is the first time a destroyer has docked in Doha, signifying the deepening of the bilateral defence relationship, the embassy said.The Murasame, which accommodates more than 200 personnel, welcomed members of the Japanese community in Qatar for an onboard tour on November 2.On November 3, Staff Brigadier General/ Abdulrahman Yousuf Talfat, Commander of the Qatari Amiri Naval Operation Centre Forces toured the Murasame and joined a luncheon hosted by Commander Masahiro Hayakawa. After that, Military attaché stationed in Qatar also toured the Murasame.On November 4, the ship’s crew, led by Commander Hayakawa conducted a training exercise with a Qatari Naval Vessel Al-Khor.The Murasame hosted a photo exercise and other events to further strengthen friendly relations and mutual understanding with the Qatari Navy.