Japan Appoints New Vice Foreign Minister Amid Key Diplomatic Reshuffle

TOKYO, Japan — The Japanese government on Friday announced a major reshuffle of its diplomatic leadership, appointing Takehiro Funakoshi as vice foreign minister. Funakoshi, 59, will succeed Masataka Okano, who is set to become chief of the National Security Secretariat.

Funakoshi, a seasoned diplomat, joined the Foreign Ministry in 1988. He has held several key positions, including executive secretary to the prime minister and director-general of the ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau. He assumed his current role as senior deputy foreign minister for political affairs in August 2023.

Hiroyuki Namazu, 58, currently chief of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, will step into Funakoshi’s former role as senior deputy foreign minister for political affairs. Namazu, who joined the ministry in 1989, has previously served as director-general of the International Legal Affairs Bureau and the Economic Affairs Bureau. He took over the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau in August 2023.

Masaaki Kanai, 56, head of the International Legal Affairs Bureau, will replace Namazu as director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau. Kanai, who joined the ministry in 1992, has held various positions, including deputy director-general of the North American Affairs Bureau and director-general for cultural affairs. He assumed his current role in August 2023.

Kazuhiko Nakamura, 54, deputy director-general for global issues at the ministry’s International Cooperation Bureau, will succeed Kanai as director-general of the International Legal Affairs Bureau. Nakamura, who joined the ministry in 1992, has served in roles such as deputy director-general of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau and the Economic Affairs Bureau. He took up his current position in July 2023.

The reshuffle comes as Japan seeks to strengthen its diplomatic and security frameworks amid regional and global challenges. The appointments reflect the government’s focus on leveraging experienced officials to navigate complex international relations.