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Diplomacy
ChinaDiplomacy

Japan appoints veteran foreign official Hideo Tarumi as new ambassador to Beijing

  • Tarumi joined foreign ministry 35 years ago and is part of Tokyo’s ‘China School’ corps
  • New envoy is former head of the ministry’s China and Mongolia division

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Japan has appointed a new ambassador to China. Photo: Reuters
Kyodo

The Japanese government on Friday named Hideo Tarumi, an expert on China within the foreign ministry, as the new ambassador to China.

Tarumi, 59, will replace Yutaka Yokoi, who has been in the post since May 2016. They both belong to the ministry’s “China School” of diplomats who underwent Chinese-language training with a focus on advancing relations with the emerging power. The appointment is effective from Wednesday.

A graduate of Kyoto University, Tarumi joined the ministry in 1985 and led its China and Mongolia division. He has served as a minister at the Japanese embassy in Beijing and was head of the foreign minister’s secretariat for a year until July.

Hideo Tarumi is Japan’s new ambassador to China. Photo: Handout
Hideo Tarumi is Japan’s new ambassador to China. Photo: Handout

The government also named Hidenao Yanagi as its new ambassador to Germany, effective from Tuesday. He will be replaced as ambassador to Jordan by Kaoru Shimazaki, now envoy to the Czech Republic.

The government also appointed Hironori Sawada, envoy to Angola, as new ambassador to North Macedonia; Akio Miyajima, envoy to Turkey, as new ambassador to Poland; and Takahiko Katsumata, envoy to Turkmenistan, as new ambassador to Serbia.

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