Shigeo Yamada

Shigeo Yamada
山田 重夫
Japanese Ambassador to the United States
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 24, 2023
Prime MinisterFumio Kishida
Preceded byKoji Tomita
Personal details
Born (1964-07-17) July 17, 1964 (age 60)
Tokyo, Japan
Alma materKeio University

Shigeo Yamada (山田 重夫, Yamada Shigeo) is a Japanese diplomat who is serving as Japanese Ambassador to the United States since 2023.

Early life and education

Shigeo Yamada was born in Tokyo on July 17, 1964. While studying law at Keio University, he passed the foreign service exam and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1986. He graduated from Keio University in 1987 with B.A. in Law. In 1987, he was sent to further his education at Carleton College in the United States, where he graduated in 1989.[1][2]

Career

Yamada's earlier diplomatic career included postings in Washington, London and Beijing. From 2012 to 2015 he served as minister for political affairs at the Embassy of Japan in Washington. After returning to Japan he served as Deputy Director-General for North American Affairs Bureau. In 2016, he was seconded to the National Security Secretariat under Prime Minister Abe, where he was the main point of contact with President Trump's national security council. In 2019, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Foreign Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was a confidant of Toshimitsu Motegi who was Foreign Minister from 2019 to 2021.[1][3]

In 2021 Yamada was appointed Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. He played an instrumental role in making Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's surprise visit to Ukraine in March 2023 possible. He was also Political Director during Japan’s presidency of G7 in charge of preparations on strategic and diplomatic agenda for G7 Nagano-Karuizawa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting as well as G7 Hiroshima Summit.

After being appointed to be Japanese Ambassador to the United States in October 2023, he took the position in December 2023. He was reportedly instructed to make connections with the campaign of former President Donald Trump in anticipation for his possible victory in the 2024 United States presidential election.[4][5]

On 10 April 2024, Yamada was among the guests invited to the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in honor of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "令和五年八月十日付人事異動" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affair of Japan. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Shigeo Yamada '89 provides a Japanese Diplomat's View of Japan-US Relations". Carleton College. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  3. ^ Toshikawa, Takao (15 August 2023). "外務省の夏の定期人事異動は「秋葉人事」 岡野正敬氏、山田重夫氏…次官人事は自民・麻生副総裁と茂木幹事長を巻き込み". Zakzak. Tokyo. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Japan names Yamada as ambassador to U.S., Kanasugi to China". Kyodo News. Tokyo. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  5. ^ Geddie, John; Kelley, Tim; Takemoto, Yoshifumi (2 February 2024). "Japan's message for Donald Trump: don't cut a deal with China". Reuters. London. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  6. ^ White House Releases State Dinner Guest List White House, press release of 10 April 2024.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Japanese Ambassador to the United States
2023–present 		Incumbent