Message from Ambassador SHIMIZU Fumio
2025/1/7
It is my great honour to be appointed as Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho. I arrived in Pretoria on 31 December, 2024.
South Africa has undergone a difficult history, and is now known as the “Rainbow Nation”. This process continues today, and after last year's general election, the Government of National Unity was formed. While working to promote national unity, it is tackling various issues in the political, economic and social spheres. I hope to stand by South Africa in its efforts to overcome various challenges and contribute to its progress.
South Africa has a wide range of potential. This potential is not limited to its rich mineral resources, but is above all the potential for development through its abundant human resources. I would like to further enhance the already existing cooperation between Japan and South Africa in the economic, social, and science and technology areas, as well as cultural, academic and sporting exchanges among others. Japan’s cooperation with South Africa goes beyond bilateral relations. Japan hopes to work with South Africa to co-create solutions to global issues, such as climate change, not least because South Africa currently holds the G20 presidency.
Lesotho celebrated the 200th anniversary of its founding in 2024. Japan established diplomatic relations with Lesotho at the time of its independence in 1966, and has supported Lesotho’s nation-building efforts through cooperation in the areas of education, healthcare, infrastructure, through food aid and other means. During His Majesty the King of Lesotho's 2016 visit to Japan, he visited Fukushima Prefecture, which has been affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. He also visited Japan in 2019 to attend the enthronement ceremony of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. The Prime Minister of Lesotho visited Japan in 2019 to participate in TICAD 7, and in 2022 to attend the state funeral of the late former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo.
I am determined to do my best to further strengthen the existing good bilateral relations. TICAD 9, which is scheduled to be held in Japan in August 2025, will be a great opportunity to enhance cooperation between Japan and South Africa, Lesotho, and Africa as a whole.
I eagerly assume this post and appreciate your support in working together to bring our nations even closer.
[Curriculum Vitae]
Date of Birth: 13 December, 1964
Education:
March 1989 Graduated from University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law
Professional Career:
April 1989 Entered Ministry of Foreign Affairs
September 2004 Principal Deputy Director, Personnel Division, Minister’s Secretariat
August 2006 Senior Coordinator, Personnel Division, Minister’s Secretariat
August 2007 Director, National Security Policy Division, Foreign Policy Bureau
August 2008 Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan
August 2010 Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in France
August 2012 Director, First Africa Division, African Affairs Department, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau
July 2013 Director, Overseas Establishments Division
September 2015 Director, Financial Affairs Division
April 2017 Deputy Director-General of Minister’s Secretariat, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau and Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
July 2018 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Mission of Japan to the African Union
June 2020 Minister, Embassy of Japan in China
September 2020 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China
September 2022 Deputy Minister
November 2024 Minister’s Secretariat
November 2024 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Mission of Japan to the Republic of South Africa
November 2024 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Mission of Japan to the Kingdom of Lesotho
South Africa has undergone a difficult history, and is now known as the “Rainbow Nation”. This process continues today, and after last year's general election, the Government of National Unity was formed. While working to promote national unity, it is tackling various issues in the political, economic and social spheres. I hope to stand by South Africa in its efforts to overcome various challenges and contribute to its progress.
South Africa has a wide range of potential. This potential is not limited to its rich mineral resources, but is above all the potential for development through its abundant human resources. I would like to further enhance the already existing cooperation between Japan and South Africa in the economic, social, and science and technology areas, as well as cultural, academic and sporting exchanges among others. Japan’s cooperation with South Africa goes beyond bilateral relations. Japan hopes to work with South Africa to co-create solutions to global issues, such as climate change, not least because South Africa currently holds the G20 presidency.
Lesotho celebrated the 200th anniversary of its founding in 2024. Japan established diplomatic relations with Lesotho at the time of its independence in 1966, and has supported Lesotho’s nation-building efforts through cooperation in the areas of education, healthcare, infrastructure, through food aid and other means. During His Majesty the King of Lesotho's 2016 visit to Japan, he visited Fukushima Prefecture, which has been affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. He also visited Japan in 2019 to attend the enthronement ceremony of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. The Prime Minister of Lesotho visited Japan in 2019 to participate in TICAD 7, and in 2022 to attend the state funeral of the late former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo.
I am determined to do my best to further strengthen the existing good bilateral relations. TICAD 9, which is scheduled to be held in Japan in August 2025, will be a great opportunity to enhance cooperation between Japan and South Africa, Lesotho, and Africa as a whole.
I eagerly assume this post and appreciate your support in working together to bring our nations even closer.
[Curriculum Vitae]
Date of Birth: 13 December, 1964
Education:
March 1989 Graduated from University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law
Professional Career:
April 1989 Entered Ministry of Foreign Affairs
September 2004 Principal Deputy Director, Personnel Division, Minister’s Secretariat
August 2006 Senior Coordinator, Personnel Division, Minister’s Secretariat
August 2007 Director, National Security Policy Division, Foreign Policy Bureau
August 2008 Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan
August 2010 Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in France
August 2012 Director, First Africa Division, African Affairs Department, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau
July 2013 Director, Overseas Establishments Division
September 2015 Director, Financial Affairs Division
April 2017 Deputy Director-General of Minister’s Secretariat, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau and Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
July 2018 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Mission of Japan to the African Union
June 2020 Minister, Embassy of Japan in China
September 2020 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China
September 2022 Deputy Minister
November 2024 Minister’s Secretariat
November 2024 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Mission of Japan to the Republic of South Africa
November 2024 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Mission of Japan to the Kingdom of Lesotho