"US Expert Ambassador Domita Likely Appointed as US Ambassador... Who Will Be the Next Japanese Ambassador to Korea?"

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Koji Domita, Ambassador of Japan to Korea, is delivering the keynote speech at the business meeting hosted by the Ambassador of Japan to Korea, held on the 22nd at the Federation of Korean Industries Conference Center in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] It has been reported that the Japanese government is considering appointing Koji Domita, the current Japanese Ambassador to South Korea, as the Japanese Ambassador to the United States in line with the inauguration of the new U.S. administration. Koichi Aiboshi, the Japanese Ambassador to Israel, is being mentioned as a successor to Ambassador Domita, who is known within the Japanese government as an "America expert."

Local media such as Kyodo News and Japan's private broadcaster FNN (Fuji News Network) reported on the 7th that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is considering replacing the current Ambassador to the U.S., Shinsuke Sugiyama, with Domita, the Ambassador to South Korea. Kyodo News analyzed that since Ambassador Sugiyama has worked hard to strengthen Japan-U.S. relations during the Donald Trump administration, the government is strongly considering Ambassador Domita, known as an "America expert," as the next Ambassador to the U.S. with the launch of the Joe Biden administration.

Ambassador Domita has been serving as the Japanese Ambassador to South Korea for 1 year and 2 months since his appointment in October last year. However, Prime Minister Suga appears to have decided to utilize Domita’s network, who served as Minister and Director of the North American Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Barack Obama administration, to entrust Japan-U.S. relations to him under the Biden administration.

Ambassador Domita is expected to assume the post of Ambassador to the U.S. as early as February next year. Local media analyzed that if this personnel decision is finalized, it would be an unusual move for Ambassador Domita to transfer from Korea to the U.S. since passing the foreign service exam in 1980. He has held key positions including Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission in South Korea and the UK, Counselor at the North American Affairs Bureau in 2009, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission in the U.S., Director of the North American Affairs Bureau, and Ambassador to Israel.

Koichi Aiboshi, the Ambassador to Israel, is being mentioned as the successor to the Japanese Ambassador to South Korea. Ambassador Aiboshi has a deep connection with Korea, having served as First Secretary, Counselor, and Minister at the Japanese Embassy in South Korea. He later served as Director of the Consular Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2017 and has been Ambassador to Israel since July 2018.

FNN reported, "It has been confirmed that the Japanese government has decided to appoint Ambassador Domita to the U.S. in line with the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden," adding, "Since prior consent has been obtained from the U.S. government, he is expected to assume the post as early as February next year."

Aiboshi Koichi, Ambassador of Japan to Israel
Photo by Yonhap News

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