Australian Financial Review | 5 Apr 23
Japan is replacing its outspoken ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, with a long-serving diplomat who is the country’s current top diplomat in Turkey.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement that it had ordered Mr Yamagami to return to Tokyo. It said he would be replaced by Kazuhiro Suzuki, who has been Japan’s ambassador to Turkey since October 2020.
“An order for ambassador Yamagami to return to Japan was given,” MOFA said in a statement.
Mr Yamagami confirmed in a tweet on Wednesday that he was preparing to leave Australia. It is believed he will depart this month and that his replacement has started interviewing new chefs for the embassy.
Diplomatic sources said Mr Yamagami was leaving his post earlier than expected, but it was unclear whether the use of the word “ordered” by MOFA was confirmation that he had been recalled or not.