Mitoji Yabunaka

Mitoji Yabunaka
Mitoji Yabunaka in 2005
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 2007
Preceded by	Tsuneo Nishida
Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
In office 2002–2005
Preceded by	Hitoshi Tanaka

Mitoji Yabunaka (薮中 三十二 Yabunaka Mitoji, born January 23, 1948) is the current Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs^[1] in charge of administration.^[2] Prior to his current position, Yabunaka served as Ministry of Foreign Affair's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General.^[3][4] He has been a diplomat for nearly forty years.^[5]

Diplomacy

Before entering government service, Yabunaka was a senior researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies from 1990-1991.^[6] Yabunaka became Consul General from Japan to the United States in 1998, and visited the country on several occasions.^[5]

Yabunaka has represented Japan on a number of occasions, and has negotiated trade deals with the United States, Australia,^[7] and Indonesia.^[8] He has had contact with a number of United States diplomats, including hosting current United States Ambassador to Japan John Roos shortly following Roos' appointment.^[9] During the first, second, and third rounds of the Six-party talks, Yabunaka represented Japan as chief delegate.^[10] The Japanese government also sent Yabanuka as a delegate to China to discuss issues of natural gas reserves under the East China Sea.^[11]

He handled Myanmar relations during the Kenji Nagai shooting incident, demanding an investigation and challenging governmental claims.^[12] Yabunaka replaced Toshiyuki Takano as Director-General of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau in 2002.^[13] In 2008, Yabunaka held talks with South Korean Ambassador Kwon Chul Hyun over disputed islets in the Sea of Japan.^[14]

Notes

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (2009).
2. The Mainichi Daily News (2009).
3. Funabashi (2007), 44.
4. Xinhua (2003).
5. Potter (2000).
6. IISS (2008).
7. Cameron (2005).
8. Jakarta Post (2006).
9. Hongo (2009).
10. McDonald (2004).
11. The China Post (2008).
12. Kyodo News (2007).
13. Jiji (2002).
14. Xinhua (2008).

References

• Cameron, Deborah (14 September 2005). "Japan in the market for free trade pact". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• "China, Japan fail again to solve gas issue". The China Post. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• "Foreign Ministry to cooperate with DPJ in investigation on secret nuke accord with U.S.". The Mainichi Daily News. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• Funabashi, Yōichi (2007). The Peninsula Question: a Chronicle of the Second Korean Nuclear Crisis. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 0-8157-3010-1. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• Hongo, Jun (21 August 2009). "Roos gets to work, meets vice minister". The Japan Times. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• "Indonesia, Japan resume free trade negotiations". The Jakarta Post. 16 September 2004. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• "9 Oct 08 - Discussion Meeting - Mitoji Yabunaka". International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
• "Japanese delegation arrives in Beijing for six-party talks". Xinhua News Agency. 25 August 2003. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• Jiji Press (4 December 2002). "Japan to Promote Key N. Korea Negotiator Tanaka". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• Kyodo News (3 October 2007). "Reporter's slaying was accidental: Myanmar". The Japan Times. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• McDonald, Joe (25 February 2004). "China Plays Diplomat in Nuclear Dispute". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• "Mofa Info". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• Potter, Dean (14 June 2000). "Consul General Mitoji Yabunaka: Building Good Relationships". Asian Pages. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
• "S Korean ambassador protests over Japan's claim of disputed islets". Xinhua News Agency. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2009.