The Japanese government on Friday appointed new ambassadors to Germany, India, Russia and other countries.
Toyohisa Kozuki, who was director general of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Bureau, will become ambassador to Russia, while Kenji Hiramatsu, who was head of the ministry's Foreign Policy Bureau, will serve as envoy to India. Their appointments will be effective from next Thursday.
Takeshi Yagi, who was ambassador to India and Bhutan after serving as director general of the ministry's Economic Affairs Bureau, will now serve as envoy to Germany, effective Friday.
Among other appointments effective from next Thursday, Koji Tomita, who headed the North American Affairs Bureau, was named envoy to Israel. Yoko Yanagisawa, consul general in Brisbane, will serve as envoy to Estonia, while Kyoko Koga, consul general in Milan, will become ambassador to Bolivia.
Junichi Ihara, former director general of the ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, will head the permanent mission of Japan to the international organizations in Geneva.