The Foreign Ministry on Monday requested a 10.4 percent rise in its budget for fiscal 2016, partly to fund the opening of eight new diplomatic missions abroad.

To bolster Japan's diplomatic clout, the ministry's request of ¥756.8 billion includes establishing embassies in four countries — Mauritius, Macedonia, Samoa and Albania — and consulates in Cebu, the Philippines, Recife, Brazil, Bangalore, India, and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The ministry said it also wants to increase its workforce by around 156 from the current 5,869.