Japan was elected to one of the five nonpermanent seats on the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, returning to the body for the first time in five years.
It is the 11th time Japan has sat on the Security Council, more than any other nonpermanent member. Its election comes amid heavy lobbying by Tokyo for a thorough revamp of the 70-year-old organization — and possibly a permanent seat at the top table.
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida welcomed the move, saying in a statement on Friday that Japan will "actively contribute" to a broad range of global challenges.