Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan) - Definition and Overview

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan is the politician responsible for Japanese foreign policy. He or she is a member of the Cabinet of Japan, and is the chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since the end of the American occupation of Japan, the position has been one of the most powerful in Cabinet, as Japan's economic interests have long relied on external relations. The recent efforts of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi—himself a former foreign minister—to establish a more interventionist foreign policy have also heightened the importance of the position.

The current foreign minister (2005) is Nobutaka Machimura.

See also

• Foreign minister

Related links

Minister's Profile at Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/index.html)

List of ministers

• Mamoru Shigemitsu (1943-1944, 1945, 1954-1956)
• Ohira Masayoshi (1962-1964, 1972-1974)
• Kono Yohei (1999-2001)
• Tanaka Makiko (2001-2002)
• Koizumi Junichiro (2002)
• Kawaguchi Yoriko (2002-2004))
• Machimura Nobutaka (2004-current))