Six Ambassadors and Consular Officers appointed in the Official Gazette

The Official Gazette dated September 24, 2026, announced that as part of the Cabinet’s personnel changes, six individuals—Yasuhiro Okanishi, Hiroki Kiryu, Takanari Den, Tokuro Furuya, Toru Morikawa, and Sachiko Imoto—were appointed as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. The effective date of appointment was September 16, and it was treated as “separate notices” (kaku-tsu), with letters of appointment issued to each of the six individuals. At 3:50 PM on the same day, the Appointment Ceremony for Attested Officers for the six individuals was held at the Imperial Palace.

Six Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Announced in Cabinet Personnel Changes

• Appointees: Yasuhiro Okanishi, Hiroki Kiryu, Takanari Den, Tokuro Furuya, Toru Morikawa, Sachiko Imoto
• Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
• Effective Date: September 16
• Announcement: Official Gazette dated September 24, 2026, “Personnel Changes” (Cabinet)

Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary are attested officers whose appointment and dismissal require the attestation of the Emperor, and their appointments are published in the Official Gazette as Cabinet personnel changes. In this announcement, the six appointments were handled collectively, and it was clearly stated that each was issued via an individual letter of appointment.

Appointment Ceremony for Attested Officers Held at the Imperial Palace on September 16

The Imperial Household section of the Official Gazette records that at 3:50 PM on September 16, the Appointment Ceremony for Attested Officers was held at the Imperial Palace for Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Yasuhiro Okanishi, Hiroki Kiryu, Takanari Den, Tokuro Furuya, Toru Morikawa, and Sachiko Imoto. By having the announcement of appointment and the record of the ceremony appear in the same Official Gazette, the series of procedures from the issuance of the order to the attestation was officially confirmed.

Cabinet and Diet-Related Announcements Appearing in the Same Day’s Official Gazette

• Report on the status of ethics maintenance and measures for FY2025 based on Article 4 of the National Public Service Ethics Act (received from the Cabinet on September 15)
• Report on the National Public Service Ethics Code and instructions regarding ethics related to duties based on Article 5, Paragraph 6 of the National Public Service Ethics Act
• Report on the status of ethics maintenance and measures for Self-Defense Forces personnel for FY2025 based on Article 4 of the Self-Defense Forces Personnel Ethics Act
• Resignation of Standing Committee Chairs of the House of Representatives (permitted by the Speaker on September 17): Cabinet Committee Chair Takashi Yamashita, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee Chair Hayayuki Fujii
• Receipt of reports from the Cabinet in the House of Councillors
• Imperial Household Matters: Lady-in-waiting to the Emperor Emeritus Miwako Kiuchi

Government Matters and Public Notice of Industrial Standards

In the Government Matters section, the Kanto Regional Development Bureau, based on Article 37, Paragraph 1 of the Road Act (Act No. 180 of 1952), announced the designation of an area where occupancy is restricted within 4-6 Shinkiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo, for General National Route 357, and notified that the occupancy restriction will commence on September 25, 2026. In the Industry section, in the name of Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa, the establishment and revision of Japanese Industrial Standards were announced based on Article 19 of the Industrial Standardization Act (Act No. 185 of 1949), and the relevant drawings will be open for public inspection for two weeks starting from September 24, 2026.

The appointment of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary is a personnel matter that determines the leaders of diplomatic activities through overseas diplomatic missions, and officially takes effect following the appointment ceremony for certified officials. This issue of the Official Gazette is significant as it simultaneously announces six appointments and their certification at the Imperial Palace, providing primary source material to confirm the procedures of Japanese diplomatic personnel appointments.

Source: Official Gazette, Thursday, September 24, 2026, “Personnel Changes” (Cabinet) / “Imperial Household Matters” Appointment Ceremony for Certified Officials / “Government Matters” Kanto Regional Development Bureau Public Notice / “Industry” Japanese Industrial Standards