Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan
to the United States of America
Ambassador Sugiyama presented his credentials as Ambassador to the United States
in March 2018. His diplomatic career with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MOFA) spans over 40 years. He most recently served as Vice Minister for Foreign
Affairs. Previous positions include Deputy Director-General of the Middle Eastern and
African Affairs Bureau as well as the International Cooperation Bureau; Director-
General for Global Issues, including Ambassador for Climate Change; and Director-
General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau.
Ambassador Sugiyama has also held leadership positions within the Foreign Policy
Bureau and Treaties Bureau of MOFA. His overseas assignments have included
multiple positions at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC; Political Minister at the
Embassy of Japan in Korea and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in
Egypt. He entered MOFA in 1977.
Ambassador Sugiyama studied at Waseda University in Japan and Oxford University in
the UK. He has taught international law for many years at the law faculty of Waseda
University, as well as at many other schools in Japan and overseas, and has written
numerous law articles, edited books on international law, and served as a member of
the editing committee of the international law journal issued by the International Law
Association of Japan.
