was a Japanese

diplomat A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...

. Nishimiya was appointed as

Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...

of Japan to the People's Republic of China in 2012. However, he died unexpectedly before traveling to China to present his credentials. Nishimiya studied in the United Kingdom. He was considered one of the leading experts on United States within the Japanese Foreign Ministry. He was well known in U.S. diplomatic and political circles, and was a contributor to programs at the

Council on Foreign Relations The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an American think tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, mi ...

in New York City. He served at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing in 2005. In 2007, Nishimiya became the head of the Foreign Ministry's North American Affairs Bureau. He then served as the Japanese Consul-General in New York City before being named a deputy minister in 2010. Shinichi Nishimiya was appointed as Japan's Ambassador to China in 2012. He was designated to replace outgoing Ambassador Uichiro Niwa, a former chairman of Itochu. Nishimiya's appointment came at a critical time in relations between China and Japan due to an escalation in tensions over the Senkaku Islands dispute and the ongoing

2012 China anti-Japanese demonstrations The China anti-Japanese demonstrations of 2012 or () were a series of demonstrations held across more than 100 cities in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan during August and September 2012. The main cause of the demonstrations was the escalat ...

. Ambassador Nishimiya collapsed outside of his home shortly after his appointment. He died unexpectedly at a hospital in Tokyo on September 16, 2012, at the age of 60.

Japanese Foreign Minister The is a member of the cabinet of Japan and is the leader and chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The minister is responsible for implementing Japan’s foreign policy and is also a statutory member of the National Security Cou ...

Koichiro Gemba Kōichirō, Koichiro, Kouichirou or Kohichiroh is a masculine Japanese given name. Possible Writings *晃一郎, "clear, one, son" *光一郎, "light, one, son" *弘一郎, "vast, one, son" *鴻一郎, "prosperous, one, son" *紘一郎, "large, on ...

held a press conference to acknowledge the loss of Nishimiya. Gemba noted that it will take time to find a capable replacement for Ambassador to China, especially during the ongoing Senkaku Islands dispute.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nishimiya, Shinichi 1952 births 2012 deaths Ambassadors of Japan to China Consuls General of Japan in New York