is a Japanese diplomat who formerly served as

Japanese ambassador to the United States The ambassador of Japan to the United States has existed since 1860, interrupted by disagreements and wars during World War II. Koji Tomita is the current Japanese ambassador to the United States, having presented his credentials on March 28, 2018 ...

Career

Sugiyama passed the official exam for foreign affairs in October 1976, enrolling in law school at Waseda University in March of the following year, but dropping out the next month to join the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

. In 1978, he traveled to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

to study

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

for two years at

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

. His career as a diplomat has included a previous tour in Washington as well postings in

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

and

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

, along with a prior assignment to Washington from 1989 to 1992, when he was first secretary in the economics section of the Japanese embassy. In late 2017, he was selected to become Japan's ambassador to the United States. He pledged to work with American officials to resolve issues with

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...

, including the nation's nuclear arsenal and abductions of Japanese citizens. He presented his credentials to President

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...

on March 28, 2018. In 2016, Sugiyama denied the existence of

comfort women Comfort women or comfort girls were women and girls forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in occupied countries and territories before and during World War II. The term "comfort women" is a translation of the Japanese '' ia ...

to a U.N. panel. As ambassador, he helped negotiate an agricultural trade pact with American officials.

Personal life

Sugiyama was married for nearly 40 years to Yoko Elizabeth Sugiyama, who died in 2020 of apparent heart failure at their Tokyo home while recovering from a stomach ulcer. She was 66. Their daughter, Reina, is a fashion designer in New York. Their son, Shunsuke, lives in Japan with his wife and four children. Sugiyama is

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

References

People from Aichi Prefecture Living people 1953 births Ambassadors of Japan to the United States Historical negationism Comfort women denial {{Japan-bio-stub