THE government last week approved the appointment of Mr Yasuaki Nogawa as Japan’s new ambassador to Myanmar.

An announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 7 said Mr Nogawa, a 58-year-old career diplomat, will replace Mr Nobutake Odano, who will be leaving at the end this month after serving nearly three years at the post.
An official from the Japanese embassy said last week that Mr Nogawa was due to arrive in Yangon later this month.

The ministry announcement said that during his 34-year diplomatic career, Mr Nogawa has served at Japan’s permanent mission at the United Nations in Geneva as well as at the Japanese consulate in Sydney.

Japan is one of a largest aid donors to Myanmar, having provided US$5.3 million in assistance in 2006 for healthcare and environmental protection. So far this year Japan has given $3.9 million for education and environmental projects.

The Tokyo government also provides additional small-scale humanitarian aid to Myanmar under its grassroots grant assistance program.