List of ambassadors of the Philippines to Japan

Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Japan
Sugo ng Republika ng Pilipinas sa Hapon
駐日フィリピン共和国大使
Seal of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
Incumbent
Mylene Garcia-Albano
since August 12, 2022[1]
Department of Foreign Affairs
Embassy of the Philippines, Tokyo
StyleHis Excellency
Reports toDepartment of Foreign Affairs
ResidenceThe Kudan
SeatChome-15-5, Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan
NominatorSecretary of Foreign Affairs
Appointer
Term lengthNo fixed term
Inaugural holderJorge B. Vargas
FormationOctober 14, 1943
WebsitePhilippine Embassy, Tokyo

The ambassador of the Philippines to Japan (Filipino: Sugo ng Republika ng Pilipinas sa Hapon) is the Republic of the Philippines' foremost diplomatic representative in the State of Japan. As officer of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the head of the embassy, and the head of the Philippines' diplomatic mission there, the ambassador is the official representative of the president and the government of the Philippines to the emperor and government of Japan. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

The ambassador is based at the embassy at 5 Chome-15-5, Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan and resided in The Kudan, located in 1-1-1 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

The position is currently held by Mylene Garcia-Albano since August 12, 2022.[1]

History

The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on October 14, 1943, following the inauguration of the Second Republic under the administration of President Jose P. Laurel and in the midst of the Second World War. Jorge B. Vargas, who was previously served as President Manuel L. Quezon's Secretary of National Defense and Executive Secretary, was appointed ambassador to the Empire of Japan after he declined to assume the Presidency under the Japanese occupation.

Following the defeat of Japan on September 2, 1945, relations were suspended and the post of the Philippine ambassador to the Japanese mainland became dormant until 1952 since the relations and credentials were redirected to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in occupied Japan. In October 1952, the Japanese embassy in Manila was reestablished, pursuant to the Treaty of San Francisco that was signed on 8 September 1951 that would serve as a formal conclusion of the Second World War. On July 23, 1956, right after the ratification of the Peace Treaty and Reparations Agreement between the Philippines and Japan (signed on 9 May 1956), the diplomatic relations between the two countries were fully reinstated and the post of the Philippine ambassador to the Japanese mainland was re-established.[2]

List of ambassadors to Japan

Ambassador[3] Tenure Japanese emperor Japanese prime minister Philippine president Note(s)
Jorge B. Vargas 1943–1945 Hirohito Hideki Tojo
Kuniaki Koiso
Kantarō Suzuki
Naruhiko Higashikuni
Kijūrō Shidehara
Jose P. Laurel [4]
Diplomatic relations were suspended after the Surrender of Japan to the Allied Powers on September 2, 1945, and the post remained closed until 1952 but no ambassador was posted until the re-establishment of bilateral relations on July 23, 1956.
Felino Neri 1956–1958 Hirohito Tanzan Ishibashi
Nobusuke Kishi
Ramon Magsaysay
Carlos P. Garcia
Manuel A. Adeva 1958–1962 Nobusuke Kishi
Hayato Ikeda
Carlos P. Garcia
Diosdado Macapagal
Mauro Mendez 1962–1964 Hayato Ikeda
Eisaku Satō
Diosdado Macapagal
Jacinto C. Borja 1965–1966 Eisaku Satō
Kakuei Tanaka
Takeo Miki
Takeo Fukuda
Masayoshi Ōhira
Masayoshi Ito
Zenkō Suzuki
Yasuhiro Nakasone
Diosdado Macapagal
Ferdinand Marcos
Jose S. Laurel III 1966–1971 Ferdinand Marcos
Roberto S. Benedicto[5] 1972–1978
Carlos J. Valdez 1978–1986
Ramon V. Del Rosario 1986–1992 Hirohito
Akihito
Yasuhiro Nakasone
Noboru Takeshita
Sōsuke Uno
Toshiki Kaifu
Kiichi Miyazawa
Corazon C. Aquino
Fidel V. Ramos
One of the Philippine representatives that served as mourners at the funeral ceremony of Emperor Hirohito.[6][7]
Domingo L. Siazon, Jr.[8] 1993–1995 Akihito Kiichi Miyazawa
Morihiro Hosokawa
Tsutomu Hata
Tomiichi Murayama
Fidel V. Ramos
Joseph Estrada
First term.
Alfonso Yuchengco 1995–1998 Tomiichi Murayama
Ryūtarō Hashimoto
Keizō Obuchi
Romeo A. Arguelles 1998–2001 Keizō Obuchi
Yoshirō Mori
Junichirō Koizumi
Joseph Estrada
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Domingo L. Siazon, Jr.[9] 2001–2010 Junichirō Koizumi
Shinzō Abe
Yasuo Fukuda
Tarō Asō
Yukio Hatoyama
Naoto Kan
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Benigno Aquino III
Second term.
Manuel M. Lopez[10][11] 2011–2016 Naoto Kan
Yoshihiko Noda
Shinzō Abe
Benigno Aquino III
Rodrigo Duterte
Credentials were presented to Emperor Akihito on 7 April 2011.[12][13]
Jose C. Laurel V 2017–2022 Akihito
Naruhito
Shinzō Abe
Yoshihide Suga
Fumio Kishida
Rodrigo Duterte
Bongbong Marcos
Son of former ambassador to Japan from 1966 to 1971, Jose S. Laurel III.
Credentials were presented to Emperor Akihito on 9 June 2017.[14][15][16]
Robespierre L. Bolivar 2022 Naruhito Fumio Kishida
Shigeru Ishiba
Bongbong Marcos Briefly served as the Philippine ambassador (in the capacity of Chargé d’Affaires) to Japan from 1 July 2022 to 12 August 2022.
Mylene Garcia-Albano[17] 2022–present Appointed by President Marcos Jr. on August 12, 2022.[1]
Credentials were presented to Emperor Naruhito on 19 April 2023.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Gutierrez, Pia (August 12, 2022). "Marcos leads oath taking of new officials in Malacañang". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  2. ^ Calica, Aurea (23 July 2006). "Japanese foreign minister in Manila". www.philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  3. ^ Former Philippine Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan
  4. ^ "DND: Jorge B. Vargas". Department of National Defense (Philippines). Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Shiver Jr, Jube (22 October 1988). "Local Bank Known for Ties to the Marcoses". Retrieved 30 May 2021 – via The Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ "List of Official Mourners Representing Foreign Countries and International Organizations at the Funeral Ceremony of Emperor Showa". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Ramon V. Del Rosario - Profile". Embassy of the Philippines, Japan. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  8. ^ "Domingo L. Siazon, Jr. - Profile". Embassy of the Philippines, Japan. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement: Strengthening the Foundation for Regional Cooperation and Economic Integration - Volume I" (PDF). Philippines-APEC Study Center Network. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Manuel M. Lopez - Profile". Embassy of the Philippines, Japan. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  11. ^ "外務省: 新任駐日フィリピン大使の信任状捧呈" [Presentation of Credentials by New Philippine Ambassador to Japan]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan) (in Japanese). April 7, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "Ambassador Manuel Lopez conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by Japan". Embassy of the Philippines, Tokyo. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  13. ^ "THE AMBASSADOR: Philippine Ambassador Presents Credentials to the Emperor of Japan". Embassy of the Philippines, Tokyo. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  14. ^ "PJFF Chairman Joey Laurel Is New PH Ambassador to Japan". Philippines-Japan Society. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Jose C. Laurel V - Profile". Embassy of the Philippines, Japan. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  16. ^ "駐日フィリピン大使の信任状捧呈 | 外務省" [Presentation of Credentials by the Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). June 9, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  17. ^ Unite, Betheena (August 12, 2022). "Marcos swears in new gov't execs, ambassador". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  18. ^ "駐日フィリピン大使の信任状捧呈 | 外務省" [Presentation of Credentials by the Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). April 19, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.