Prime Minister Naoto Kan plans to appoint Mr. Uichiro Niwa, former chairman of Itochu Corp., a major trading firm, as Japan's new ambassador to China. Mr. Kan apparently wants to demonstrate his political leadership by choosing a businessman who has considerable experience in China, which is now Japan's top trade partner and whose behavior can impact Japan's security.
Since Japan and China restored their diplomatic ties in 1972, 12 Foreign Ministry officials have served as ambassador to China. Mr. Niwa will be the first person from the private sector to serve in that position. Reportedly both China and the Japanese Foreign Ministry were annoyed over Mr. Kan's decision. It is hoped that if Mr. Niwa assumes the position, the ministry will give him full support so that he can execute his responsibilities to the best of his ability.
While a student at Nagoya University, Mr. Niwa took part in the student movement against the 1960 revision of the Japan-U.S. security treaty. In 1962, he joined Itochu. He became president in 1998, chairman in 2004 and adviser in 2010. During these years he spent time working in the United States and also developed tieups with Chinese firms mainly in the food and textile sectors. When the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito were in power, Mr. Niwa served as head of the government's devolution panel. The Kan administration has accepted the panel's recommendations, viewing them as important for its policy to strengthen local governments.