H.E. Fumio Shimizu is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of South Africa, and is also accredited to the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Kingdom of Eswatini.

A career diplomat, Ambassador Shimizu joined Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1989 and has held a number of senior positions in Tokyo and overseas. His previous roles include Director of the First Africa Division, Ambassador of Japan to the African Union, Minister and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Japan in China, and Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Shimizu has extensive experience in Japan’s diplomacy with Africa and is actively engaged in strengthening Japan’s partnership with South Africa and the wider African continent.