Keiichi Ono is New Ambassador of Japan to India, Succeeding Hiroshi Suzuki
Ono brings a wealth of diplomatic experience and expertise in international relations as he steps into his role at a pivotal moment for Japan-India ties.
New Delhi: Japan has appointed Keiichi Ono as the new Ambassador to India, succeeding Hiroshi Suzuki. This transition comes at a crucial time as diplomatic ties between Japan and India continue to strengthen, particularly in light of recent security dialogues and upcoming high-level visits.
Ambassador Ono is likely to arrive in New Delhi sometime this month and assume his position. Hiroshi Suzuki left for his new assignment to London on September 29. Currently the Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Takahashi Ariyoshi is the Chargé d’affaires as the head of the embassy of Japan in New Delhi.
This appointment reflects Japan’s strategic interest in strengthening its relationship with India, particularly in areas such as security cooperation and economic collaboration, amidst evolving geopolitical challenges.
Keiichi Ono is a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in international relations. Before his appointment as Ambassador, he held the position of Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, where he played a pivotal role in shaping Japan’s foreign policy.
Notably, he served as Japan’s G7 Sherpa, contributing significantly to the success of the 2013 G7 summit held in Hiroshima. His expertise in Japan-US relations positions him well to navigate the complexities of Indo-Japanese diplomacy, especially as both nations seek to enhance their strategic partnership.
Ono’s diplomatic career has been marked by his commitment to fostering international cooperation and addressing contemporary global challenges.
His appointment comes at a time when India and Japan are revising their landmark 2008 agreement for security cooperation, aiming to adapt it to current security dynamics. This revision is expected to be formalized during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anticipated visit to Japan later this year.
Previously Keiichi Ono was Assistant Minister/Director-General and Ambassador for Global Issues. He worked as Deputy Chief of Mission/Minister of the Embassy of Japan in Jakarta, Indonesia from October 2017 until June 2020. Before then he was Deputy Assistant Minister and Deputy Director-General, North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan and chaired various consultations to advance Japan-United States alliance and security cooperation.
Ambassador Ono was Director, Northeast Asia Division, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, MOFA for more than five years until October 2015, and was responsible for Japan’s relations with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and North Korea. He participated in and chaired consultations with North Korea on outstanding security and humanitarian issues including the issue of abductions. He also worked to strengthen cooperation and coordination with ROK in the political, economic and cultural fields.
Ambassador Ono worked in other fields including bilateral relations with the five Mekong countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), China and Mongolia, and trade issues with the United States in MOFA. He served in the Embassy of Japan in London from 1991 to 1993, and in Washington, D.C. from 2000 to 2003. Ambassador Ono joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1988. He graduated from Tokyo University (BA in law, 1988), and University of Cambridge (St John’s College, BA and MA in law, 1991).
