One of the most prominent and outspoken foreign diplomats in Australia, Japanese ambassador Shingo Yamagami, has surprised Canberra’s foreign policy community by flagging his return to Tokyo just two years into his posting.
Yamagami, who became embroiled in an unusual public feud with his Chinese counterpart last month, told a gathering at the Japanese embassy in Canberra last week he had “bittersweet feelings” about the fact it was probably his last time addressing them for the Japanese Emperor’s birthday.
Shingo Yamagami, Japan’s ambassador to Australia, has developed a large media profile. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Referring to the Australian delicacies served by his personal chef at the embassy, Yamagami said: “My time in Australia has disappeared faster than Chef Ogata’s vanilla slice, but I don’t think many will disagree that I did it my way.
“To be sure, just like Sinatra, ‘Regrets, I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention’.”
In remarks that had the feel of a valedictory address, Yamagami said he regretted detailing his Australian adventures in a weekly email newsletter because applicants for his job were already lining up “out the door and around the corner” at Japan’s Foreign Ministry.
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“But you won’t escape me that easily,” he said.
“Thanks to our good friends from All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, there are more and more flights available each day and fewer reasons for you not to join me in Japan.”
The former foreign spy agency boss began his Canberra posting in February 2021 and has appeared regularly in the media providing hawkish views on China.
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