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List of ambassadors of Australia to Japan facts for kids

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Ambassador of Australia to Japan
Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Incumbent
Justin Hayhurst
since 24 April 2023
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Style His Excellency
Reports to Minister for Foreign Affairs
Nominator Prime Minister of Australia
Appointer Governor General of Australia
Inaugural holder Sir John Latham
Formation 17 August 1940
Website Australian Embassy, Tokyo
AustralianEmbassyTokyo
The Australian Embassy building in Tokyo.

The Ambassador of Australia to Japan is a very important person who represents Australia in Japan. This person works for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They are the main leader of the Australian Embassy in Tokyo.

An ambassador's job is to help Australia and Japan work together. They build strong friendships between the two countries. This includes helping with trade, culture, and solving problems. The ambassador also looks after Australians living or traveling in Japan. The current ambassador is Justin Hayhurst, who started in April 2023. Sometimes, a chargé d’affaires like Peter Roberts temporarily fills the role.

Australia and Japan: A Diplomatic History

Australia and Japan started their official diplomatic relationship in 1940. This is when Australia opened its first special office, called a Legation, in Japan. The first Australian Minister, Sir John Latham, began his role in January 1941. This was one of Australia's first independent diplomatic missions outside the British Empire. Before this, Australia had a 'Trade Commissioner' in Tokyo. This person, Eric Longfield Lloyd, mainly focused on trade. However, his role wasn't officially recognized as diplomatic. This made it hard for him to deal with non-trade matters.

Changes in Diplomatic Roles

Australia was the only country in Japan without an ambassador or minister. So, it became clear that a higher-ranked person was needed. In 1937, the word 'Trade' was removed from Longfield Lloyd's title. He became the Australian 'Commissioner' in Tokyo. But this didn't change his official diplomatic status. Sir John Latham's appointment in 1940 finally solved this issue. People praised his appointment, saying it was "far more important" than just trade matters.

Relations During and After World War II

Official diplomatic relations stopped between December 1941 and 1952. This was because of World War II. After the war, Japan was occupied by Allied forces. In 1947, a new Australian Minister to Japan was appointed. However, this minister didn't report to the Japanese Government. Instead, they reported to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. This was the group in charge of Japan's occupation. The minister also represented the British Commonwealth on the Allied Council for Japan.

List of Australian Ambassadors and Ministers to Japan

This table shows the people who have served as Australia's main representative in Japan.

Ordinal Officeholder Title Term start date Term end date Time in office
(n/a) Lloyd, Eric LongfieldEric Longfield Lloyd MC Commissioner 7 June 1935 (1935-06-07) 17 August 1940 (1940-08-17) 5 years, 71 days
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 Latham, JohnSir John Latham GCMG, QC Australian Minister to Japan 17 August 1940 (1940-08-17) 8 December 1941 (1941-12-08) 1 year, 113 days
Relations suspended
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 Ball, William MacmahonWilliam Macmahon Ball Australian Minister to Japan 30 March 1947 (30 March 1947) August 1947 (August 1947) 4 months
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 Shaw, Patrick ShawPatrick Shaw August 1947 (August 1947) September 1949 (September 1949) 2 years, 1 month
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 Lieutenant Colonel Hodgson, William RoyWilliam Roy Hodgson CMG, OBE September 1949 (September 1949) 18 April 1952 (18 April 1952) 2 years, 230 days
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 Walker, Edward RonaldEdward Ronald Walker Ambassador of Australia to Japan 18 April 1952 (18 April 1952) 1955 (1955) 2–3 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06 Watt, AlanSir Alan Watt CBE 1956 (1956) 1960 (1960) 3–4 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 McIntyre, LaurenceSir Laurence McIntyre CBE 1960 (1960) 1965 (1965) 4–5 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08 Brown, AllenSir Allen Brown CBE 1965 (1965) 1970 (1970) 4–5 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09 Freeth, GordonGordon Freeth 1970 (1970) 1973 (1973) 2–3 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&010.&&&&&010 Shann, MickMick Shann CBE 1973 (1973) 1977 (1977) 3–4 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011 Menadue, JohnJohn Menadue 1977 (1977) 1980 (1980) 2–3 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012 Plimsoll, JamesSir James Plimsoll AC, CBE 1981 (1981) 1982 (1982) 0–1 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013 Currie, NeilSir Neil Currie CBE 1982 (1982) 1986 (1986) 3–4 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014 Miller, GeoffGeoff Miller 1986 (1986) 1989 (1989) 2–3 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015 Dalrymple, RawdonRawdon Dalrymple AO 1989 (1989) 1993 (1993) 3–4 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016 Calvert, AshtonAshton Calvert 1993 (1993) 1998 (1998) 4–5 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017 Peter Grey 1998 (1998) 2001 (2001) 2–3 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018 McCarthy, JohnJohn McCarthy AO 2001 (2001) 2004 (2004) 2–3 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&019.&&&&&019 McLean, MurrayMurray McLean OAM 2004 (2004) 2011 (2011) 6–7 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&020.&&&&&020 Miller, BruceBruce Miller AO August 2011 (August 2011) January 2017 (January 2017) 5 years, 5 months
&&&&&&&&&&&&&021.&&&&&021 Court, RichardRichard Court AC April 2017 (April 2017) 2020 (2020) 2–3 years
&&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022 Adams, JanJan Adams AO, PSM October 2020 (October 2020) July 2022 (July 2022) 1 year, 9 months
&&&&&&&&&&&&&023.&&&&&023 Justin Hayhurst April 2023 (April 2023) Incumbent 2 years, 64 days

See also

  • Japan-Australia relations
  • Foreign relations of Australia
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