Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan) facts for kids
| 外務省 Gaimu-shō |
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Seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | August 15, 1869 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Japan |
| Headquarters | 2-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8919, Japan 35°40′26.4″N 139°44′56.4″E / 35.674000°N 139.749000°E |
| Employees | 6281 |
| Minister responsible |
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| Deputy Ministers responsible |
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外務省, Gaimu-shō) is a special part of the Government of Japan. Its main job is to handle Japan's relationships with other countries. This includes working on foreign policy and international relations.
The Ministry was created to help Japan and its people. It also works to keep the world peaceful and safe. The Ministry tries to build good relationships with other nations. It aims to create a positive environment for Japan in the world.
Contents
How Japan's Foreign Policy Works
Japan's foreign policy is mainly managed by the Cabinet. This group of top government officials makes big decisions. The National Diet (Japan's parliament) watches over these decisions.
Roles of Key Leaders
- The Prime Minister is the top leader. They make the final calls on important foreign policy matters. They also tell the Diet about Japan's relationships with other countries.
- The Minister for Foreign Affairs is a member of the Cabinet. This person is the Prime Minister's main helper. They give advice on planning and carrying out foreign policy.
- The Diet has special committees for foreign affairs. These committees discuss international issues. They report their findings to the rest of the Diet.
- The Emperor has a special role. They greet leaders from other countries. They also approve treaties that the Diet has agreed upon.
Inside the Ministry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has many different teams. These teams help manage Japan's relationships worldwide.
- Leaders: The Minister is helped by two vice ministers. One handles the daily running of the Ministry. The other works with the Diet.
- Departments: The Ministry has many departments. Some deal with travel and Japanese citizens abroad. Others handle communication and cultural exchange programs.
- Bureaus: There are also different bureaus. Some focus on specific parts of the world, like Asia or Europe. Others deal with specific topics, like economic issues or international law.
Becoming a Diplomat
People who work for the Ministry are called diplomats. They are chosen through a tough exam. After passing, they get special training at the Ministry's Foreign Service Training Institute. This job is highly respected in Japan. Most ambassadors (top diplomats) have worked their way up in the Ministry.
Working with Other Ministries
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs works closely with other parts of the government. This is because foreign relations often involve many different areas.
- Money Matters: They work with the Ministry of Finance. This includes topics like taxes on imports and exports. They also discuss international money matters and aid to other countries.
- Trade: They team up with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. This helps with buying and selling goods with other nations.
- Food and Fishing: They also work with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. This helps with questions about food imports and fishing rights in other countries' waters.
Many different groups help shape Japan's foreign policy. This shows how important international relations are to Japan's daily life.
The current Minister for Foreign Affairs is Yōko Kamikawa.
Diplomatic Bluebook
The Diplomatic Bluebook (外交青書, Gaikō Seisho) is a report the Ministry publishes every year. It explains Japan's foreign policy goals. It also shares what the government thinks about international events.
The Bluebook started in 1957. Sometimes, what is written in the report can cause reactions from other countries. For example, in 2018, a change in how South Korea was described caused some disagreement.
Main Branches of the Ministry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has many important departments. Here are some of them:
- Minister's Secretariat
- Chief of Protocol (handles official ceremonies and rules)
- Press Secretary / Director-General for Press and Public Relations (deals with the media)
- Public Diplomacy Department (helps Japan connect with people in other countries)
- Foreign Policy Bureau (plans overall foreign policy)
- Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department (works on reducing weapons)
- Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau (focuses on Asia and Oceania)
- North American Affairs Bureau (focuses on North America)
- Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau (focuses on Latin America and the Caribbean)
- European Affairs Bureau (focuses on Europe)
- Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau (focuses on the Middle East and Africa)
- Economic Affairs Bureau (handles international economic issues)
- International Cooperation Bureau (works on helping other countries)
- International Legal Affairs Bureau (deals with international laws)
- Consular Affairs Bureau (helps Japanese citizens abroad)
- Intelligence and Analysis Service (gathers and studies information)
- Foreign Service Training Institute (trains new diplomats)
See also
- List of ministers for foreign affairs of Japan
- List of diplomatic missions of Japan
- Foreign policy of Japan
- Foreign relations of Japan
- International child abduction in Japan
