Minister Isamu Yamaguchi is a seasoned diplomat with nearly three decades of experience in international relations, foreign policy, and national security. He currently serves as the Minister at the Embassy of Japan in Australia, a role he assumed in August 2024.

Mr. Yamaguchi began his distinguished career at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in April 1997 after completing his studies in economics at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. He later pursued graduate studies at Munich University in Germany, further deepening his expertise in European affairs and international diplomacy.

From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Yamaguchi was posted to Germany, marking the beginning of a long-standing engagement with Europe. Between 2002 and 2012, he held various positions within MOFA, focusing on development cooperation and multilateral diplomacy. Notably, from 2006 to 2008, he served as the official German-language interpreter for Japan’s Foreign Minister, underscoring his linguistic and diplomatic acumen.

His leadership roles have spanned intelligence analysis, consular affairs, and emerging security challenges. He served as Principal Deputy Director of MOFA’s Intelligence and Analysis Service (2012–2013), and held Counsellor posts at the Japanese Embassies in Austria (2013–2016) and South Africa (2016–2018). As Director of the Emerging Security Challenges Division (2018–2020), he played a pivotal role in shaping Japan’s strategic response to global threats. He later led the Passport Division at MOFA (2020–2022), and most recently served as Cabinet Counsellor at the National Cybersecurity Center (2022–2024), contributing to Japan’s cybersecurity policy at the highest level.

Minister Yamaguchi brings to Australia a wealth of experience in diplomacy, security, and international cooperation, with a deep commitment to strengthening the Japan–Australia partnership across political, economic, and cultural domains.