Ambassador of Japan presented his credentials to His Majesty King Tupou VI ^Featured

His Excellency, accompanied by his spouse, Madam MUNENAGA Yoshiko, was escorted to this occasion by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Tonga. Following the presentation of credentials, they had a privilege to have an audience with His Majesty King Tupou VI.

“I conveyed the official messages from His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito of Japan to His Majesty King Tupou VI, and also received some intimate words for His Majesty the Emperor and the people of Japan from His Majesty King Tupou VI,” stated H.E. Mr. MUNENAGA.

“The Tongan Royal family and the Japanese Imperial family have established a warm friendship over the years, and as the only remaining Royal family in the South Pacific, the Japanese

Imperial family greatly values Their friendship. I realized that the close relationship between Tonga and Japan has been nurtured through mutual visits between Them and it has not changed even under the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“We still cannot see any sign that the situation is settling down, and this difficult time is still expected to remain unchanged. However, Tonga has already started vaccination and I strongly believe that the situation is going to improve in the future.

I and the Embassy of Japan would like to consider what we can do and what we have to do under the pandemic, taking the future after the pandemic into account.”

H.E. Mr.MUNENAGA and his spouse arrived in the Kingdom on November 19, 2020 as the fifth resident Ambassador of Japan to Tonga, succeeding the role of His Excellency Mr. ISHII Tetsuya.

Before his appointment to the Kingdom of Tonga, he has served an extensive career of over forty years in the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Japan in several positions as Budget Examiner, Director of Government Financial Institutions Division, and Commissioner of Yokohama Customs.

He served also as the Director General of Budget and Personnel Department for Asian Development Bank.