Japan’s New Ambassador to Lesotho Presents Credentials to King Letsie III

The newly appointed Ambassador of Japan to Lesotho, His Excellency Mr. SHIMIZU Fumio, officially presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Letsie III on Wednesday, 5 June 2025, during a formal ceremony held at the Royal Palace in Maseru. The presentation marks the beginning of his diplomatic tenure representing Japan in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

H.E. Mr. SHIMIZU takes over from his predecessor, H.E. Mr. USHIO Shigeru, who recently concluded his term. Ambassador SHIMIZU will serve in a non-resident capacity, operating from the Japanese Embassy in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.

In addition to the credential ceremony, the Ambassador paid a courtesy visit to Lesotho’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Honourable Mr. Lejone Mpotjoana. The meeting highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Lesotho and Japan and reaffirmed mutual commitment to cooperation in areas such as education, infrastructure, health, and economic development.

Japan and Lesotho share a longstanding partnership under the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) framework. Established in 1993, TICAD brings together African governments, the African Union, United Nations agencies, the World Bank, civil society, and the private sector to support Africa’s development through inclusive dialogue and cooperation.

Through TICAD, Japan has supported various development projects in Lesotho, ranging from capacity building and health sector improvements to climate resilience and agricultural initiatives. The arrival of Ambassador SHIMIZU signals Japan’s continued dedication to strengthening this relationship and exploring new avenues for collaboration.

In his remarks following the credential presentation, Ambassador SHIMIZU expressed his honour in serving as Japan’s representative and emphasized his commitment to enhancing bilateral ties. “Japan values its friendship with the Kingdom of Lesotho, and I look forward to deepening our cooperation in support of sustainable development and shared prosperity,” he said.

With Ambassador SHIMIZU’s appointment, Lesotho and Japan are poised to further consolidate their diplomatic and developmental partnership, with shared goals focused on peace, progress, and mutual understanding.