Ambassador Shoji Sato is the 1st Residing Ambassador of Japan to the FSM

Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Ambassador Shoji Sato is the 1^st Residing Ambassador of Japan to the FSM

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): June 26, 2008 - President Manny Mori received Ambassador Shoji Sato as the first resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Federated States of Micronesia in a presentation of credentials ceremony that was held in the President Cabinet Room on June 24, 2008.

Ambassador Sato, in his remarks, said; "His Majesty the Emperor has instructed me to convey to you that he wishes for further promotion of the goodwill and friendly relations, which happily exist between Japan and the Federated States of Micronesia"

He went on to reiterate the fact that this year FSM and Japan had celebrated the 20^th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his responding remark, President Manny Mori welcomed Ambassador Shoji Sato being the first resident Ambassador of Japan to the FSM.

In 1984, before the establishment of the diplomatic relations between FSM and Japan, FSM opened a small office in Tokyo. That small office was later upgraded to a full-fletched embassy soon after establishment of diplomatic ties headed by an Ambassador residing in Tokyo.

The President also reiterated to Ambassador Sato the FSM government's thanks and appreciation to the leadership and people of Japan for the many assistance schemes provided so generously by the government of Japan. Over the years Japan has been a dedicated developing partner, and we are ever grateful for your commitment and support to our nation-building efforts. President Mori also acknowledged Japan's committed involvement in the regional affairs.

Ambassador Shoji Sato was born in 1948. He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in 1966. In March 1970 Ambassador Sato was graduated from Chuo University (Faculty of Commerce). He became first Secretary at the Japan Embassy in the Republic of Zambia in April 1983. He was once an Officer to the Japan-US Security Treaty Division, at the North American Affairs Bureau in 1986. He became Deputy Director to the Management and Coordination Division at the Minister's Secretariat, MOFA in 1988. And in October 1993, he was the Consulate-General of Japan in Sidney, Australia.

In June 1996 he became Counselor at the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan. In November, 1998 Ambassador Sato was the Deputy Consul-General of Japan in Sydney, Australia. He was Senior Assistant, Developing Economics Division at the Economic Affairs Bureau, MOFA. Then in December 2002 he worked as Senior Assistant at the UN Administration Division, Multilateral Cooperation Department. And in April the same year he was Director of the Information Division System at the Minister's Secretariat MOFA. He than became the Senior Coordinator for Intelligence Analysis Service in September of 2005 and before this post he was Consul General of Japan in Surubaya, Indonesia.