Japan’s new envoy presents credentials

APIA, SAMOA – 15 FEBRUARY 2022: His Excellency, Mr Senta Keisuke, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Samoa presented his Letters of Credence and Letters of Recall for his predecessor to the Head of State of Samoa, Tuimaleali’ifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II at the Head of State’s official residence at Vailele.

H.E Mr Senta expressed that Samoa and Japan have enjoyed excellent friendship and relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973. He pledged to fulfill his mission to further strengthen the existing good relations by expanding the scope of cooperation between our two countries.

The Head of State in response acknowledged Japan’s contribution to Samoa’s national development as it serves as the foundation in achieving our sustainable development goals. He congratulated His Excellency on his ambassadorial appointment and expressed his hope that bilateral ties between Samoa and Japan will continue to prosper during his tenure.

Diplomatic relations between Samoa and Japan were formalized on 27 March 1973.

H.E. Mr Senta Keisuke succeeds Ambassador H.E Mr Terasawa Genichi who returned home in December 2022.

Mr Senta is a lawyer by profession who worked for years as an Attorney at the Criminal Bureau of the Ministry of Justice of Japan. He has a vast experience as a Public Prosecutor and a Chief Prosecutor in the District Public Prosecutors Offices. Mr Senta has worked at the United Nations Secretariat in the early 1990s at the Crime and Criminal Justice Division at the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs (CSDHA) based in Vienna, Austria and at the Department of International Economic and Social Affairs (DIESA) in Wien, Austria. Mr Senta was posted as First Secretary of the Mission of Japan to the European Union in 1995.