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, Afioga I le Ao o le Malo,
Tuimaleali’ifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II at the Credentials ceremony held at the Head of
State’s official residence at Vailele.
H.E Mr Senta in his remarks during the presentation of credentials 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
strengthened the existing good relations by expanding the scope of cooperation
between our two countries.
The Head of State in response acknowledged Japan’s contribution in regards 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.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
15 February 2022