Key players in reshuffle

Kenichiro Sasae, 60, vice-minister of foreign affairs, who will succeed the current Japanese ambassador to the US. He graduated from Tokyo University in 1974, and has worked for Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs ever since. Sasae was promoted to director-general of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau in 2007 and attended the Six-Party Talks as Japan's representative.

Shinichi Nishimiya, 60, vice-minister of foreign affairs, who will replace Uichiro Niwa to be Japanese ambassador to China. He entered Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1976 and served as counselor to Russia, minister to China and deputy minister for foreign affairs in charge of the economy.

Uichiro Niwa, 73, current Japanese ambassador to China since July 2010. Niwa is also the first Japanese ambassador with a private-sector background, the former chairman and president of Itochu Corporation and former CEO of Japan Post Holdings.