CHANCERIESTHE DIPLOMATIC ATLAS

Embassy of Japan

Diplomatic history and full roster

Embassy of Japan

2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC

The modern chancery joins a low limestone street front to a taller office block with a glazed roof atrium. It stands beside the older residence and its formal courtyard.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed1986reported A primary completion record was not located. The reported completion year is retained with an explicit qualifier.
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Acquired by JapanBy 1931 (site)estimated The embassy’s official history dates establishment of the old residence to October 1931. The original site had entered diplomatic use by this date. The deed date and purchase dates of later additions remain unresolved.
  1. www.us.emb-japan.go.jp
NeighborhoodSheridan-Kaloramaverified
  1. npgallery.nps.gov
ArchitectThe Benham Group Eastverified Project firm verified in the lighting consultant’s primary record. Robert B. Anderson is a reported individual attribution; the cited 1985 original article has not been independently retrieved.
  1. www.wmclam.com
Rooms185–350 est.estimated; Sum of the existing 120–220 modern-chancery and 35–60 historic-residence planning ranges, plus an allowance for the remaining compound building area. The remainder assumes the recorded component areas are comparable to the compound area; that assumption is uncertain. Remaining-area rooms = area × 45%–65% ÷ 250–400 sq ft, rounded outward to five rooms. The separate new residence is excluded. Compound range; individual properties are counted only once.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Floor area153,800 sq ftverified; Commercial CAMA LIVING_GBA, compound record
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Site area130,000 sq ftverified; Shared estate total: 2500/0086. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
2026 Value$99.6Mverified; Shared estate total: 2500/0086. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov

Complete property record

Japanese Ambassador’s Residence

4000 Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, DC

Isoya Yoshida’s residence extends across a separate Nebraska Avenue estate. White modern wings meet a lower timber passage and tea pavilion beside a garden pond.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed1977verified DC’s Ward 3 Heritage Guide gives 1974–77. Contemporary reporting describes work beginning in 1973 and occupancy in August 1977; completion is shown as 1977.
  1. planning.dc.gov
  2. planning.dc.gov
Acquired by JapanBy 1974 (site)estimated The Ward 3 Heritage Guide dates the purpose-built residence to 1974–1977. The site was in diplomatic use by construction; the land transfer date has not been located. Latest possible acquisition year; the exact year remains unresolved.
  1. planning.dc.gov
NeighborhoodAmerican University Parkverified
  1. planning.dc.gov
ArchitectIsoya Yoshidaverified
  1. planning.dc.gov
Rooms45–80 est.estimated; Editorial program estimate for the 45,384 sq ft purpose-built residence: 10–18 reception/ceremonial rooms, 15–27 family/guest rooms and 20–35 kitchen, service and staff rooms. Excludes circulation, bathrooms and detached garden structures. Large ceremonial spaces prevent applying the office-building room density; allocations are assumptions. Estimated room total; a complete room inventory is unavailable.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
  2. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
  3. planning.dc.gov
  4. planning.dc.gov
Floor area45,400 sq ftverified; Residential CAMA GBA; record scope caveat
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Estate area329,174 sq ftverified; ITSPE LANDAREA, square feet, SSL 1640 0809.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
2026 Value$59.4Mverified; Parcel total: 1640/0809. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Site area329,200 sq ftverified; Parcel total: 1640/0809. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov

Complete property record

Historic Moments

Japan’s first mission arrives

1860

Japan’s first diplomatic delegation to the United States reaches Washington and meets President James Buchanan—a highly visible encounter between two societies beginning a new relationship.

Peace at Portsmouth

1905-09-05

Japanese and Russian envoys sign a peace treaty after American mediation. The fighting ends, but the settlement’s terms provoke anger in Japan and extend its power in East Asia.

Pearl Harbor and a diplomatic rupture

1941-12-07

Japanese aircraft attack Pearl Harbor while envoys in Washington deliver the note ending negotiations. War follows, and diplomatic relations are severed.

Diplomatic relations resume

1952-04-28

The peace settlement takes effect and normal diplomatic relations resume after war and occupation, opening a new phase in Japan’s relationship with the United States.

A treaty divides Japan

1960

Japan and the United States renew their security treaty as protests fill Tokyo’s streets. The alliance survives, but the confrontation brings down Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.

Operation Tomodachi

March 2011

After the earthquake and tsunami, American forces work alongside Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to deliver relief, clear damaged facilities, and support devastated coastal communities.

Chiefs of Mission

DiplomatOfficeRecorded serviceStatus
Koji TomitaAmbassador2021–2023Former
Shinsuke J. SugiyamaAmbassador2018–2021Former
Kenichiro SasaeAmbassador2012–2018Former
Ichiro FujisakiAmbassador2008–2012Former
Ryozo KatoAmbassador2001–2008Former
Shunji YanaiAmbassador1999–2001Former
Kunihiko SaitoAmbassador1995–1999Former
Takakazu KuriyamaAmbassador1992–1995Former
Ryohei MurataAmbassador1989–1992Former
Nobuo MatsunagaAmbassador1985–1989Former
Yoshio ŌkawaraAmbassador1980–1985Former
Fumihiko TōgōAmbassador1976–1980Former
Seiya NishidaChargé d’affaires1976Former
Takeshi YasukawaAmbassador1973–1976Former
Nobuhiko UshibaAmbassador1970–1973Former
Takeso ShimodaAmbassador1967–1970Former
Ryūji TakeuchiAmbassador1963–1967Former
Kōichirō AsakaiAmbassador1957–1963Former
Masayuki TaniAmbassador1956–1957Former
Sadao IguchiAmbassador1954–1956Former
Eikichi ArakiAmbassador1952–1954Former
Ryūji TakeuchiChargé d’affaires1952Former
Kichisaburō NomuraAmbassador1941Former
Morito MorishimaChargé d’affaires1940Former
Kensuke HorinouchiAmbassador1938–1940Former
Yakichirō SumaChargé d’affaires1937Former
Keinosuke FujiiChargé d’affaires1934Former
Hiroshi SaitōAmbassador1934–1938Former
Katsuji DebuchiAmbassador1928–1934Former
Setsuzō SawadaChargé d’affaires1928Former
Tsuneo MatsudairaAmbassador1925–1928Former
Isaburō YoshidaChargé d’affaires1924–1925Former
Masanao HaniharaAmbassador1923–1924Former
Sadao SaburiChargé d’affaires1922–1923Former
Kijūrō ShideharaAmbassador1919–1922Former
Katsuji DebuchiChargé d’affaires1919Former
Kikujirō IshiiAmbassador1918–1919Former
Aimaro SatōAmbassador1916–1918Former
Tōkichi TanakaChargé d’affaires1916Former
Sutemi ChindaAmbassador1912–1916Former
Masanao HaniharaChargé d’affaires1911–1912Former
Kōsai UchidaAmbassador1909–1911Former
Keishirō MatsuiChargé d’affaires1909Former
Kogorō TakahiraAmbassador1908–1909Former
Shūzō AokiAmbassador1906–1908Former
Eki HiokiChargé d’affaires1905–1906Former
Kogorō TakahiraMinister1900–1906Former
Keijirō NabeshimaChargé d’affaires1900Former
Jutarō KomuraMinister1898–1900Former
Tōru HoshiMinister1896–1898Former
Keishirō MatsuiChargé d’affaires1896Former
Shin’ichirō KurinoMinister1894–1896Former
Tsunejirō MiyaokaChargé d’affaires1894Former
Gōzō TatenoMinister1891–1894Former
Munemitsu MutsuMinister1888–1890Former
Ryūichi KukiMinister1884–1888Former
Munenori TerashimaMinister1882–1884Former
Kiyonari YoshidaMinister1874–1882Former
Jirō YanoChargé d’affaires1873–1874Former
Tomomi IwakuraAmbassador1872Former
Saburō TakagiChargé d’affaires1872–1873Former
Arinori MoriChargé d’affaires1871–1873Former
Masaoki ShinmiEnvoy1860Former
Shigeo YamadaAmbassador2023–PresentCurrent