TOKYO -- Japan's longest-serving top career diplomat in the post-war era, Takeo Akiba, who was once called upon to make breakthroughs with North Korea and China, became the new head of the National Security Secretariat on Wednesday, a position where he will be asked to thaw currently chilled relations with a slew of neighbors.
Akiba, 62, who served as vice foreign minister for more than three years, the country's top career diplomatic position, earned the nicknamed "Mr. Diplomat" both within and outside of the ministry.
