Japan's new Ambassador to South Korea takes office in Seoul this week, and eyes are on whether he'll be able to improve bilateral relations which have worsened sharply this year.
According to diplomatic sources, Koji Tomita is due in the South Korean capital today.
He's a career diplomat who previously headed Tokyo's North American Affairs Bureau at Japan's foreign ministry.
Tomita also has several years of experience working as a minister at the Seoul embassy during South Korea's former Roh Moo-hyun administration, raising anticipation he could help the two countries patch up their trade and diplomatic differences.