deputy foreign minister
A senior official in Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ranking below the foreign minister and above the director-general level. Often translated as 'Deputy Foreign Minister' or 'Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs'.
The Deputy Foreign Minister explained the new diplomatic policy at a press conference.
He was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister in recognition of his many years of diplomatic experience.
外務大臣 is the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the top political appointee), while 外務審議官 is a senior bureaucratic position one rank below.
外務副大臣 is a political appointee (Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs), whereas 外務審議官 is a career bureaucrat position.
Compound of 外務 (foreign affairs) + 審議官 (councilor/deliberative official). The term reflects the bureaucratic structure of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.