Tokyo, Sep 16 (IANS): Japan's newly-appointed ambassador to China died Sunday after he fell unconscious on a street in Tokyo three days ago, Xinhua reported.
Shinichi Nishimiya, 60, died at a hospital in Tokyo, according to Kyodo news agency.
Nishimiya fell unconscious on a street Thursday. Police said it was caused by illness.
Kyodo, however, said the cause of his death was yet to be known.
Nishimiya's appointment had just been approved by the Japanese government Tuesday. He was to replace current Japanese ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa.
China and Japan are currently embroiled in a dispute over a group of islands in the East China Sea.
Nishimiya was earlier deputy foreign minister in charge of economic affairs.