Yutaka Yokoi [File Photo: Chinanews.com]

Yutaka Yokoi, one of Japan's "China-school" diplomats, took office as Japan's new ambassador to China on Sunday.

"China-school" refers to a special group of Japanese who speak Chinese and are experts in Chinese affairs.

Some analysts said the appointment of experienced "China-school" expert Yokoi as Japan's new ambassador to China is aimed at improving the China-Japan relationship, while Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida called Yokoi an expert on Chinese affairs.

"China with a population of 1.3 billion people is a pretty charming country for many Japanese enterprises and China's development is a sound opportunity for Japan", Yokoi said during a dinner in Tokyo on Friday.

Yokoi added, "Japan wished to further boost cooperation with China and it's necessary to cultivate mutual trust between Chinese and Japanese citizens".

Yokoi has become the first ambassador to China from the "China-school" since 2010. Yuji Miyamoto, who served in the top post in Beijing from 2006 to 2010, was Japan's last such ambassador.

61-year-old Yokoi joined Japan's Foreign Ministry in 1979 and later underwent language training in China. Yokoi has held a number of posts, including director of the China and Mongolia Division, chief minister at the Japanese embassy in Beijing and ministry spokesman before becoming ambassador to Turkey in 2013. He also was the consul general in Shanghai.