Hideo Tarumi

(born May 23, 1961) is a Japanese diplomat who served as the Ambassador to China, from November 2020 to December 2023.

Early life Born in Osaka in 1961, Tarumi attended and graduated from Kyoto University's Faculty of Law in March 1985. After graduation, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after attending Osaka Prefectural Tennoji High School.

Diplomatic career After joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he studied abroad at Nanjing University in 1986 and at the University of California, San Diego in 1988.

In 1989, he moved to China where he was assigned as First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Beijing till 1990. After returning to Japan in 1990, he served in the Second Division of the Cultural Exchange Department and the Economic Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1994, he was the Chief Secretary of the Research Planning Division of the Economic Cooperation Bureau. In 1995, he returned to work at the Embassy of Japan in China.

In 1999, he moved to Hong Kong where he served as Director of Political Affairs at the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong. From 2001, he served in the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association office in Taipei, Taiwan.

From 2013, he served as Secretariat, Secretariat of General Affairs Division Manager and Secretariat Deputy Director of Minister of Foreign Affairs, and its Asia-Pacific and South Asia Department. In August 2016, he served in the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association office in Taipei till March 2017. Tarumi was appointed Director of the Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 20, 2018, and was appointed Director of the Minister's Secretariat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 2, 2019.

Ambassador to China On July 15, 2020, it was reported that Tarumi would be appointed as the Ambassador to China, succeeding Yutaka Yokoi. Tarumi arrived in Beijing on November 26, but due to COVID-19 pandemic, he was required to stay in two weeks of quarantine. On April 14, 2021, President of China Xi Jinping accepted Tarumi's credentials at the Great Hall of the People. His tenure as ambassador ended on December 6, 2023.

The Chinese government has accused Tarumi, alongside Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu, of belonging to an espionage organization due to Dong's support for political reforms.

Honors Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Star (2024)