BY NOZOMU HAYASHI CORRESPONDENT
Masato Kitera responds to questions at a news conference at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Dec. 25. (The Asahi Shimbun)
BEIJING -- Japan's new ambassador to China, Masato Kitera, took up his post in Beijing on Dec. 25 to begin the delicate task of improving bilateral relations, which many say are in their worst state since normalization of ties 40 years ago.