Introduction
At Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership (ToTAL), we are honored to invite Mr. Motohide Yoshikawa, a former diplomat, to speak on the topic “My Life as a Diplomat: 1974-2016” on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Mr. Motohide Yoshikawa has 42-years experience as a diplomat and served as Ambassador of Japan in multiple countries before appointed as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OECD in Paris, and later, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations. He will share his experiences of his long-time career working internationally with many world leaders and answer questions from the audience.
He will speak in English and take questions in both English and Japanese during the Q&A session after his talk. The event will be held both in person on Ookayama Campus and online.
Please register from below to participate.
Outline
| Date and Time | Wednesday, December 13, 2023 5:30PM-7:00PM |
| Method | In person and online (Zoom) |
| Venue (In-person participation) | M-103 Lecture room, Main Building (“Honkan”) 1st floor, Ookayama Campus |
| Eligibility | Tokyo Tech students, faculty or staff and the general public |
| Language | English (He will take questions in both English and Japanese during the Q&A session.) |
| Register to attend IN PERSON | To attend IN PERSON, please register on Google Forms below. REGISTRATION TO ATTEND IN PERSON |
| Register to attend ONLINE | To attend ONLINE, please register on Zoom below. REGISTRATION TO ATTEND ONLINE |
Personal History of Mr. Motohide YOSHIKAWA*
Distinguished Professor at the International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan
Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
■Studies and early Diplomatic Career:
-Mr. Yoshikawa was born in Nara, Japan, on 13 March 1951.
-By the American Field Service Scholarship program, he graduated from LeRoy High School in LeRoy, Illinois, USA, in 1969.
-In 1974, he graduated from the ICU, International Christian University, in Tokyo. In the same year, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
-During his early career, he served in both Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo as well as Japanese Embassies and Missions abroad.
-At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was Director of the Second International Organizations Division of the Economic Affairs Bureau and Director of the United Nations Policy Division of the Foreign Policy Bureau.
-At Embassies and Missions, he served in Spain, Argentina, United Kingdom, OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in Paris, Thailand, and the United Nations in NY.
■Senior positions in Tokyo:
-In 2002, he was named Deputy Director-General of the Economic Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry.
-From 2004 to 2006, he was Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of the Ministry.
■10 years as Ambassador of Japan:
-In 2006, he was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Spain, where he served until 2009. As Ambassador, he prepared an official trip of the Crown Prince of Japan to Spain and a State Visit of the King and the Queen of Spain to Japan, both took place in 2008.
-From 2009 to 2010, Ambassador Yoshikawa served as Japan’s first Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
-From 2010 to 13, he served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OECD in Paris. At the OECD, he served as Chair of the Executive Committee.
-In June, 2013, he was appointed as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, the post he held for 3 years. He ran the election campaign for Japan’s candidature for a non-permanent seat at the Security Council. In 2015, Japan won the election with 184 votes, the highest ever for Japan, at the General Assembly and Ambassador Yoshikawa served as a member of the Security Council from January 2016 till his last day in NY. As a member of the Security Council, he was instrumental in passing the Security Council Resolution 2270 against the nuclear test conducted by the North Korea. In 2016, he signed, on behalf of Japan, the Paris Agreement to cope with the climate change. He left NY in June 2016.
■Current position:
-After retiring from the 42-year diplomatic service, Ambassador Yoshikawa was named Distinguished Professor at his Alma Mater, International Christian University, ICU, in April 2017. He teaches international relations and diplomacy.
He is also a Visiting Professor both at Kanda University of International Studies and Osaka Seikei University.
■Other information:
-He speaks Japanese, English, Spanish and French.
-He is married and has two adult sons.
-He has received decorations from Argentina, Mongolia, Morocco and Spain.
(*As of January, 2023)
Flyer
