Kazuo OGOURA

Born in 1938. Graduated from the University of Tokyo (Faculty of Law); Graduated from University of Cambridge (Faculty of Economics), United Kingdom. Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1962. Held key posts including Director-General of the Cultural Affairs Department, Director-General of the Economic Affairs Bureau, and Deputy Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Served as Japanese ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Vietnam (1994-95), South Korea (1997-99) and France (1999-2002). After retirement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 2002, served as Visiting Researcher at National Institute for Research Advancement and Invited Professor at Aoyama Gakuin University. In October 2003, assumed the presidency of the Japan Foundation.

Key publications are as follows: “Tozai Bunka Masatsu (Cultural Friction between East and West)” (Chuo Koron, 1990); “Pari no Shu Onrai (Enlai Zhou in Paris)” (Chuo Koron, 1992) Partially translated into Chinese. This book received the Shigeru Yoshida Award; . “Nishi no Nihon, Higashi no Nihon (Japan of the West, Japan of the East)” (Kenkyusha, 1995); “Chugoku no Ishin, Nihon no Kyoji (Dignity of China, Pride of Japan)” (Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2001); “Yoshida Shigeru no Jimon (Shigeru Yoshida Searches His Own Heart)” (Fujiwara-Shoten, 2003); “Globalism eno Hangyaku (Rebellion against Globalism)” (Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2004)