ESUJ-Lecture&Event

ESUJ New Year's Lecture

"Can Japan keep pace with a changing America?"

Mr. Sadaaki Numata
Executive Director, Center for Global Partnership, Japan Foundation

2009: The eyes of the world will be focused on the dawn of the Obama presidency, especially as President-elect Obama will become the first American President of African ancestry.

America's increasingly diverse, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society is certainly undergoing "change", including the swing from conservative to liberal. In terms of Japan-US relations, should Japan watch first how the United States will act, or should it figure out how to deal with the new U.S, administration in the light of its own vision of Japan's future course and its role in the world?

Having played a central role in Japanese foreign relations as a diplomat for many years and been in the United States at the time of Barack Obama's election (he will also be in the U.S. in January 2009 when the new president is inaugurated), Sadaaki Numata is well informed on U.S. affairs. He will speak extensively in fluent English on the prospects for a new era of Japan-U.S. relations in 2009.

Date:	Wednesday, 28th January 2009 7:00-8:30pm

Place:	Japan National Press Club (9th Floor, Large Conference Room) Nippon Press Center Building 2-2-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Tel. (03) 3503-2721 Uchisaiwaicho Station (Exit A-7) on the Mita Line; JR Shimbashi Station; Kasumigaseki Station (Exit C-4) on the Chiyoda and Hibiya Lines; MAP

Admission:	¥1,000 ESUJ members (no charge for supporting members and student members) ¥2,000 for non-members ¥500 for students

To attend:	Please apply to the ESUJ office Click HERE!

Profile: Mr. Sadaaki Numata

He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1966. After serving at the Ministry as Director, Japan-US Security Division, and Director, First North America Division, both in the North American Affairs Bureau, he was posted as Deputy Japanese Representative to the Conference on Disarmament and Deputy Head of Mission at the Japanese Embassy in Canberra, Australia.

He also served at the Japanese Embassy in London as Minister Plenipotentiary. In 1998 he became Foreign Ministry Spokesman/Director General for Press and Public Information. He was appointed Ambassador to Pakistan in 2000, and Ambassador in charge of Okinawan Affairs in 2003.

After serving as Ambassador to Canada from December 2004, he retired from the diplomatic service and was appointed Executive Director, Center for Global Partnership, Japan Foundation, in April 2007. He has been Vice Chairman of English Speaking Union of Japan since June 2008.