(UN Secretary General Kofi Annan notes that Ogata served a...)
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan notes that Ogata served as UN High Commissioner for Refugees during one of its most challenging periods, 1990-2000. Ogata sheds lights on humanitarian-political crises and partnerships for relief efforts involving Iraqi Kurdish, Ethiopian/Somalian, Albanian, and Afghan refugees. Her memoir includes maps, data on major areas of concern, photos, speeches, and notes on the Ogata Initiative for linking humanitarian and development activities through April 2005. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393057739/?tag=2022091-20
(The author explores the question of why Japan followed an...)
The author explores the question of why Japan followed an expansionist foreign policy that worked to her own destruction. He has chosen to examine the Manchurian Affair of 1931 because it marks the beginning of Japan's uncontrolled expansion on the Asian continent, and also because "here are found the origins of later maladies."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520009711/?tag=2022091-20
( In this, the definitive story of the twentieth century'...)
In this, the definitive story of the twentieth century's greatest refugee crises, the woman who led the international response recounts her experiences and the lessons she has learned. A tireless advocate for the victims of war, Sadako Ogata tells the story at the scene of four crises in which she directed relief: Iraq, the Balkans, the African Great Lakes region and Afghanistan. She explores issues of refugee protection and humanitarian assistance; coordination between humanitarian organisations, NATO and other military forces; and the global political and strategic climate in which these crises occurred. She asks the world community to assess the limits of humanitarian action and to work towards real political solutions when conflicts arise. No one is in a better position to tell this essential post-Cold War story than Ogata, who travelled to crisis spots to lead the world in confronting the tragedy of the displaced.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393929221/?tag=2022091-20
Sadako Ogata, née Nakamura was born on 16 September 1927 to a career diplomat father Toyoichi Nakamura, who was the Japanese ambassador to Finland. Her mother was the daughter of Foreign Minister Kenkichi Yoshizawa and granddaughter of Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi, who was assassinated when Sadako was four years old.
After receiving a B. A. from the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo, she decided to do graduate study in the United States, where she earned an M. A. in international relations from Georgetown (1953) and a doctorate in political science from the University of California at Berkeley (1963).
Returning to her native Japan, Ogata lectured from 1965 to 1974 at the University of the Sacred Heart and also at the International Christian University, serving at the later from 1974 to 1976 as an associate professor of diplomatic history and international relations. In 1980 she moved to Sophia University, where she became a professor and later (1987 to 1988) director of the Institute of International Relations, before promotion in 1989 to dean of the Faculty of Foreign Studies. Toward the end of the 19706 Ogata had increasingly combined her teaching and research activity with diplomacy. During 1978 and 1979 she was envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at the permanent mission of Japan to the United Nations, having served there as minister from 1976 to 1978. She was Japan's delegate to the 23rd, 25th, and 30th to 33rd sessions of the General Assembly, and also to the Tenth Special Session, which was devoted to disarmament. Ambassador Ogata's exposure to the more specialized refugee problem intensified as of 1978-1979 when she acted as chairperson of the executive board of UNICEF, the children's fund. Again, she acquired a first-hand impression of the human dimensions when she was made U. N. special ambassador for Indochinese refugee relief (1979); the representative of Japan to the U. N. Commission on Human Rights (1982 to 1985); and a member of the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues (1983 to 1987). In 1990 she was the independent expert sent by the U. N. Commission on Human Rights to investigate the situation of Cambodian refugees on the Thai-Cambodian border. Married and the mother of a son and daughter, Ogata became a member of the Trilateral Commission in 1984 and sat on the board of governors of the International Development Research Center beginning in 1986. The busy Ogata also served on many government advisory councils as well as on the boards of academic associations and foundations.
In 1990, she was nominated and appointed as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She left the position of professor (political science) at Sophia University in Tokyo, quickly moved to Geneva, and started her new position at the UNHCR. The presumed term at UNHCR was only about three years, namely, the remaining days of the abruptly left predecessor's term. After arrival at the post in 1991, however, her leadership and active works led to her staying from 1991 until 2001.
After 2001, she was appointed as the co-chairperson of UN Human Security Commission and she engaged in the reminiscences of her works for the refugees at home in New York.
After the September 11 attacks, in 2002, she was chosen as Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Japan on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan in order to support the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
The Koizumi government approached Ogata as a candidate to replace Makiko Tanaka as Japanese foreign minister in early 2002, but Ogata refused to accept the position. Although Ogata did not publicly explain her refusal, Kuniko Inoguchi told The New York Times that Ogata "would hate to be used as a token or a figurehead because she has fought all her life for the condition of women, and she wouldn't help someone who would try to use her for their political purposes. "
Next year, going back to Tokyo, the Japanese government appointed her as the president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on 1 October 2003. Though she was over 70 years old, she was appointed as the post due to her abilities and her leadership. It was reported that young JICA officials expressed their strong hope for her inauguration, even before the formal appointment. She continued to work as the president of JICA for more than two terms (over eight years), retiring in April 2012 to be succeeded by Akihiko Tanaka.
She was a member of The Advisory Council on the Imperial House Law which was settled as Junichiro Koizumi the Prime Minister's private advisory organ which belonged to the Cabinet Office on November 27, 2014. The conferences of the council were held in 17 times from January 25, 2005 to discuss the Japanese succession controversy and the Imperial Household Act. On 24 November 2005, The Advisory Council submitted the report including the approval of not only female imperial ruler but also female lineage imperial ruler, and the primogeniture with priority for succession of the Emperor. Her alma mater is the same as the Empress Michiko's, the University of the Sacred Heart.
A "Reception for Respecting Mrs. Sadako Ogata's Contributions to Our Country and the International Community" was held by Kōichirō Genba, Minister for Foreign Affairs on April 17, 2012, in Tokyo. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda gave the greeting to her. He said that "Because of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the offers of assistance to Japan from more than 160 countries and more than 40 international organizations were NOT irrelevant to Mrs. Sadako Ogata's achievements". Ogata is an Eminent Person of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.
She is widely known as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from 1991 to 2000, as well as in her capacities as the Chairman of the UNICEF Executive Board and as the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). She was a lecturer of the International Christian University (ICU), and is now the advisor of the Executive Committee of the Model United Nations (present day Japan Model United Nations, JMUN) as the founder of the Model United Nations in Japan.
( In this, the definitive story of the twentieth century'...)
(UN Secretary General Kofi Annan notes that Ogata served a...)
(The author explores the question of why Japan followed an...)
Quotations: "If we ignore the plight of the refugees or the burden of the countries which have received them, I fear we will pay a heavy toll in renewed violence. Conditions must be created urgently to allow the refugees to go back and live in peace and tolerance in their own country. "
In 1960, Nakamura married Shijuro Ogata, a son of Taketora Ogata who was also an official of the Bank of Japan and later became its Executive Director. After the marriage, her name changed to Sadako Ogata. She has one son and one daughter.
