East Asia Institute hosts Consul General of Japan March 17

Nozomu Takaoka

By Mimi Yu
Associate Director, East Asia Institute

(March 13, 2015) - The East Asia Institute at UTSA will host Nozomu Takaoka, Consul General of Japan, for a presentation “Japan, Asia and the U.S.,” at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 in the Business Building Center for Professional Excellence (BB 1.01.15) on the UTSA Main Campus. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Takaoka graduated from the University of Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts. Later, he studied International Relations at Oxford University. An experienced diplomat, Takaoka has worked in many official posts around the world including the United Kingdom, Egypt, United States, Italy, Sweden and Iran.

When Takaoka served as political director at the Japanese Consulate General in New York, he was able to observe American politics during President Clinton’s administration. His immediate previous post was as Minister of the Japanese Embassy in Iran.

In Japan, Takaoka has served as a director in charge of Cultural Exchange of the Foreign Ministry and as director in charge of Immigration Control of the Justice Department. As Consul General of Japan in Houston, Takaoka’s mission is to further develop political and economic ties with the U.S, share Japanese culture with American citizens and support the Japanese community in Texas and Oklahoma.

As the closest ally to the U.S. in East Asia, Japan has reached a turning point in its political and economic future. From the growing Japanese business presence in Texas to the nation's reinterpretation of its constitutional clause, Takaoka will discuss how understanding Japan’s position in the world is crucial to understanding the future of the U.S. and Asia.

The U.S.-Japan alliance is the keystone of U.S. security interest in Asia and is principal to regional stability and prosperity. This alliance is successful because of the key similarities between the two nations. Both Japan and the U.S. preserve and promote political and economical freedom, support human rights, advocate for political institutions and secure the people of both countries and the international community.

The UTSA East Asia Institute promotes appreciation and understanding of East Asian societies and cultures both on campus and in the community through research, outreach, networking, education, student/faculty exchange, business development and cooperation. The East Asia Institute organizes seminars, workshops, lectures, conferences, film festivals and visual art exhibitions, and it hosts performing arts groups from China, Japan, Korea and other Asian nations. It also encourages faculty research collaborations both within UTSA and with participating East Asian university researchers.

For more information, visit UTSA East Asia Institute.

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