Takakazu Kuriyama
Takakazu Kuriyama (Japanese: 栗山尚一; died 1 April 2015) was a Japanese politician who served as ambassador to Malaysia and the United States.
Early life and education
Kuriyama was born in Tokyo.[1] His father, Kuriyama Shigeru, was a diplomat and judge in the Supreme Court of Japan.[2]
He attended the University of Tokyo.[1]
Diplomatic career
In 1954, Kuriyama joined the Foreign Ministry.[1] He held the position of Director General of the North American Affairs Bureau,[1] and was appointed Vice Minister in May 1989.[2]
He was involved in the negotiations that led to the 1971 Okinawa Reversion Agreement, which returned the Okinawa Prefecture to Japan from the United States.[1] The next year, he helped draft a statement on normalising diplomacy with China.[1]
He served as ambassador to Malaysia during the mid-1980s,[3] and became ambassador to the United States in 1992.[1] He left the position in 1995.
Personal life
His wife, Masako, was the daughter of a Japanese Supreme Court judge.[4]
He died on 1 April 2015 in a Tokyo hospital, after suffering from pneumonia.[1]
References
- "Takakazu Kuriyama, former ambassador to U.S., dies at 83". The Japan Times. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- Jameson, Sam (28 October 1990). "Takakazu Kuriyama : Overcoming Japan's Past to Get On With Its Future". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- Sanger, David E. (5 December 1991). "Power of the Yen Winning Asia New 'Co-Prosperity' Is Displacing U.S." archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- Weinraub, Judith; Togo, Shigehiko (12 February 1994). "Japan's Informal Ambassador". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ryōhei Murata |
Japanese Ambassador to the United States 1992 – 1995 |
Succeeded by Kunihiko Saitō |
| Preceded by |
Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia mid-1980s |
Succeeded by |