Meet our speakers, who are active leaders in the T.I.M.E. (Technology, Information, Media, Entertainment) areas.
Hitoshi Tanaka
Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange
Hitoshi Tanaka is a senior fellow at the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE), a nongovernmental international affairs organization based in Tokyo. He has also been a visiting professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, since April 2006. Prior to joining JCIE in September 2005, he served for three years as Japan’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, the ministry’s second highest civil service post, where he was a top advisor to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on a broad range of issues, including relations with North Korea, China, and the United States. As one of the main intellectual architects of Japan’s foreign policy over the past several years, he has been a key actor in shaping Japan’s approach to East Asia, particularly policy toward North Korea and Japan’s participation in the regional community building process.
Before being named Deputy Minister, Mr. Tanaka held the posts of Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau (2001–02) and of the Economic Affairs Bureau (2000–01); Consul General in San Francisco (1998–2000); and Deputy Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau (1996–98). He was Director for Policy Coordination of the Foreign Policy Bureau, Political Minister at the Japanese Embassy in London (1990–93), a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London (1989–90), Director for North East Asian Affairs (1987–89), and Director for North American Affairs (1985–87). Mr. Tanaka holds a B.A. in law from Kyoto University and B.A./M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. His latest publications include Purofeshonaru no Kosho-ryoku [The Logic of Strategic Negotiation] (2009: Kodansha Ltd.), Gaiko no Chikara [The Power of Diplomacy] (2009: Nikkei Publishing Inc.), Kokka to Gaiko [The Nation and Diplomacy] (2005: Kodansha Ltd.) and has contributed many articles to various newspapers and monthly magazines.
Before being named Deputy Minister, Mr. Tanaka held the posts of Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau (2001–02) and of the Economic Affairs Bureau (2000–01); Consul General in San Francisco (1998–2000); and Deputy Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau (1996–98). He was Director for Policy Coordination of the Foreign Policy Bureau, Political Minister at the Japanese Embassy in London (1990–93), a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London (1989–90), Director for North East Asian Affairs (1987–89), and Director for North American Affairs (1985–87). Mr. Tanaka holds a B.A. in law from Kyoto University and B.A./M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. His latest publications include Purofeshonaru no Kosho-ryoku [The Logic of Strategic Negotiation] (2009: Kodansha Ltd.), Gaiko no Chikara [The Power of Diplomacy] (2009: Nikkei Publishing Inc.), Kokka to Gaiko [The Nation and Diplomacy] (2005: Kodansha Ltd.) and has contributed many articles to various newspapers and monthly magazines.
