Hisashi Owada
Encyclopedia
is a former Japan
ese diplomat and a judge on the International Court of Justice
, and currently serves as its President, having been elected to this post in 2009.
, Niigata Prefecture
, Japan
. After earning a B.A.
from the University of Tokyo
in 1955, he attended the University of Cambridge
in the United Kingdom
where he earned a law degree in 1956.
in1955, serving in various posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo and Japan's embassies in Russia
and the United States
. From 1976 to 1978, he served as Private Secretary to Takeo Fukuda
, the Prime Minister of Japan
. He served as Japanese Ambassador to the OECD from 1988 to 1989 before returning to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he served as Deputy Minister until his promotion to Vice-Minister in 1991 serving until 1993. From 1994 to 1998, he served as Japanese Ambassador
to the United Nations
, where he served until joining the International Court of Justice in 2003 (having been elected the previous year by the General Assembly and Security Council). During his tenure as UN Ambassador, he served twice as United Nations Security Council
President.
The judges of the ICJ elected Owada as their president in 2009; he is the first Japanese judge to hold that post.
Until 2003 Owada was president of the Japan Institute of International Affairs and advisor to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
. Owada also served as senior advisor to the president of the World Bank
in 1999–2000.
Having been re-elected to the ICJ in 2011, Owada's term now expires on 5 February 2021. He received 170 out of 192 votes in the General Assembly on the first round, more than any other candidate, and 14 out of 15 votes in the Security Council on the first round. Owada had been nominated by the Japanese national group of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (as well as the national groups of 32 other countries).
, New York University Law School
, Columbia Law School
, the Hague Academy of International Law
, Waseda University
, and the University of Cambridge
. Furthermore, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Nuclear Threat Initiative. and the Board of Directors of the United Nations Foundation
. He has received honorary degrees from Keiwa College
, Banaras Hindu University
, and Waseda University. In addition, he is a professor of International law
and organization at Waseda University.
, a diplomat in her own right, married Crown Prince
Naruhito
, the heir to the Japanese Chrysanthemum Throne
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese diplomat and a judge on the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
, and currently serves as its President, having been elected to this post in 2009.
Early life
Hisashi Owada was born in ShibataShibata, Niigata
is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 103,101 and the density of 194 persons per km². The total area is 532.82 km².The city was founded on January 1, 1947....
, Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. After earning a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
in 1955, he attended the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where he earned a law degree in 1956.
Diplomat and international judge
Upon completion of his education, he returned to Japan and entered the country's Foreign ServiceMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)
The is a cabinet level ministry of Japan responsible for the country's foreign relations.The ministry is due to the second term of the third article of the National Government Organization Act , and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Establishment Act establishes the ministry...
in1955, serving in various posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo and Japan's embassies in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. From 1976 to 1978, he served as Private Secretary to Takeo Fukuda
Takeo Fukuda
was a Japanese politician and the 42d Prime Minister of Japan from December 24, 1976 to December 7, 1978.He was born in Gunma Prefecture and attended Tokyo Imperial University. Before and during World War II, he served as a bureaucrat in the Finance Ministry and as Chief Cabinet Secretary...
, the Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
. He served as Japanese Ambassador to the OECD from 1988 to 1989 before returning to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he served as Deputy Minister until his promotion to Vice-Minister in 1991 serving until 1993. From 1994 to 1998, he served as Japanese Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, where he served until joining the International Court of Justice in 2003 (having been elected the previous year by the General Assembly and Security Council). During his tenure as UN Ambassador, he served twice as United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
President.
The judges of the ICJ elected Owada as their president in 2009; he is the first Japanese judge to hold that post.
Until 2003 Owada was president of the Japan Institute of International Affairs and advisor to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)
The is a cabinet level ministry of Japan responsible for the country's foreign relations.The ministry is due to the second term of the third article of the National Government Organization Act , and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Establishment Act establishes the ministry...
. Owada also served as senior advisor to the president of the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
in 1999–2000.
Having been re-elected to the ICJ in 2011, Owada's term now expires on 5 February 2021. He received 170 out of 192 votes in the General Assembly on the first round, more than any other candidate, and 14 out of 15 votes in the Security Council on the first round. Owada had been nominated by the Japanese national group of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (as well as the national groups of 32 other countries).
Law professor
In addition to his Foreign Service career, Owada has also served as a law professor for three decades at the University of Tokyo, Harvard Law SchoolHarvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, New York University Law School
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, the Hague Academy of International Law
Hague Academy of International Law
The Hague Academy of International Law is a center for high-level education in both public and private international law housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands...
, Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
, and the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Furthermore, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Nuclear Threat Initiative. and the Board of Directors of the United Nations Foundation
United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation started up in 1998 with a $1 billion grant from Ted Turner in order to support the United Nations in executing its programs worldwide. The creation of the Foundation was intended to encourage other donors to also support the UN in its activities...
. He has received honorary degrees from Keiwa College
Keiwa College
is a private university in Shibata, Niigata, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1967. It opened as a college in 1991.-External links:*...
, Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
, and Waseda University. In addition, he is a professor of International law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and organization at Waseda University.
Princess Masako
In 1993, his daughter Masako OwadaMasako, Crown Princess of Japan
is the wife of Crown Prince Naruhito, the first son of the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko, and a member of the Imperial House of Japan through marriage.-Early life and education:...
, a diplomat in her own right, married Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Naruhito
Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan
is the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, which makes him the heir apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan.-Early life and education:...
, the heir to the Japanese Chrysanthemum Throne
Chrysanthemum Throne
The is the English term used to identify the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term can refer to very specific seating, such as the takamikura throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace....
.