The Hon. Kazuhiko Togo, formerly Japan’s ambassador to the Netherlands, this month joined the Department of Political Science as the Public Policymaker-in-Residence for the current academic year. During winter and spring quarters he will teach four courses on topics including East Asian languages and culture, foreign policy of the Soviet Union, modern Japanese history, and current issues in Japanese foreign policy.

“Having Ambassador Togo at UCSB for an extended period is an incredibly attractive opportunity for our students and faculty,” said John Woolley, professor and chair of political science. “He has deep and extensive foreign policy experience and has great knowledge of academic international relations theory, and experience in teaching at the university level. This is a most unusual combination of talents.”

Togo retired from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2002 after more than three decades in public service. Prior to serving as ambassador to the Netherlands, he held a series of positions that culminated in appointments as Director-General of the European and Oceanian Affairs Bureau and Director-General of the Treaties Bureau.

“I am indeed looking forward to coming to Santa Barbara and sharing my experience as a practitioner in the Japanese Foreign Ministry for more than 30 years, as well as what I have been researching since my retirement in 2002,” said Togo.

The author of numerous books and articles, he was a lecturer and research staff member from 2004 to 2006 at Princeton University. He also has been a visiting professor or special lecturer at other universities in Europe and Japan.

In conjunction with Togo’s residency, UCSB’s Center for Cold War Studies will host an international conference in May titled “Historical Memories and Resurgence of Nationalism in East Asia: Paths to Reconciliation.”