Nobuo Matsunaga

Nobuo Matsunaga was born in Tokyo in 1923 and graduated from the University of Tokyo's law faculty in 1944. He specialized in treaties, serving as director of the Treaties Division and later head of the Treaties Bureau. His other assignments included the embassy in France, personnel administration, the ambassadorship to Mexico, and the deputy and administrative vice ministries before Washington. ¹

As ambassador, Matsunaga exchanged notes with U.S. Trade Representative Clayton Yeutter on September 2, 1986, establishing the bilateral semiconductor arrangement. Japan undertook measures to improve foreign producers' market access and monitor export costs and prices to address dumping. The agreement also provided for regular consultations and emergency discussions when either government identified a problem. ²

Matsunaga retired from the Foreign Ministry in 1990 and became president of the Japan Institute of International Affairs. In 1998–1999 he and Yasushi Akashi cochaired the Tokyo Forum for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. Its independent experts met in Tokyo, Hiroshima, and New York to develop recommendations for reducing nuclear dangers; members participated in their personal capacities. ^{1, 3}