Takeshi Yasukawa

Takeshi Yasukawa graduated in law from Tokyo Imperial University and joined the Foreign Ministry in 1939. He worked on the revision of the U.S.–Japan security treaty and later headed the North American Affairs Bureau. After serving as ambassador to the Philippines, he became ambassador to the United States in 1973, when economic disputes and changing American policy in Asia demanded close consultation. ¹

Yasukawa helped establish contact with Gerald Ford at the beginning of his presidency. In September 1974, Ambassador James Hodgson told Ford and Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka that Ford's early meeting with Yasukawa and acceptance of an invitation to Japan had reassured Japanese officials about the new administration's priorities. At the same meeting, Yasukawa said he had briefed Tanaka on American efforts to ease Japan's dispute with South Korea. ²

After leaving the embassy, Yasukawa continued working on international economic relations. He served as Prime Minister Masayoshi Ōhira's external economic affairs representative, advised Mitsui, and led organizations concerned with foreign affairs education and peace and security research. He died in 2000. ¹