The Japan Foundation was saddened to learn that on 18 August 2022, Mr. Kubo Kazuaki, former Director General of the Japan Foundation, New York, passed away.
Mr. Kubo served in many prominent positions within the Japan Foundation and other organizations and contributed extensively to cultural exchange programs, particularly between Japan and the United States.
In 2007, he was appointed as the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver, where he served for three and half years.
Then, between 2011-2013, he served in New York as the Director General of the Japan Foundation, New York, and the Director of the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, New York.
Mr. Kubo was known to be frank, honest, and open-minded with everybody. While in the New York office, he actively met, engaged, and communicated with a wide variety of individuals and developed extensive people-to-people networks that continue to this day.
And the staff who worked with him in New York still remember that while he worked incredibly hard and expected the same from staff, he had a jovial personality and loved celebrating the holidays, especially Halloween; he invited staff to his home on numerous occasions as an expression of thanks.
He was a great leader, a respected senpai, and a wonderful friend.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to his wife and family at this time of much sorrow.
May he rest in peace.
JFNY staff