Recipients of the 13th Nakasone Yasuhiro Award

Age: 48
Nationality: Japan
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to the Maldives

Reason for selection:From 2011 to 2014, Ms. Noda served as the UNDP Country Director in Nepal. During the tenure, she worked to establish emergency response centers in districts, which were fully utilized in support of affected population in the aftermath of the Nepal Earthquake in 2015. The other areas in which Ms. Noda took the lead include electoral support, reintegration of former fighters, formulation of the country’s Constitution, and local governance. In 2014, she was appointed as the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to the Maldives. She is currently engaged in work related to democratization process, climate change, and SDGs policy advocacy. Ms. Noda is specialized in peacebuilding, development, disaster risk reduction, and early recovery.

Age: 48
Nationality: United States
Associate Professor, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, United States

Reason for selection: In her research of Japan’s postwar diplomacy, Dr. Lind explores the issues of “apology” and “historical awareness” in academic terms in international politics. Her publication, Sorry States: Apologies in International Politics and other research reports have received high accolades for the balanced approach to the issue. Dr. Lind regularly contributes to newspapers and media in both Japan and the US where her remarks are commended for their insight. She participates actively in the “Mt. Fuji Dialogue” co-organized by Japan Center for Economic Research and the Japan Institute of International Affairs, the “Why Japan Matters Project” held by Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, and “Asia Strategy Initiative” sponsored by the Sasakawa Foundation to contribute to further development of US-Japan exchange and mutual understanding.

Age: 42
Nationality: Japan
Deputy Director, Pacific Islands Centre, Tokyo, Japan

Reason for selection: In his research of international relations of the Pacific Islands region, Dr. Kurosaki focuses on security issues affected by the transformation of the international order. Based on this research, he conducts analysis and formulates proposals for Japan’s diplomatic activities in relation to the Pacific Islands region. Further, he is engaged in exchange activities between Japan and the Countries of the Pacific Islands region as a Deputy Director of the Pacific Islands Centre. Recent publications include “Taiheiyo tosho chiiki ni okeru kokusai chitsujo no hen’yo to sai-kochiku” (Transformation and restructuring of the international order in the Pacific Islands region; in Japanese), JETRO Asia Economics Research Institute, 2016).