Shunji Yanai

Shunji Yanai (Japanese: 柳井 俊二) is a Japanese politician who served as ambassador to the United States from 1999 until 2001.

Shunji Yanai
柳井 俊二
Japanese Ambassador to the United States
In office
1999–2001
Preceded byKunihiko Saitō
Succeeded byRyōzō Katō
Personal details
NationalityJapanese

Yanai entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1961, and studied at the University of Strasbourg while in France.[1] He was director of the Treaties Bureau during 1991.[2]

He served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1997 until 1999.[3] He then became ambassador to the United States, and served in the position until 2001.[3] He was removed from his post due to a scandal involving bureaucrats in the Foreign Ministry.[4]

In 2005, he became a judge in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLS).[3] On 1 October 2011, he was elected to succeed José Luís Jesus as President of the ITLS for a three-year term.[3] He has been accused of manipulating the tribunal's composition, with specific actions against China.[5]

He headed an advisory panel on Japanese self-defence during both of Shinzō Abe's terms as prime minister.[6] The panel consisted of thirteen security experts,[7] and was concerned with amendments to Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.[8]

References
  1. Gong, Gerrit W. (2001). Memory and History in East and Southeast Asia: Issues of Identity in International Relations. Center for Strategic and International Studies. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-89206-399-4. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  2. "Former Japanese leader urges his country to reverse claim on forced labor". Korea Herald. Yonhap News Agency. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  3. "Veteran Japanese diplomat elected as head of UN-backed sea court". UN News. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  4. "Tanaka gives in to Koizumi; U.S. envoy to be removed". The Japan Times. 3 August 2001. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  5. Cai, Congyan (2019). The Rise of China and International Law: Taking Chinese Exceptionalism Seriously. Oxford University Press. p. 313. ISBN 978-0-19-007360-2. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  6. Mie, Ayako (7 February 2013). "Abe presses ahead on collective self-defense". The Japan Times. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  7. Aoki, Mizuho (19 August 2013). "Clearing way for wider military role". The Japan Times. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  8. Boyle, Christina (15 May 2014). "Shinzo Abe Eyes End to Pacifist Japan's Ban on Overseas Combat". NBC News. Reuters. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Kunihiko Saitō		 Japanese Ambassador to the United States
1999 – 2001		 Succeeded by
Ryōzō Katō
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