Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita to Discuss US-Japan Alliance in Dialogue at UNC
September 5, 2021
UNC Global Affairs
Koji Tomita, ambassador of Japan to the United States, will discuss U.S.-Japan relations—the strong foundations of the alliance and the promise of future cooperation—in a virtual dialogue hosted by the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs (OVPGA) on Oct. 6, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
The event is part of the OVPGA’s Diplomatic Discussions series, which brings diplomats and foreign relations practitioners to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to discuss current issues in diplomacy and international affairs. The conversation with Ambassador Tomita will continue the University’s look at U.S. relations with members of “the Quad”—India, Japan and Australia, as well as the U.S. The first in this series, “U.S.-India Relations Under the Biden Administration,” took place on April 7, 2021.
Barbara Stephenson, Carolina’s vice provost for global affairs and former U.S. ambassador, will moderate a Q&A following remarks by Ambassador Tomita.
“Carolina is deeply honored to host Ambassador Tomita at Carolina, albeit virtually, for a discussion of U.S.-Japan relations. Ambassador Tomita’s visit aligns wonderfully with our new Diplomacy Initiative, Asia strategy and our deep dive into U.S. relations with each of the ‘Quad’ partners—India, Japan, and Australia,” said Barbara Stephenson. “It also comes at an auspicious time, as UNC forms a Japan Interest Group to explore enhancing collaboration with Japanese universities on shared challenges, such as aging societies.”
Ambassador Tomita’s distinguished career in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spans four decades. Prior to his current appointment as ambassador of Japan to the United States, he served as deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C., the ambassador of Japan to Israel, and the ambassador of Japan to South Korea.
The event will be held via Zoom livestream, and advance registration is required.
Media contact: Heather Ward, associate provost for global affairs, heather.ward@unc.edu
This event is organized by the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs at UNC-Chapel Hill.