KU News Release

Former Japanese Consul General to speak at KU’s law school

LAWRENCE — Takao Shibata, the former Consul General of Japan in Kansas City, will speak at the second Diplomat’s Forum, presented by the University of Kansas School of Law.

The event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, at 104 Green Hall. Shibata will give a critique of U.S. policy in the United Nations during his speech, titled “The United Nations and America: A Japanese Perspective.” The event is free and open to the public.

“Having events like this shows the people that KU has an active international program,” said Raj Bhala, the Rice Distinguished Professor of Law. “It helps build our program when we are able to get international speakers like this to come to campus.”

The Diplomat’s Forum is the most important and prestigious single international legal presentation given at the law school, said Dean Gail Agrawal.

The event’s aim is to provide a platform for an open sharing of thoughts on international relations, the law and the United States through the unique perspective of someone with experience in diplomatic service.

Shibata will also discuss issues in Japan, such as inclusion into the United Nations Security Council.

Shibata is the 2006-07 Chancellor’s Lecturer at KU. In this role, he has presented lectures for the Center for East Asian Studies and other disciplines throughout the university. He has also spent time meeting with groups of students, faculty and community members to share his knowledge and experiences as an economist and diplomat and his role in the drafting of the Kyoto Protocol.

Shibata was the Consul General of Japan in Kansas City from 2002 to 2004, which made him responsible for Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. During his time as Consul General, Shibata worked with Congress and state and local governments to facilitate business and trade activities between Japan and the six states he worked with.

Shibata has worked in Japanese embassies in Nigeria, Pakistan, Sweden and Zimbabwe. He also was the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.

Robert Zischg, Consul General of Austria in Chicago, spoke at last year’s inaugural Diplomat’s Forum.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.