The Senate warmly welcomed the new Charge d’Affaires of Japan to Palau, Kunio Nakamura, who made a courtesy visit to the National Capitol on Friday May 11.
Nakamura met with Senate President Surangel Whipps, Senate Floor Leader Alan R. Seid and Senators Caleb T. Otto and Yukiwo P. Dengokl.
Nakamura has served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan since 1980 and has spent most of his career as diplomat in the field of nuclear non-proliferation policy making.
He also served as Director of Japan Information and Culture Centers in Toronto prior to his current calling to the Republic of Palau.
Outside of his government service, Nakamura also led a 12-year academic career in the field of nuclear energy development in Japan, including over two years as an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Nakamura arrived in Palau on April 18 and replaces Naotake Yamashita, who served as Charge d’Affaires to the Republic of Palau for over two years.