We are asking for donations to help fund this memorial event for Professor Vogel.

What’s New

2022.2.7			Registration closed.
2022.1.12			Registration started.
2021.12.13			Website opened.

Introduction

Harvard University Professor Emeritus Ezra F. Vogel, who contributed greatly to building relations among Japan, the United States and China, passed away on December 20, 2020 at the age of 90.
 
Professor Vogel received his Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University in 1958. Until his retirement in 2000, he served in various positions at Harvard, including Director of the East Asian Research Center, Director of the Fairbank Center, first Director of the Asia Center, and Director of the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations. He was active for over 60 years as a leading researcher in East Asian studies. He also played a major role in US policy toward Asia, serving as National Intelligence Officer for East Asia at the National Intelligence Council. He resided in Japan from 1958 to 1960 and published what is perhaps his best-known book, “Japan as Number One” in 1979, which became a best-seller in Japan.

Professor Vogel valued relationships with people. Students and researchers who received his direct guidance at Harvard, visiting scholars who pursued research at Harvard while staying at his home, Japanese students inspired by him at his informal Vogel Juku (“school” organized mainly by Japanese students at the Kennedy School), joint authors and translators of books, organizers of lectures and seminars, recipients of letters of recommendation and employment introductions … the outpouring of messages expressed through SNS and the media when he passed away made us realize anew the breadth and depth of his relationships with so many people in Japan’s political, business, and academic communities.

Members of the Harvard Kennedy School Club of Japan (HKSJ) decided to arrange this memorial event as an expression of our gratitude, to celebrate Professor Vogel’s achievements in U.S.-Japan relations and his unparalleled connections with people. At the event, which will connect people online as well as in person, we will hold a symposium on the future of Japan-U.S.-China relations (Professor Vogel’s lifetime research subject), in addition to a memorial ceremony and reception in which we plan to show video messages for and photos/videos of Professor Vogel as well as distribute a memorial book.

This memorial event is open not only to members of the Harvard community or those with personal relationships with Professor Vogel, but also to leaders of Japan’s political, business, and academic communities. In memory of Professor Vogel and his achievements, this event will seek to provide an opportunity for all to discuss and contemplate again how we should manage the expected turbulent relations among Japan, the United States and China. By doing so, we hope Professor Vogel’s will can be inherited among the present generation..

Thank you for your support and cooperation.

 
Organizing Committee of the Memorial Event for the late Harvard University Professor Emeritus Ezra F. Vogel

Organizers

■Organizer
Organizing Committee of the Memorial Event for the late Harvard University Professor Emeritus　Ezra F. Vogel
 
■Co-organizer
Japan Foundation
 
■In cooperation with
Harvard Kennedy School of Japan (HKSJ)
Program on U.S.-Japan Relations at Harvard University
Vogel Juku (*informal “school” for Japanese students organized by Professor Vogel)
Harvard Club of Japan (HCJ)
The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation
Kasumigaseki Foreign Service Association
HBS Club of Japan

■Supporters
International House of Japan
The America-Japan Society
 
■Sponsors
Mitsubishi Corporation
Kikkoman Corporation
Akiyama Associates
Kansai Association of Corporate Executives
Aso Group
Advantage Partners

■Chairman
Yoshimasa Hayashi (Member of the House of Representatives; Harvard Kennedy School of Japan (HKSJ) President)
 
■Secretary General
Yoshinori Narasawa (HKSJ director; CEO, Mirai Co-Creation Financial Inc.)
 
■Deputy Secretary General
Akiteru Maruta (HKSJ director)
 
■Executive Committee (Main)
Akiko Imai (Professor, Showa Women’s University）
Glen S. Fukushima (Former President, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan)
Noriyuki Shikata (Cabinet Public Relations Secretary)
Sayuri Daimon (HKSJ advisor; former Managing Editor, The Japan Times)
Akira Tsuchiya (former Japan representative at the World Economic Forum)
Yoko Miyazaki (HKSJ member in charge of accounting)
 
■Executive Committee (Secondary)
Shuko Ogawa (Vogel Juku)
Tomoki Sano (Vogel Juku)
Jun Mukoyama (HKSJ member in charge of planning and coordination)
 
■Event Advisor
Yumiko Izawa (formerly of NHK Promotions)
 
■Special Thanks
Hiroaki Fujii (Former Japanese Ambassador to the U.K.; former President, Japan Foundation)
Yoshiyasu Sato (Former Japanese Ambassador to China)
Kakutaro Kitashiro (Honorary Executive Advisor, IBM Japan)
Heizo Takenaka (Former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications; Professor Emeritus, Keio University)  

Inquiries

Organizing Committee of the Memorial Event for the late Harvard University
Professor Emeritus Ezra F. Vogel
E-Mail: info@ezra-vogel.jp