Recipients of the Ninth Nakasone Yasuhiro Award
Ms. Takayo NAKAI

Japan

Incentive Award
Born: November 6, 1966
Position: Nursing Department, Medical Interpreters’ Research Organization (MEDINT);
Nurse, AY Clinic
Actively participating in the Medicine and Surgery field as a volunteer member of Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Takayo Nakai has served as a nurse in Cote d’Ivoireand Madagascar. As a member of the Japan Disaster Relief Team and as a nurse registered with
Humanitarian Medical Assistance (HuMa), she provided emergency medical care in Pakistan andHaiti following earthquakes, and in the Philippines, Pakistan, and Thailand after disastrous floods.
In the current severe situation in which facilities and supplies are in short supply, she works tounderstand the medical conditions and cultural factors in order to support the local population. InJapan, she has teamed up Japanese medical interpreters and nurses with nursing staff fromoverseas to deepen understanding of the language and cultural concerns of non-Japanesenurses working in Japan and to contribute to human resources development. The Selection
Committee would like to recognize her international support activities.

Mr. Narushige MICHISHITA, PhD

Japan

Incentive Award
Born: August 26, 1965
Position: Associate Professor,
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
The rise of China and the instability on the Korean peninsula have created volatile andunpredictable strategic environment in East Asia. As a researcher in the field of international
security affairs, Dr. Michishita has actively disseminated his views on Japanese defense policy
and the situation on the Korean peninsula both domestically and internationally. By regularly
contributing op-ed pieces to the foreign media and giving interviews to foreign reporters, he has
communicated Japanese viewpoints accurately and effectively to observers around the world,which in turn has contributed to Japan’s national interests. An expert in theory and practice ofsecurity and foreign policy issues, Dr. Michishita has developed an extensive network in theWestern as well as Asian policymaking community, and works toward securing peace andstability in the world. The Selection Committee looks forward to his continued dedication to thiseffort.

Ms. Diane KICHIJITSU

United Kingdom

Incentive Award
Occupation: Rakugo Storyteller
In her own unique storytelling style, Diane Kichijitsu presents the traditional Japanese performing
art rakugo. Her repertoire includes traditional stories and original tales which she performs either
in English or Kansai-dialect Japanese, depending on the audience. She works to communicate
the attractiveness of traditional Japanese arts to both Japanese and international audiences. Her
performances in the UK and US and other countries convey the Japanese lifestyle to Englishspeaking audiences, while such stories as “Wonderful Japan” express to Japanese audiences thesurprising and interesting experiences of a newly-arrived foreigner. With licenses in tea ceremonyand flower arrangement, and proficiency in dressing herself in kimono, Diane Kichijitsu embraces
Japanese culture more enthusiastically than many Japanese people do. The Selection
Committee highly evaluates her admiration of traditional culture and her efforts to make it
accessible to both Japanese and international audiences.
Award recipients are listed in the order of their Award Ceremony presentations.