1In Memoriam

Justice Takeso Shimoda (1908-1995)
By Shigejiro Tabata
Justice Takeso Shimoda, former President of the Japan Branch of the International Law Association, former Ambassador and former Justice of the Supreme
Court, sadly passed away on January 22, 1995, at the age of 87, after a life entirely
devoted to the pursuit of peace and justice through diplomacy and law. We aregreatly indebted to Justice Shimoda for the many contributions he made over theyears towards the development of our Branch. We are saddened by the loss of a manof such character, integrity and magnanimity.
Born in 1908, Justice Shimoda graduated in 1931 from the Faculty of Law ofTokyo Imperial University, which is now the University of Tokyo. In the same year
he entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and from then he played an importantrole in the post war era diplomacy of Japan.
In his diplomatic career, he successively held important posts in the Ministry ofForeign Affairs, and left behind brilliant achievements with each post. In 1965, hewas appointed Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and, in 1967, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States. His outstanding diplomatic ability
was an indispensable help to the Government of Japan in successfully concluding
such difficult negotiations as those for the revision of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the two countries, and trade negotiations on textiles
between the Government of Japan and the Government of the U.S.A.
Justice Shimoda's life was not confined to purely diplomatic activities. His
profound knowledge of international law led him to the world ofJustice. In 1971, hewas appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan. In a time when Japanesesociety was rapidly opening up to the international community, the presence ofJustice Shimoda in the Japanese Supreme Court was all the more valuable. In fact, heplayed a leading role for the Court in making decision bearing on such delicate
matters as the Lockheed payoff trial (1976) and the Kuala Lumpur Incident (1975).
What is of special importance to us is the fact that Justice Shimoda became
President of the Japan Branch of the International Law Association, a post which heheld until the time of his death. Strongly impressed by the vigorous efforts ofJustice
Shimoda as a member of the Council and also as the chairman of the Committee forContributions to promote the Association's activities, the previous president of theassociation Kisaburo Yokota earnestly requested Justice Shimoda to take the presidency. Under his presidency, many reforms were undertaken to develop the Association, and the branch made dramatic progress. Among his many reforms, were theestablishment of the committee for research and planning, and the post of its chief

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director. He also recommended many more members than ever before to international committees in every field of public and private international law. To support theiractivities, he established numerous national committees corresponding to the international ones. Furthermore, with a view to disseminating the achievements ofstudies undertaken in the field of international law and to enhancing the quality ofthis discipline, Justice Shimoda began to hold an annual meeting named "AcademicConference" in 1992, gathering practicing lawyers, government officials and otherpeople interested in international law. Through these activities, Justice Shimoda
enhanced significantly Japan's contribution to the world in the fields of public andprivate international law.
Even after his retirement from public office, Justice Shimoda served vigorously
in the name of the peace and development of Japan through activities in variousorganizations. For example, he took the post of the chairman of the Japan-British
Society, and was a member of the Public Security Examination Commission. And hewas appointed a member of the Permanent Arbitration Court in 1972 and wasreappointed three times.
Mr. Shimoda's diplomatic accomplishments as well as his strong sense of justiceand integrity were the very source of the extremely high prestige he enjoyed in thepost-war era, culminating in his being conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order ofthe Rising Sun, in 1977.
Justice Shimoda was famous for his integrity and fairness. In 1979, he became
the President of the Japan Professional Baseball Organization, and carried out one
reform after another to realize "the spirit of fair play" It was a challenge to hissublime ideal. He was a president who was respected and loved by many baseballenthusiasts.
If Justice Shimoda was regarded as being conservative at times, it was because
his deeply installed creed sometimes forced him to put forward opinions opposed to
the volatile aspirations of the masses. Justice Shimoda was an irreplaceable "witnessof the history", whose death was indeed a paramount loss.
Surrounded by his family, he passed away at the advanced age of 87. Hispassing is a great and sad loss not only for the Japan Branch but for this country.
May we offer our sincerest blessings to his memory.