Yukiya Amano was Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) between December 2009 and July 2019.
The IAEA, an intergovernmental organization based in Vienna, is the global centre for cooperation in nuclear applications, energy, science and technology. Established in 1957, the Agency works with its Member States and partners to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies and prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Mr. Amano served as Chair of the Agency’s Board of Governors from September 2005 to September 2006. He was Japan's Resident Representative to the Agency from 2005 until his election as Director General in July 2009. He assumed his duties as IAEA Director General on 1 December 2009. He had extensive experience in disarmament and non-proliferation diplomacy, as well as nuclear energy issues.
At the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Mr. Amano was Director-General for the Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department from 2002 until 2005. He previously served as a governmental expert on the U.N. Panel on Missiles and on the U.N. Expert Group on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education. Mr. Amano contributed to the 1995, 2000 and 2005 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conferences, and he chaired the 2007 Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference.
A graduate of the Tokyo University Faculty of Law, Mr. Amano joined the Japanese Foreign Ministry in April 1972, when he began a series of international postings in Belgium, France, Laos, Switzerland, and the United States.
Mr. Amano was born in 1947, was married and spoke English, French and Japanese.
Career Summary
- December 2009 - July 2019: Director General of the IAEA
- August 2005 - August 2009: Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna and Governor to the IAEA
- April 2007: Chairman of the First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference
- September 2005 - September 2006: Chairman of the Board of Governors of the IAEA
- August 2004: Ambassador, Director-General for Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- August 2002: Ambassador, Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- August 2001: Visiting Scholar, Monterey Institute of International Studies, USA
- July 2001: Governmental Expert on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education to the UN Group
- April 2001: Governmental Expert on Missiles to the UN Panel
- February 2001: Fellow, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, USA
- January 2000: Chairman of the G7 Nuclear Safety Group
- August 1999: Deputy Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- June 1997: Consul General of Japan in Marseilles, France
- August 1994: Counselor, Delegation of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, Geneva, Switzerland
- August 1993: Director, Nuclear Energy Division, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- February 1993: Director, Nuclear Science Division, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- February 1990: Director, OECD Publications and Information Center, Tokyo, Japan
- October 1988: Director for Research Coordination and Senior Research Fellow, Japan Institute of International Affairs, Tokyo, Japan
- April 1972: Joined Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Education and Academic Experience
- 2001-2002: Visiting Scholar, Monterey Institute of International Studies, USA
- 2001: Fellow, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, USA
- 2000-2001: Lecturer, International Politics, Sophia University, Japan
- 1991-1992: Lecturer, International Politics, Yamanashi University, Japan
- 1988 - 1990: Director for Research Coordination and Senior Research Fellow, Japan Institute of International Affairs, Japan
- 1974-1975: Studies at the University of Nice, France
- 1973-1974: Studies at University of Besancon, France
- 1972: Graduated from Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo, Japan
Publications
- A Japanese View on Nuclear Disarmament (The Non-Proliferation Review, 2002)
- The Significance of the NPT Extension (Future Restraints on Arms Proliferation, 1996)
- La Non Proliferation Nucleaire en Exteme-Orient (Proliferation et Non-Proliferation Nucleaire, 1995)
- Sea Dumping of Liquid Radio Active Waste by Russia (Gaiko Jiho, 1994)
