Picking up a mechanical cockroach on the table of his office, Ambassador Shigekazu Sato shows off some of the little creature's moves, saying he is not too fond of things that are static.
Shigekazu Sato
Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand
BORN
Sept 23, 1949
Education
March 1974: Graduated from Tokyo University (Law Faculty)
August 1975: Beijing Language Institute (Chinese Language)
September 1976: Fudan University in Shanghai (Chinese Literature)
June 1978: MA, Harvard University (Faculty of Arts)
CAREER
1974: Joined Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
August 1984: First Secretary, Embassy of Japan, United States
December 1986: First Secretary, Embassy of Japan, People's Republic of China
February 1991: Director, Aid Planning Division, Economic Cooperation Bureau
July 1992: Director, Loan Aid Division, Economic Cooperation Bureau
August 1994: Counsellor, Embassy of Japan, United States
August 1995: Director, China
Division, Asian Affairs Bureau
September 1998: Director, Personnel Division, Minister's Secretariat
September 2000: Deputy Director-General, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
September 2002: Minister, Embassy of Japan in Indonesia
October 2004: Director-general, Economic Cooperation Bureau
August 2006: Consul-General and Ambassador, Hong Kong
July 2010: Ambassador to Australia
November 2012: Ambassador to Thailand
Family
Married with 2 daughters
Like the other artifacts in his office, the life of Tokyo's envoy to Thailand has been anything but static, as his lengthy CV attests. Just as Mr Sato was getting comfortable in his new position after his appointment in November, Japan's new premier, Shinzo Abe, decided to make Thailand one of his first foreign trips.
"This visit by the PM is an indication of the importance that the Japanese government attaches to this region and Thailand in particular," he said with a smile.
The visit to Thailand last Thursday by Mr Abe, who also visited Vietnam and Indonesia, was the first by a Japanese premier since Junichiro Koizumi more than a decade ago.
Japan has been trying to strengthen its presence and relationship with the region for decades, and this desire has gained greater importance since the recent escalation of the dispute with China over the islands that are called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.
In fact, this is a landmark year as Japan and Asean celebrate the 40th anniversary of formal relations, notes Mr Sato. The observances will culminate with a summit of Asean leaders in December in Tokyo, where a new doctrine will likely be declared.
"All this is needed to cement the already strong relations that we are enjoying," says Mr Sato, adding that Japan wants to continue to play an important role in shaping the future of a region that is becoming a bigger contributor to global economic growth.
Thailand and Asean as a whole offer a lot of opportunities for investment and Japan has been a big participant in past decades.
In Thailand alone, the ambassador notes, Japan accounted for more than half of the more than one trillion baht worth of projects approved by the Board of Investment.
"Asean and Thailand have become the centre of attraction in view of the growing importance of this region," he added.
Many Japanese investors are also taking a closer look at Asean in light of the tensions between Japan and China, where Japanese businesses have been targeted and Japanese products boycotted. The protests have prompted many Japanese companies to look at a possible shift away from using China as their base for production, and to refocus their efforts in Asean.
Asked for his perspective on recent developments, Mr Sato is the soul of diplomacy.
"The geopolitical point of view of the companies is important as well, although the government cannot direct any private firm to shift away as it is purely a business decision that each company has to make," he says.
"The shift of investment in the region is not purely due to the political tensions with China, but Thailand and Asean as a whole have their own merit."
He said that more small and medium-sized industries were trying to move into Thailand as this country is one of the top destinations for investment outside Japan. These SMEs are not just from the large cities but "more companies from remote towns and cities are moving to Thailand".
Companies in industries such as tools, automotive parts, electronics, food processing and others are all looking for opportunities in Thailand, and the new minimum wage of 300 baht per day has had little impact on their planned investments.
Mr Sato refrained from commenting on the merits of the wage hike as he feels this is the decision of the government, but he said it was something most investors had already taken into account.
"It is also the time for Thailand to shift away from labour-intensive industries, and in any economy it is inevitable that labour costs will rise one day," he said.
Mr Sato, who has been in the diplomatic service for more than 35 years, is well versed in Chinese language and in his spare time he likes to read Chinese literature, for he says it helps him gain a better understand the thinking process of Chinese people.
He joined the foreign service after graduating from the Law Faculty of Tokyo University and since 1974 has served the Foreign Ministry, including a spell as first secretary of the Japanese embassy in China in 1986. In 1995, he became director of the China and Mongolia Division of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau. In 2006, he was appointed consul-general in Hong Kong. His most recent posting before moving to Thailand was as ambassador to Australia.
His knowledge of the region is more important than ever as the non-static geopolitical bickering in the region is something that is likely to continue to dominate the headlines for months or years to come.
China, he says, is gradually becoming more assertive and this rise of China is something that is discussed in every major global event.
"This is not just an issue for Japan anymore but something that is for all the countries in the Asia Pacific region," he says, adding that it is in the best interest of everyone to engage with China.
In any case, he says, the gradual shift of power is something that should not come as a surprise to people.
Mr Sato says that at the end of the day it will be economic interests that will help drive the region and its engagement with China.
As for himself, he's keen to spend his remaining time in Bangkok, improving his country's relations and, along with it, his golf game.
"I used to have a handicap of about 12 but now it would be more than 30," he admits, saying that he also wants to take advantage of the opportunity to watch lots of Muay Thai (Thai boxing).
Mr Sato, who admits a passion for outdoor sports, says he continues to be a big fan of baseball and during his youth was a baseball player. His fascination with the sport is visible all over his office and his residence where baseballs signed by professional players are displayed.
As well, he is not shy about admitting his fascination for things that are not Japanese, and says he's looking for a private vehicle that is not a Japanese brand.
"I used to drive a BMW in Australia and am thinking which one to get in Bangkok, although the traffic is something that I do not enjoy in this city," he said.
Apart from this, the envoy who is also fluent in Chinese and Bahasa Indonesia wants to learn the Thai language so he can communicate with the people.
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Writer: Umesh PandeyPosition: Editor for Asia Focus
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/01/22/diplomacy-in-demand/
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