Yukiya Amano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yukiya Amano
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天野 之弥
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| 5th Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency | |
| In office 1 December 2009 – 18 July 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Mohamed ElBaradei |
| Succeeded by | Rafael Grossi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 May 1947 Yugawara, Japan |
| Died | 18 July 2019 (aged 72) Vienna, Austria |
| Political party | Liberal Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | University of Tokyo University of Franche-Comté University of Nice Sophia Antipolis |
Yukiya Amano (Japanese: 天野 之弥, Hepburn: Amano Yukiya, 9 May 1947 – 18 July 2019) was a diplomat from Japan. He was the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 2009 to 2019. Before this, he worked as a public servant for the United Nations and its different groups.
Contents
Amano's Early Life and Education
Yukiya Amano was born in 1947 in Yugawara, a small town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He began studying at the University of Tokyo in 1968. After finishing law school, he joined Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in April 1972.
He focused on international disarmament and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. From 1973 to 1975, he also studied in France at the University of Franche-Comté and the University of Nice.
Amano's Career Journey
Working for Japan's Foreign Ministry
Amano held several important jobs in the foreign ministry. In 1993, he became the Director of the Science Division and the Director of the Nuclear Energy Division. As a diplomat, he worked in Japanese Embassies in places like Vientiane, Washington, and Brussels. He also worked at the Japanese Delegation to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. Later, he was the Consul General of Japan in Marseille, France.
In 2002, he became the Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs. In 2004, he was named Director-General of the Disarmament, Nonproliferation and Science Department. In these roles, he took part in important international talks. These included discussions on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. He also helped with agreements like the Biological Weapons Convention.
Leading the International Atomic Energy Agency
In 2005, Amano became Japan's ambassador to the IAEA. The IAEA is an organization that works to promote the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technology. From 2005 to 2006, Amano was the Chairman of the IAEA Board of Governors. During this time, the IAEA and its Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, won the Nobel Peace Prize. Amano represented the IAEA at the Nobel Prize ceremony in December 2005.
In 2008, Japan nominated Yukiya Amano to be the next Director General of the IAEA. On July 2, 2009, he was chosen by the Board of Governors after several rounds of voting. He officially started his first term as Director General on December 1, 2009.
In 2010, a newspaper reported on a U.S. diplomatic message. It said that Amano had told an American ambassador he was "solidly in the U.S. court" on important decisions. This included handling Iran's nuclear program.
Amano's Views on Nuclear Weapons
In an interview in 2009, Yukiya Amano said he was "resolute in opposing the spread of nuclear arms." He explained this was because he came from a country that experienced the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This showed his strong belief in preventing nuclear weapons from spreading.
Amano's Views on Nuclear Power
Yukiya Amano believed it was very important to make sure nuclear power was safe and secure. He said that safety is mainly the responsibility of each country. However, the IAEA also plays a big role because an accident could affect many countries.
He noted that nuclear power has become much safer and more efficient over the past two decades. This is due to better designs, improved ways of operating, and stronger safety rules. He stressed that countries must keep improving their safety as nuclear science develops. He said, "We must never be complacent."
Official Visit to the Philippines
On December 10, 2010, Amano visited the Philippines. He said the IAEA had helped the country improve its skills in nuclear science and energy planning. He also mentioned that the Philippines plays an important role globally. For example, it led the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2010.
During his visit, Amano also went to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. The Philippine government was looking into possibly restarting this plant. Amano also met with top government officials to discuss expanding cooperation with the IAEA. This included training health workers in using nuclear technology for cancer treatment.
Helping After the Fukushima Nuclear Accident
After the Fukushima I nuclear accidents in Japan on March 11, 2011, Amano met with Prime Minister Naoto Kan. Amano said he would send a team to monitor radiation near the damaged plant. He also said that he and the Prime Minister agreed to share as much information as possible about the nuclear crisis. Amano stressed the need for "coordination with international society and better transparency."
Amano's Personal Life
Yukiya Amano was married. He spoke English and French, in addition to his native Japanese. He passed away on July 18, 2019, at the age of 72. News reports stated that he died from cancer.
Awards and Honors for Amano
Grand Cordon of Order of the Rising Sun (2019, given after his death)
Medal "25 Years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan" (2017)
Other Recognitions
On June 5, 2020, the IAEA opened the Yukiya Amano Laboratories in his honor. These laboratories are located near Vienna. They house three of the five labs run together by the IAEA and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
See also
In Spanish: Yukiya Amano para niños
- Nuclear Security Summit (2010) (an event he attended)
