After serving as Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia for the last three years, Ito Takako has wound up her assignment here and is ready to leave Ethiopia and resume her career in Chile. For many Ethiopians, Ito has been one of the most notable Ambassadors of countries based here in Addis Ababa.
Since her arrival three years ago, Ambassador ITO has actively engaged in a series of meetings with Ethiopian government officials and diplomatic missions, as well as making a lot of work trips across Ethiopia, and has made significant achievements in promoting diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Japan. In particular, during former Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi’s visit to Ethiopia this summer, Amb ITO arranged official talks with Prime Minister Abiy (Ph.D) and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke, which provided an opportunity for high-level face-to-face dialogue on supporting Ethiopia’s rehabilitation and strengthening bilateral economic ties.
Ambassador ITO has given many interviews on a number of occasions, including during ceremonies and cultural events in different places across Ethiopia, many Ethiopian people know her through her many appearances on TV and media. She is now well-known with many Ethiopian people owing to her deep understanding of this country, as well as her cheerful, beloved personality.
The Ambassador’s arrival in Ethiopia came at a time when Ethiopia was facing a number of hardships, including the situation in Tigray. During this challenging period, Ambassador ITO used the wide networks that she had built up to provide accurate information and analysis of the situation to our Headquarters more than anyone else, and proactively offered her opinion on the correct response by the Japanese Government.
Ambassador ITO has deepened exchanges not only with female ministers of the Ethiopian Government, but also with businesswomen and female athletes in the private sector. And she has been going the extra mile to support Ethiopian women in hardship through Japan’s ODA projects. For instance, recently Ambassador ITO visited and witnessed safe houses for GBV victims run by local NGOs in Addis Ababa and Mekelle, and managed to support the construction of a dormitory building for survivors of GBV. She took third place among female Ambassadors in the Great Ethiopian Run last Sunday.
Born on August 30, 1961 ITO Graduated from Sophia University, Faculty of Law on March 1985. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 1985. She has served the Ministry on different capacities including the Deputy Director of Asia-Europe Cooperation Division, Economic Affairs Bureau, Senior Deputy Director of Economic Partnership Division, Economic Affairs Bureau, Principle Deputy Director of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division Foreign Policy Bureau, August 2009 Director, Development Assistance Policy Planning Division with International Cooperation Bureau, Counsellor at Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, Counsellor at Mission of Japan to the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, Assistant Press Secretary / Director at International Press Division, Principle Deputy Chief of Protocol, Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto.
On December 22, 2020, Japanese Ambassador ITO Takako presented her Letter of Credentials to Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Ambassador ITO was committed to carrying out her duties as Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia in order to further promote bilateral relations between the two countries. While she was assigned as an ambassador to Ethiopia, the two nations were celebrating the 90th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
Indeed, ITO will be missed by the people of Ethiopia to whom she was very close at a time of adversity. On the occasion of her farewell The Ethiopian Herald has interviewed Ito about her three years of career in Ethiopia. Enjoy reading!
Could you tell me your impression about Ethiopia during the last three years of tenure as Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia?
My impression of the last three years is that there are so many challenges in this country, including the conflicts, flood, droughts, inflation, and desert locusts. But Ethiopian people are so resilient. I think it is the strength of people and this could be utilized even more for creating the peace and prosperity in this country.
Out of all the jobs, as an Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, which ones would you like to mention as your best performances during the last three years?
We have completed this TICAD, Tokyo International conference on African Development, human resource training center in Addis Ababa. This is going to be the headquarter of a Kai Zen movement and provides the venue, not only for Ethiopians, but for the people from Africa to learn about the Kai Zen philosophy. And that would definitely increase the efficiency of profitability of the business. And that would help the people. And that’s the way we invest in people.
And about the overall cooperation between Japan and Ethiopia what would you like to mention, especially in capacity building, and other kinds of corporations?
There are many things that we’ve been doing. Kai Zen institute is definitely one. And I think that would be going under this training center. So I will leave it to them, but for the people to people helping the people in a very vulnerable situation. That is something that we try to do. We made a few huge ponds together with ILO, so those refugees and the local people who did not have job. They made some sandbags and also spend some hours to make the fund based on the number of the sand bags they made were based on the hours they worked, we paid to them. Eventually, there’s a huge pond where the rain water can stay.When it was completed, I went to see them, and they were so happy. And then, especially when I’m a female ambassador, I was invited to those dancing circle of a Somali woman. So happy. They said, “Thank you Japan!” don’t forget us, and also make more ponds until that time. I was so moved, that they are so happy with the cooperation we provided.
Your embassy has been participating in various developing activities including supporting the government and people of Ethiopia in the past three years. How do you see their impact and the contribution?
Through JICA, Japan has been sending experts to Ethiopian government with many ministries. So they are working together with Ethiopian people who are in the middle of the reform policy decision making that would certainly help. And this is the way of a corporation that Japan provides. We think, together, act together, and create new policies together. And that would also continue.
Thank you for allowing me your precious time for the interview. If you want to leave a message for the people and government of Ethiopia, please take the chance!
Japan and Ethiopia has a long, long history, and we are both very unique countries in the respective region. And we should be able to achieve something new. And people must unite and concentrate their energy on peace and prosperity. I wish all the best for the Ethiopian people, and I urge them to unite for peace and prosperity.
Thank you very much. We also wish you all the best in future career.
Thank you.
BY ZEKARIAS WOLDEMARIAM
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2023
