KENSAKU HOGEN, UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC INFORMATION

31 March 1999

Press Release
SG/A/668/Rev.1
PI/1052/Rev.1

KENSAKU HOGEN, UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC INFORMATION

19990331 Biographical Note Kensaku Hogen, of Japan, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, was appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan effective 16 March 1998. Before joining the United Nations, he was President of the Foreign Service Training Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan.

In the course of his distinguished diplomatic and governmental career, Mr. Hogen has worked on a wide range of issues before the United Nations, as well as in public information areas. He directed the Foreign Press Division of the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, was Deputy Spokesman to the Foreign Minister of Japan, and head of the Press and Information Department at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C.

Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Hogen was the Director-General of the Middle East and African Affairs Bureau from 1995 to 1996. In that capacity, he directed Japanese foreign policy regarding the Middle East, in particular the peace process in that region, and was instrumental in developing Japanese policy on Africa. Mr. Hogen served as Consul-General in Honolulu from 1991 to 1995, and in Boston from 1989 to 1991, actively engaging in public affairs activities of the Consulates-General.

As the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Bureau in the Foreign Ministry from 1987 to 1989, Mr. Hogen was responsible for relations with the United Nations and formulated Japanese policy on a variety of issues before the Organization. He also oversaw development finance and overseas private investment policy in the Ministry of Finance from 1985 to 1987. Since he joined the Foreign Ministry in 1964, Mr. Hogen has also served in diplomatic posts in London, Tehran and Ottawa.

Mr. Hogen studied at the University of Tokyo and is also a graduate of Cambridge University. He is fluent in English, French and German, and has knowledge of Italian.

Born on 2 August 1941, Mr. Hogen is married and has three daughters and one son.

* *** *