(in memoriam)
Senior Adviser to the Rector
(1979 - 1994)
Dr. Michio Nagai (1923-2000) was appointed Senior Adviser to the Rector in 1979. Dr. Nagai began his career as an educator, teaching sociology at Kyoto University and then Tokyo Institute of Technology. He also taught as Visiting Professor at Columbia University, Hong Kong University, Stanford University and El Colegio de Mexico, and as Guest Professor at Keio University.
In 1970, Dr. Nagai became a member of the Editorial Board of The Asahi Shimbun Press, and later (1977-89) was Guest Editorial Writer for The Asahi Shimbun.
He served as Director of Communications for the East-West Center (USA) from 1972 to 1973. In 1974, Dr. Nagai was appointed Minister of Education, Science and Culture (Japan), a post he held until 1976. In 1977, he returned to academia as a professor of international relations at Sophia University (until 1984).
He served as Senior Adviser to the Rector of the United Nations University for 15 years, from 1979 to 1994. From 1989, he also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The International House of Japan, Inc.
Dr. Nagai received many honors during his long and distinguished career, including the Mainichi Culture Award (1965), Yoshino Sakuzo Award (1969), Mexican Government Aguila Asteca Medal (1975), French Government Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (1984), NHK Broadcasting Award (1984), and Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (1993).
Dr. Nagai authored many books in Japanese and several in English, including Higher Education in Japan (1971) and Education and Indoctrination (1976).
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