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Yoshihiko Okabe

Adviser

Professor Yoshihiko Okabe is Japan’s foremost expert in Ukrainian studies, serving as Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Kobe and Chair of the Ukrainian Studies Association. His work has earned him multiple honors from Ukraine’s government, and he is recognized internationally for advancing bilateral understanding through research, translation, and diplomacy.

Biography


Yoshihiko Okabe (Japanese: 岡部芳彦; born September 9, 1973) is a prominent Japanese economist, historian, and a leading authority on Ukrainian studies in Japan. His work spans economic history, Ukrainian-Japanese relations, and cultural exchange, making significant contributions to academia and international diplomacy.

Education

  • 2015: PhD in Economics from Kobe Gakuin University.

  • 2021: PhD in History from Chubu University, becoming the first Japanese scholar to study the history of human exchanges between Ukrainians and Japanese.

Career Highlights

  • Current Positions:

    • Professor, Faculty of Economics, Kobe Gakuin University.

    • Director, International Exchange Center, Kobe Gakuin University.

    • Chairman, Ukrainian Studies Association (Japan branch of the International Association for Ukrainian Studies).

    • Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Kobe (since October 2024).

  • Diplomatic and Scholarly Contributions:

    • Consulted with Ukrainian leaders, including Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Petro Poroshenko, and Leonid Kuchma; Prime Ministers Yulia Tymoshenko, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, and Volodymyr Groysman; and religious leaders such as Patriarch Filaret.

    • Delivered speeches at the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) and met with leaders of political and religious organizations.

    • Published numerous works on British economic history, Ukrainian studies, and Japan-Ukraine relations.

  • Leadership Roles:

    • 2018: Elected as the third president of the Japan Society for Ukrainian Studies.

    • 2023–2024: Chair, Hyogo Prefecture Ukraine Support Review Committee.

    • 2024: Advisor, Hyogo Prefecture Ukraine Support Project Team.

Key Achievements

  • Publications and Research:

    • Authored the book "History of Japan-Ukraine Exchanges 1915-1937", recognized as one of the top five works in the 2022 Ivan Franko International Prize.

    • Published his doctoral thesis on Ukrainian-Japanese relations with Lviv Polytechnic University Press.

    • Translated Ukrainian poetry and folk tales into Japanese.

  • Honors and Awards:

    • 2019: Medal of the Verkhovna Rada by Chairman Andriy Parubiy for contributions to the Ukrainian people.

    • 2021: Medal of Honor of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for promoting Ukrainian culture and history.

    • 2021: Elected as the first foreign member of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine.

    • 2023: Order of Honor of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for contributions to bilateral relations.

  • Other Notable Milestones:

    • Banned from entering the Russian Federation in May 2022 due to his support for Ukraine amidst the Russian invasion.

    • Served as Chairman at the 7th Forum of Post-Russian Free Peoples, held at the House of Representatives First Members' Building in Japan.

Publications

  1. "The Self-Defense Forces' Assistance to Rwandan Refugees," Diplomacy Forum (1995).

  2. "Introduction to Peace Cooperation," Yuhikaku Sensho (1995).

  3. "The Road to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities," Normalization 24(7) (2004).

  4. "History of Japan-Ukraine Exchanges 1915-1937," Lviv Polytechnic University Press.

"The Invasion of Ukraine and the Russian Orthodox Church," Kawade Yume Shinsho (2022).

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