KULOB, September 26, 2011, Asia-Plus -- An auxiliary boarding school No 1 in the southern city of Kulob has been named after Ms. Sadako Ogata, the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The source in the Kulob mayor’s office says, “By this we have decided to honor the significant contribution made by Ms. Sadako Ogata.”

The event was attended by Yoshihiro Nakayama, Ambassador of Japan to Tajikistan, high-ranking officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and Tajik Minister of Education  Abdujabbor Rahmonov.   

The Kulob auxiliary boarding school is a home for 120 boys from grades 1 to 9. 

JICA has worked in Tajikistan since August 2006 and dozens of aid and development projects have been implemented by JICA in Tajikistan since that time.

Ms. Sadako Ogata, born September 16, 1927, is a Japanese academic, diplomat, author, administrator and professor emeritus at Sophia University.

She attended the Catlin Gabel School, class of 1946, and graduated from University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo, before studying at Georgetown University and its Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. In 1964, she was awarded a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.  In 1963. Ogata later taught international politics at Sophia University.

Ogata served in 1978 and 1979 as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at the permanent mission of Japan to the United Nations. She represented Japan at several sessions of the General Assembly -- in 1970, in 1975, in 1976-1978 and in 1978-1979. She served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1991 until 2001. She was appointed as the president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on October 1, 2003 and is still serving as of June 2011.

In 2003, Japan''s Order of Culture was conferred.  In 2002, Ogata received the Fulbright Prize for International Understanding.  In 2005, Ogata received the World Citizenship Award from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.  In 2001, Ogata was recognized by the Japanese government as a Person of Cultural Merit.  In 1994, she was awarded the Prize For Freedom by the Liberal International.  On July 4, 1995, Ogata became the first female recipient of the Liberty Medal for efforts as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  Ms. Ogata is an Eminent Member of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.