abstract:Yasushi Akashi (明石 康 Akashi Yasushi, born January 19, 1931 in Hinai, Akita Prefecture) is a senior Japanese diplomat and United Nations administrator. Akashi graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tokyo in 1954, studied as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Virginia, and later at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Hiscommentthis week looked suspiciously well-timed to coincide witha visit from Yasushi Akashi, a so-called “peaceenvoy” fromJapan, Sri Lanka's biggestaid donor.
This month, YasushiAkashi, a special envoy from Japan, had to cancel a planned peace mission to Sri Lanka when Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Tigers' elusive and ruthless supremo, refused to meet him.