Kōichirō Asakai

Asakai studied banking and graduated from Hitotsubashi University in 1929, before joining the Foreign Ministry.[1]: 199 He became an attaché in the Japanese mission in London, and was posted to Nanjing before returning to the Foreign Ministry.[2][1]: 199 During this time, he attended meetings of the Allied Council for Japan as an "observer" and the sole diplomat.[1]: 199 In August 1951, he was appointed the first head of the Japanese Government Overseas Agency in London.[1]: 200 He was assisted in his work by the Japan Society of London, which had been set up two years prior.