Tadateru Konoe

Tadateru Konoe, born on May 8, 1939, is a Japanese humanitarian leader known for his long-standing involvement with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. He served as the president of the Japanese Red Cross Society from 2005 until his resignation in 2017 and was elected as the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 2009 and re-elected in 2013. His tenure as IFRC president concluded on November 6, 2017, when Francesco Rocca succeeded him.

Family Background:

Konoe was born with the name Moriteru Hosokawa. His paternal lineage traces back to the Hosokawa clan, a branch of the Seiwa Genji, itself a branch of the Minamoto clan, which are historically significant noble families in Japan. His mother was Yoshiko, the second daughter of Fumimaro Konoe, a prominent Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister before and during World War II. After the death of his maternal uncle, Fumitaka Konoe, in 1956 in the Soviet Union where he was a prisoner of war, Tadateru became the heir to his maternal grandfather and adopted the family name Konoe.

The Konoe family is a senior branch of the Fujiwara clan, which historically had considerable influence in Japanese aristocracy. The lineage of the Konoe family traces back to Fujiwara no Kamatari. In 1966, Tadateru Konoe married Princess Yasuko of Mikasa, a first cousin of Emperor Akihito. They have one son, Tadahiro, and three grandchildren. The marriage links him to the Japanese imperial family by both paternal and maternal descent, as both are descendants of Emperor Meiji’s family. Konoe is also a second cousin once removed of Emperor Akihito, sharing common ancestors through Prince Kuni Asahiko.

Education:

Konoe graduated from Gakushuin University in Tokyo in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. In 1964, he attended the London School of Economics, focusing on International Relations. He has pursued academic engagement as a lecturer, panelist, and speaker on topics related to humanitarian aid, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), disaster response, development, and bio-ethics. In 1994, he lectured on Micro studies on International Relief Organizations at the Graduate School of Toyo Eiwa University in Tokyo.

Career with the Japanese Red Cross Society:

Throughout his career, Konoe held various senior positions within the Japanese Red Cross Society. Before becoming president, he served as vice president from 1991 to 2005 and was involved in education through his role as chairman of the Japanese Red Cross Academy, which offered post-graduate courses for nurses. His other roles included director general of the International Department (1988–1991), director general of the social department (1988), deputy director general of the international department (1985–1988), and international director (1976–1981).

Involvement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies:

Konoe participated extensively in international Red Cross activities. He was a member of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross Red Crescent from 1995 to 2003 and served as its vice chairman in 1999. He was also a member of the IFRC finance commission from 1985 to 1993. Earlier in his career, he held roles as officer (1972–1975) and director (1981–1985) within the IFRC disaster preparedness bureau, where he began his international work in 1972.

Red Cross Relief Missions:

Between 1970 and 2008, Tadateru Konoe took part in over 30 relief missions worldwide, contributing to disaster response and humanitarian aid efforts. His involvement extended beyond Red Cross activities to the governance of various related organizations and associations.

Honors:

Konoe is a recipient of the 26th Jean-Henri Dunant Medal, awarded in recognition of his contributions to the humanitarian movement through the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

References:

Information sourced from the IFRC press release titled "Italy's Francesco Rocca Elected President of World's Largest Humanitarian Network" (2017). External links include the Japanese Red Cross Society and the IFRC official websites.