Obituary

With deep regret I would like to inform FCCJ members that Yasuo Kurata, a FCCJ Regular member, passed away November 18.

Yasuo Kurata, a former foreign correspondent for Kyodo News who had been a member of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan since the mid-1960s, died of acute ischemic heart disease on Nov. 18, his family said. He was 87.

After studying economics at Keio University, Kurata worked at Jiji Press, Reuters and UP (later UPI) and later went to the United States as a Fulbrighter in 1952.

He joined Kyodo News in 1953 and was stationed in London (at Reuters) in 1959-1963 and in Paris from 1970-1973.

He worked as a senior writer for Kyodo News and later became a freelance journalist and newscaster for Radio Tampa. He also frequently appeared in public broadcaster NHK's commentary program.

A prolific writer, Kurata wrote many books including "Japone to France", "Yalta Kaidan (Conference)", "Napoleon Mystery" and "Eiffel Tower Mystery" and was a regular contributor to the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun in Nagano and other publications.

He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees at the JAL Foundation.

A wake is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26, at 6 p.m. and a funeral service for Sunday, Nov. 27, at 10 a.m., both at Rakan Kaikan in Tokyo's Meguro Ward.

Georges Baumgartner
FCCJ President

Shiro Yoneyama
FCCJ Regular Member