Isami Romero

Isami Romero Associate Professor

ThemeJapan's "Food Diplomacy" in the Cold War: The Case of Sugar and Whaling

Belongs

Research Department/Department of Human Sciences/Division of Humanities, Social Sciences and Linguistic Sciences/Section of Humanities, Social Sciences and Linguistic

Field	Political Science, Comparative Politics, Japanese Politics, International Relations, Japanese Diplomatic History, Latin American Studies
Keyword	Japanese Diplomacy, Dood Diplomacy, Cold War History, Sugar, Whaling, Mexico, Inter-American relations, animal policy

Introduction

　　Since the 2000s, archival-based research on Japanese foreign policy has grown significantly. This is largely due to the Freedom of Information Act, enacted in 2001, which opened Japanese government documents to the public and made it possible to understand how foreign policy decisions were made. At the same time, access to archives in the United States and other countries has allowed researchers to examine how foreign governments approached their own policies toward Japan.

　　My work has sought to contribute to this field. Through my research and teaching at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, I have developed expertise in Japanese diplomatic history and Cold War history. My early research focused on Japan–Latin America relations, particularly the analysis of Japanese foreign policy toward Cuba during the Ikeda administration (1960-1964).

　　My current research focuses on Japan’s “food diplomacy”. These case studies examine Japan’s “sugar diplomacy” and “whaling diplomacy” in the 1950s and 1960s. Since 2015, I have also supervised undergraduate and graduate theses on Japan’s development assistance policies, food policies, wildlife policies, whaling policies, and sustainable national park management.

　　Alongside my research, I have been engaged in translating Japanese literature into Spanish, bringing works ranging from classical to contemporary fiction to Spanish-speaking readers — including works by Osamu Dazai, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Kenji Miyazawa, Jun’ichiro Tanizaki, Shugoro Yamamoto, Kanoko Okamoto, Ryu Wada, Yu Nagashima and Natsuhiko Kyogoku, among others. This translation work has also contributed to promoting Japanese culture in the Spanish-speaking world.

List of current research topics

Research on Japan's "Sugar Diplomacy"
Research on Japan's "Whaling Diplomacy"
Research on Japan-Latin America Relations
Research on Mexico's Diplomacy toward Central America Region. during the Cold War
Research on animal policy
Translation of Japanese literature (Japanese to Spanish)

Affiliated academic society

Japan Association of International Relations, The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, Japanese Association for American Studies, Association of Wildlife and Human Society, Japanese Association for Contemporary Studies

Academic degree	Ph.D. in Social and International Studies
Self introduction	I was born and raised in Mexico City, where I developed an early interest in history, international politics, literature, and music. Growing up in Latin America, I became deeply curious about how different cultures and countries interact with one another — a curiosity that eventually led me to the study of diplomatic history. 　　I came to Japan in 2001, and what began as an adventure has become a lifelong journey. Living in Japan for over two decades has given me a unique perspective as a researcher. 　　Outside of research, I enjoy breeding tropical fish, playing guitar and bass, and watching football. I have a passion for British rock music and an endless curiosity for trivia. 　　Are you interested in Japanese diplomatic history or food diplomacy? If you would like to discuss potential research topics or collaboration, please feel free to reach out.
Room address	General Research Building 1
Mail address	romero obihiro.ac.jp