Nobuo Tanaka
Nobuo Tanaka
Nobuo Tanaka is Chair of the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF) Steering Committee and CEO of Tanaka Global, Inc. He joined the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) as President in 2015 and in December 2016 he became Chairman, a position he held until June 2020. Also as Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) from 2007 to 2011, he initiated a collective release of oil stocks in June 2011. He also played a crucial and personal role in the strengthening of ties with major non-Member energy players, including China and India.
He began his career in 1973 in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and has served in a number of high-ranking positions, including Director-General of the Multilateral Trade System Department. He was deeply engaged in bilateral trade issues with the US as Minister for Industry, Trade and Energy at the Embassy of Japan, Washington DC. He has also served twice as Director for Science, Technology and Industry (DSTI) of the Paris-based international organization, OECD.
