As he prepares to leave Japan for his next diplomatic posting, Rachad Farah, ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti, admits he cannot help but have "a heavy heart." He has been here 15 years, and to leave is wrenching even though he goes to an attractive new posting. For the last 10 years, he has been dean of the African diplomatic corps in Japan. For the last five he has been dean of the Arab group of ambassadors and heads of missions here. Then he became also dean of the entire diplomatic corps in Japan. He is held in regard for his intellectual attainments and contributions, in respect for his energy, and in affection for his cross-cultural understanding and initiatives. He and Japan mean a great deal to each other.
Farah entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the first government of the new Republic of Djibouti. That was in 1977, when Djibouti gained independence from France. Brought up speaking French equally with Arabic, Farah studied in Paris at the Sorbonne University, graduating with international law, history and geography to his credit. He graduated also from the International Public Administrative Institute in Paris. In his first position at the Foreign Ministry of Djibouti, he was appointed head of the Bilateral Relations Department. Young as he was to be given such responsibility, he was placed on track for what was to come. Six years later he was appointed director of the Bilateral Relations Department, and in the absences of the secretary general of the ministry acted for him.
Representing his country, Farah took part in international meetings, summits and bilateral commissions. For a decade he worked concurrently in three major capacities: in Djibouti's delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations, in the Movement of the Nonaligned Countries of the Islamic Conference, and in the meetings of Francophone, French-speaking countries. During this time he organized the first festival of French-language movies in Djibouti. "Movies from Africa, the first time. I was so happy to do it," he said.
The Federal Republic of Brazil, across the world, designated Farah a Grand Officer of the Order Rio Branco. This recognition was given him for his work for Brazilian evacuees from Yemen during civil upheaval there in the mid-1960s. "Djibouti is a very stable place in the area," Farah said. He is pleased to add that Djibouti is also receiving many tourists, increasingly from Japan. Scuba diving, fishing and underwater photography are popular in the republic's coral reefs, and deep-sea diving and game fishing attract visitors to the meeting place of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The wildlife of the bush and the nomads who live there present scenes unlike any to be seen in Japan.
As ambassador, Farah came to Japan in 1989. Within a year, he undertook to be also ambassador to South Korea, Singapore and China. Three years ago his mission to China was replaced by one to India. Earlier, he undertook concurrent ambassadorship to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Australia. He still holds all of these appointments. He said, "I am very, very proud that my country should send me to all these countries. We want good relations with the world." He has a graphic word to describe the continent he has come to know well. "Asia is passionate," he said.
In 1996, Farah married Tazuko, a young woman from Kanagawa who used to be a flight attendant. The two had met earlier, in Paris. The wife of the Djibouti ambassador has made herself known for her strong attraction to orchids, which she likens to ambassadors. "They bloom in different countries, similarly to ambassadors," she said.
In 1998, Farah wrote an article in connection with the Second Tokyo Conference on African Development. In it he expressed gratitude to Japan for its part in reminding world opinion "of the existence of the great continent of Africa." He wrote of the wide-ranging, practical aid that Japan was giving Africa in many different forms "affecting the everyday lives of citizens." He said, "Beyond the image of epidemics, wars and other evils of underdevelopment, there exists 'another Africa,' the Africa of great civilizations, liberty, democracy and growth. I am convinced that the continent of Africa will play an important role in the future, and will succeed in recovering the position it once occupied on the world stage."