Karel Zebrakovsky, ambassador of the Czech Republic to Japan, came late to the role of diplomat. A man of enthusiasm and wide, cultivated tastes, he finds delight in everything he does, and in the different appointments he has held. He has the right attitude to be representative of his country. "I am an optimist," he said. "I think all problems can be managed by human discussion, by sober, humble negotiation."

He comes from a family of teachers, and said of himself, "My heart goes to teaching for its joy and excitement. There is no rational explanation for such pleasure when you see children reacting, eyes shining, understanding." He made science and technology his own focus, taking his degree from the Czech Technical University, Prague, in cybernetics, computers and control theory. His eyes shining, he said: "One of my deep beliefs is that physics, maths, science are basically about beauty. You feel it. After some years of hard work and hard study, suddenly you realize: This is so beautiful."

After university graduation, Zebrakovsky stayed in Prague for 18 years. His background was this historical city of winding riverbanks and medieval buildings, its castle on a hill overlooking picturesque streets and squares. He began working as a system analyst and programmer in a computing center, moving up to head its management development department. At the same time he, who spoke no English until he was 25, studied English for scientific and engineering usage at Charles University. This famed university, the first in Central Europe, has existed continuously since 1348. For six years he served as senior expert in the National Technical Center, having already taken a postgraduate course at his own old university, and entered a Ph.D. program on computer-based education and learning.