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Mr Ichiro Akiyama was born on 26 March 1949 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He is a graduate of the Japan Defense Academy (1971), with over 30 years of distinguished service with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). He undertook Graduate Studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA from 1974 to 1979. Mr Akiyama has a Ph.D. in Carcinogenic Compounds study.
Mr Akiyama has held a number of important assignments in the JGSDF (i.e. administration, research and development, education and training, etc.), distinguishing himself and proving to be a knowledgeable expert within his field, especially Chemical Defense and Arms Control and Disarmament.
In relation to the field of Chemical Weapons Arms Control and Disarmament, he actively participated in the Conference on Disarmament (Geneva) as Chemical Weapons Expert during the negotiation of the Chemical Weapons Convention during the period 1982 – 1992. Mr Akiyama was promoted to Major General in June 1997, and was seconded from the Japan Defense Agency to the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as the Director of Inspectorate Division for five years.
After five years of his assignment with OPCW, Mr Akiyama returned to his JGSDF service and was appointed to the Commandant of JGSDF Chemical School during the period 2002 – 2004.
He was reappointed as Director of Inspectorate Division in August 2004.
Mr Akiyama is married with two children.