Obituary on the Passing of Professor Akira Nakamura

Prof. Pan Suk Kim and Prof. Masao Kikuchi

It is with profound sorrow and deep regret that we announce the passing of Professor Akira Nakamura, a distinguished Japanese scholar of public administration and Professor at Meiji University, Tokyo, JAPAN.

Professor Nakamura passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026, at 10:20 a.m., at a hospital near his residence in Tokyo, Japan, at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife and two sons. His eldest son, Professor Yoshiki Nakamura, serves as Professor of Business Management at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, JAPAN.

Professor Nakamura devoted his lifetime to the advancement of public administration scholarship, higher education, and international academic cooperation. During his long and distinguished career at Meiji University, he served with exceptional dedication in numerous leadership capacities, including Distinguished Professor, Dean, and Vice President.

Beyond Japan, Professor Nakamura made enduring contributions to the international public administration community. He served as Vice President of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) and as Chair of its Program and Research Advisory Committee (PRAC). He also served as International Editor of Public Administration Review, the flagship journal of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). In recognition of his distinguished scholarly contributions, he became the first Japanese scholar to be appointed a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA).

Furthermore, Professor Nakamura actively engaged with the EROPA (Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration), and was a founding member and the first President of the Asian Association for Public Administration (AAPA). Through his visionary leadership and tireless efforts, he played a pioneering role in strengthening the intellectual foundations of Asian public administration and promoting international scholarly collaboration throughout the region and beyond. In recognition of his distinguished contributions in Asia, in 2024, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by EROPA, AAPA, AGPA, and IAPA, together with his long-time trustful friend and colleague, Professor Pan Suk Kim of Yonsei University.

Professor Nakamura will be remembered not only for his outstanding scholarly achievements and institutional leadership, but also for his integrity, wisdom, collegiality, humility, and unwavering commitment to the global public administration community. His passing represents an immense loss to academia and to all those who had the privilege of knowing and working with him over many decades.

The funeral service is scheduled to be held on the morning of May 23, 2026.

Those wishing to convey condolences or messages to the bereaved family may contact Professor Masao Kikuchi of Meiji University, a former student of Professor Nakamura, at kms@meiji.ac.jp

May Professor Akira Nakamura rest in peace, and may his enduring legacy continue to inspire future generations of scholars and practitioners around the world.

Photo of the First AAPA Board Meeting in 2010, at Meiji University

Photo of the Lifetime Achievement Awards Ceremony, in 2024, at Yogyakarta