Belgrade street to be named after Japan diplomat

BELGRADE (Kyodo) A Belgrade street will be named after the late Japanese Ambassador Keisuke Oba, whose association with the former Yugoslavia lasted for 30 years, first as a student and later as a diplomat.

About 200 dignitaries and guests attended a ceremony Tuesday at the Ethnological Museum in the capital of Serbia and Montenegro to formally recognize Oba's contributions to Tokyo-Belgrade relations.

Oba died in August 2002 at age 67 and was buried in Belgrade's largest cemetery in accordance with his wishes.

"It's a great honor," his younger brother, Gozo, 68, said at the ceremony. He said his brother spent about 30 years in the region, far longer than in his hometown of Kagoshima and in Tokyo.

Also present at the ceremony was Oba's German-born wife, Ute.