Remembering Takatoshi ‘Taka’ Ito

Dear SIPA and Columbia community,

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of our cherished colleague, Professor Takatoshi Ito. An internationally renowned economist and a generous mentor, Taka, as he was commonly known, shaped generations of students and scholars with his intellect, integrity, and kindness.

Professor Ito brought the world into our classrooms. He combined academic rigor with real-world insight, and he did so with warmth and humility. We will all miss his keen mind, his deep commitment to public service, and his unwavering dedication to our students and to Columbia.

At SIPA since 2015, Professor Ito taught and advised across international finance, macroeconomics, and the Japanese economy. He was a towering figure who significantly advanced SIPA’s relations with Japan, strengthening Columbia’s ecosystem through his leadership with the Center on Japanese Economy and Business (CJEB), including directing its Program on Public Pension and Sovereign Funds, and by convening pathbreaking conversations on central banking—work he undertook in close partnership with colleagues across the School. Thanks to Taka, SIPA was the first institution the former Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda visited in 2023, just 10 days after he stepped down.

Taka’s public-service career was equally distinguished, including service as Japan’s Deputy Vice Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and as a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. In recognition of his lifetime contributions, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon) by the Government of Japan in 2024. Before arriving at Columbia, Taka was a professor and dean at the Graduate School of Public Policy (commonly known as GraSPP), University of Tokyo. 

I had the pleasure of seeing Taka’s passion for his home country up close in 2023 when he invited me to Japan to meet with students, SIPA alumni, and government officials. Throughout our visit, the profound respect and admiration he commands across government, academia, and civil society was unmistakable.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Professor Ito’s family, friends, students, and colleagues around the world. His loss is devastating, and he will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. We will update the SIPA community about a campus remembrance once we have more information. In the meantime, we invite those who knew him to share memories and tributes that we can pass along to his family.

May his memory be a blessing.

With condolences,
Keren

Keren Yarhi-Milo
Dean, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Affairs