Profile of Founding Principal

Mirei Cecilia Hakuba (née Mari Murata)

Founding Principal & Executive Director

Internationally accredited authority in Diplomatic Protocol, Global Etiquette, and Cross-Cultural Communication

A Heritage of Logic and Grace

I was born in Yokohama into a family where two worlds naturally converged.
My father served as Director of the National Research Institute of Police Science and was decorated by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan for his lifelong dedication to logic, discipline, and truth.
My mother, a founding member of Japan Airlines, represented the finest tradition of Japanese omotenashi and international hospitality.

From this heritage I learned a defining principle:
true elegance is not mere style — it is disciplined intelligence.

This principle became the foundation of the ICPA Method, which unites scientific precision with cultural grace to create authentic global presence.

Why I Analyse Protocol

ICPA was never designed to teach etiquette as a set of rules to memorise.
I approach protocol as a field of applied human science — analysing the why and the how behind the behaviour of diplomats, executives, and global leaders.

Not having been born into the diplomatic world required me to decode its unspoken systems through rigorous international study and professional practice.
This allowed me to translate invisible social dynamics into structured, reproducible skills that can be taught, refined, and mastered.

My Mission

My purpose is to give people the Logic of Elegance —
the intellectual framework that allows them to move with confidence, dignity, and authority in any international environment.

With this logic, individuals no longer imitate.
They understand, choose, and lead.

Join me, and let us master the language of trust together.

Achievements & Global Recognition

Global Recognition & Media Features

Featured in major media such as Asahi Shimbun (AERA), Toyo Keizai Online, and Sankei Shimbun, providing expert analysis on Diplomatic and Imperial Protocol during President Trump’s visit to Japan.
Interviewed and consulted by international news agencies on matters of cross-cultural diplomacy.
Supervised the British Gentleman’s Etiquette and Protocol for the Netflix film “10DANCE”
(starring Keita Machida), reproducing authentic elegance and dignity on screen.
Recognised internationally for bridging Japanese and Western protocol cultures with academic precision and artistry.

Educational & Professional Training Achievements

Conducted professional certification and instructor training for individuals and organisations
in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia, fostering certified protocol experts and educators worldwide.
Trained professionals from diverse sectors, including diplomats, government officials, physicians, lawyers, and corporate executives.
Provided specialised instruction for U.S. government protocol officers and military personnel, including culinary protocol specialists.
Developed a distinctive educational methodology combining Japanese Imperial, British, and European traditions
with modern behavioural science and intercultural psychology.

International Accreditation & Institutional Excellence

The only internationally accredited protocol academy in Japan, recognised by the Leading Etiquette and Protocol School of the World.
Delivers globally certified instructor and specialist qualifications, enabling graduates to teach and operate professionally worldwide.
Supports certified instructors with academic materials, business opportunities, and global recognition programmes.
Holds an exclusive academic partnership with international protocol organisations and certification boards.
Original textbooks and resources exceed 1,500 pages, covering International, Business, Social, and Diplomatic Protocol.
Curriculum integrates academic research, cross-cultural philosophy, and practical global leadership training.

Fields of Expertise

Diplomatic Protocol & State Ceremonial
Global Business & Social Etiquette
Japanese Imperial & Cultural Protocol
Cross-Cultural Intelligence & Communication
Psychology of Impression & Human Dignity

Founding Vision

I founded The International Protocol and Etiquette Academy of Japan (ICPA) with a single, clear conviction:

That in a globalised world, the greatest barrier between people is not language, power, or culture —
it is the absence of mutual respect and genuine understanding.

Throughout my international studies and professional experience, I witnessed how cultural misunderstanding, unspoken expectations, and subtle behavioural differences could either build trust or quietly destroy it.

In diplomacy, business, medicine, and international cooperation, success is rarely determined by technical expertise alone.
It is determined by how people make others feel — respected, understood, and safe.

Japan has preserved for centuries a refined philosophy of conduct rooted in dignity, harmony, and attentiveness to others.

Yet this knowledge is often invisible to the modern global world, and even to many within Japan itself.

ICPA was created to bridge this gap.

By integrating Japanese cultural wisdom with Western academic frameworks, behavioural science, and international protocol standards, ICPA offers a systematic, intellectually rigorous approach to human interaction at the highest levels of society.

Our purpose is not to teach surface-level etiquette.
It is to cultivate professionals who can carry their culture with integrity, represent their institutions with authority, and build trust across borders with quiet confidence.

This is the vision that continues to guide ICPA —
and the reason it exists today.

Vision from the Outset

Since founding The International Protocol and Etiquette Academy of Japan (ICPA),
I have had the privilege of mentoring diplomats, embassy professionals, corporate executives, medical specialists, and internationally ambitious individuals.

Across more than twenty-five years of international study, teaching, and cross-cultural work, one principle has remained constant:

At the centre of every successful negotiation, organisation, and global partnership stands one essential element — people.

Technical expertise, authority, and institutional power matter, but they are never sufficient on their own.
Trust, cooperation, and long-term success are built through human presence, cultural intelligence, and behavioural mastery.

ICPA was designed from the outset as an academy that treats protocol not as formality, but as applied human science — a discipline that translates respect, dignity, and cultural awareness into real-world leadership.

Through this approach, ICPA develops professionals who can operate confidently in complex international environments, representing their organisations and cultures with precision, grace, and credibility.

Commitment to Your Success

At ICPA, we are committed to cultivating future leaders who are not only skilled professionals, but also cultural ambassadors — individuals capable of building bridges between peoples and nations.

If you are truly dedicated to mastering international communication, and aspire to thrive on the global stage,
I warmly invite you to begin your journey with us.