Diana Abgar (or Apcar; 17 October 1859 - 8 July 1937) was a diaspora Armenian writer and humanitarian, who was appointed Honorary Consul to Japan of the short-lived First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920). She is the first Armenian woman diplomat and one of the first women to have ever been appointed in any diplomatic post in the twentieth century.
When the Republic of Armenia gained independence on 28 May 1918, Armenia was not recognized by any international state. Yet in 1920, through Apcar's efforts, Japan became one of the first nations to recognize the new republic's independence. Out of respect to her efforts, Hamo Ohanjanyan, who was then the Foreign Minister of the Republic, appointed Diana Apcar Honorary Consul to Japan. This made her the first Armenian woman diplomat and one of the first women appointed in any diplomatic post in the twentieth century. However, after the fall of the First Republic of Armenia in the same year 1920, her post was abruptly terminated.
After her son took over the family business in Japan, Apcar had more time to concentrate on her humanitarian, literary, and diplomatic career. She started working with numerous journals and newspapers such as The Japan Advertiser, The Far East, The Japan gazette, and Armenia (later to be known as New Armenia). She focused much of her literature on the oppressed and their circumstances. She wrote about the Armenian plight in the Ottoman Empire in order to raise global awareness. By 1920 she had already written over nine books in dedication to the Armenian Genocide. She also wrote many articles on international relations and the impact of imperialism on world affairs and global peace. (wikipedia.org)
