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Interview with Daniel Awigra, Deputy Director of the Human Rights Working Group, and Mariko Hayashi, Director of the Southeast and East Asian Center

Migrant workers have emerged as one of the most vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this in mind, the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) in Indonesia and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) embarked on an on-the-ground study to assess the conditions facing migrant workers in seven major destinations in Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic, culminating in the publication of the book Repression and Resilience: COVID-19 Response Measures and Migrant Workers’ Rights in Major East and Southeast Asian Destinations.

Report Publication: "Allies Growing Closer: Japan–Europe Security Ties in the Age of Strategic Competition" by Dr. Jeffrey Hornung

The Japan-U.S. program worked with Dr. Jeffrey Hornung, political scientist at the RAND Corporation in the U.S., for a research project from 2019-2020 on the issue of Japan–Europe security relations from the U.S. perspective. The findings of this research have been published as “Allies Growing Closer: Japan–Europe Security Ties in the Age of Strategic Competition” on RAND's website. During his research, Dr. Hornung stayed in Japan for a month as an SPF visiting fellow in the summer of 2019 and also made a research trip to Europe.

Repression and Resilience: COVID-19 Response Measures and Migrant Workers in Major East and Southeast Asian Destinations

SPF and the Human Rights Working Group (Indonesia) co-conducted a research project on COVID-19 response measures and challenges faced by migrant workers in seven destination countries and regions in Asia, namely Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

The Future of Democracy in Indonesia in a Post-COVID-19 World: Interview with Dr. Ilham Habibie, Chairman of the Board, The Habibie Center

Dr. Ilham Habibie is the founder and chairman of the board for The Habibie Center, an independent think tank in Indonesia that seeks to support a democratic society through research and advocacy efforts around human rights, democratization, and innovation. Dr. Habibie spoke with SPF about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future of democracy in Indonesia, challenges posed by social divisions in the country, as well as his vision for Indonesia and the region looking beyond the pandemic.

Webinar Video Available: "Geostrategy in the Grassroots" Hosted by the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio Featuring Prof. Kent Calder and Ms. Aiko Doden

A video from the webinar "Geostrategy in the Grassroots" hosted by the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio is available now. In 2020-2021, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation is partnering with the National Association of Japan America Societies (NAJAS) to organize a public affairs program "Geostrategy in the Grassroots". This is a series of seminars hosted by local Japan-America Societies in the U.S. focusing on the geostrategic challenges Japan and the U.S. face in a changing Asia.