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A think tank as well as a foundation, SPF believes that both words and actions are key to understanding the challenges of today and forging new paths toward a more harmonious, sustainable, and inclusive future.

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Featured News

News

[Event Report] Arctic Connections 2025 and the Italy-Japan Seminar on Arctic Cooperation

From 31 March to 3 April 2025, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) took part in a series of high-profile Arctic-themed events in Italy, affirming the Foundation's growing leadership in advancing dialogue, scientific collaboration, and multilateral diplomacy in the polar regions.

Latest Events

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17Apr2025

Special Seminar “Science and Policy Nexus and Stakeholder Engagement for A Sustainable Ocean”

Registration Closed

16Apr2025

The Role of Parliamentarians for Advancement of WPS Agenda

On February 6, 2025, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation hosted a symposium titled "The Role of Parliamentarians for Advancement of WPS (Women, Peace and Security) Agenda." This symposium was organized, taking the opportunity of "Focal Point Network Meeting" to be held in Tokyo, co-chaired by the Japanese and Norwegian governments.

April 15, 2025

Essays and Commentary

IINA: Will Artificial Intelligence Change Warfare? -Future battlefield of mixed expectations and concerns

The invention of gunpowder contributed to the improvement of people's lives through the development of mines and social infrastructure, while also fundamentally changing the nature of warfare. And now in the 21st century, artificial intelligence (AI) has been called "The Third Revolution in Warfare" and is attracting attention not only for its potential to introduce new conveniences into society, but also transform war itself. In fact, some 70 years after Alan Turing proposed the basic concepts of AI in the 1950s, the possibility that AI-powered autonomous unmanned systems and robots will play a leading role in the new battlefield is becoming a reality.

April 9, 2025

Videos

Interview with Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group

What are the international crises facing the world today, and how will they impact Japan? Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group and SPF Senior Research Fellow Ippeita Nishida tackle these questions with a wide-ranging discussion covering the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and Trump 2.0, the implications for the Global South, and more.

April 8, 2025

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Programs

General Affairs and Networking Program
(Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

Contributing to the peace and stability of the international community while strengthening Japan's security capabilities

National Security and Japan-U.S. Program
(Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

Contributing to the creation of peace and a new international order in the face of drastic shifts in the security environment by cooperating with the United States, friends, and partners

Strategy and Deterrence Program
(Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

Assessing global shifts to contribute to the creation of a more advantageous security environment

Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program
(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Building a foundation of trust between Japan, Asia, and the Middle East to fortify solidarity and engender peaceful coexistence

Peacebuilding Program
(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Pursuing resolutions to lingering conflicts and the establishment of peace

Social Innovation Program
(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Envisioning a society where women in Asia can realize their full potential

Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Program
(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Working toward a future of lasting peace and mutual understanding

Division of Ocean Vision and Action
(Ocean Policy Research Institute)

Pioneers for a sustainable ocean, developing an innovative ocean governance

Division of Island Nations
(Ocean Policy Research Institute)

Building mutual trust between Japan and Pacific island nations and promoting peace and prosperity in the region through targeted research and localized projects

Sasakawa Scholarship Program
(Scholarship Unit)

Providing study abroad scholarships for future leaders in Japan

Essays and Commentary

National Security and Japan-U.S. Program

IINA: Will Artificial Intelligence Change Warfare? -Future battlefield of mixed expectations and concerns

By Jun Nagashima, Senior Research Advisor, Nakasone Peace Institute,Lt. Gen, JASDF (Ret.)

The invention of gunpowder contributed to the improvement of people's lives through the development of mines and social infrastructure, while also fundamentally changing the nature of warfare. And now in the 21st century, artificial intelligence (AI) has been called "The Third Revolution in Warfare" and is attracting attention not only for its potential to introduce new conveniences into society, but also transform war itself. In fact, some 70 years after Alan Turing proposed the basic concepts of AI in the 1950s, the possibility that AI-powered autonomous unmanned systems and robots will play a leading role in the new battlefield is becoming a reality.

IINA: 【Cooperation Between European and Indo-Pacific Powers in the US alliance system project：Policy Paper Vol. 13】Japan’s Rationale for Defense Industry Cooperation with the United States, NATO, and Indo-Pacific Partners

With Japan’s National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Defense Buildup Program of December 2022, Tokyo’s defense policy has taken a practical step forward to secure the country’s territory and regional peace. Japan no longer enjoys a stable international environment. China’s extensive military buildup over the past two decades has allowed Beijing an advantageous posture vis-à-vis the US forces deployed in the Indo-Pacific, which are operating together with the military forces of three IP4 allies: Japan, South Korea, and Australia. China’s rise has forced Japan to respond to a more threatening Chinese military force posture and a greater potential for the outbreak of violent conflict.

By Tsuneo "Nabe" Watanabe, Senior Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation

April 4, 2025

National Security and Japan-U.S. Program

IINA: 【Cooperation Between European and Indo-Pacific Powers in the US alliance system project：Policy Paper Vol. 12】Prospects of NATO-IP4 Cooperation in Quantum Technology

Why is there interest in NATO-IP4 defense industry cooperation to increase interoperability between North American, European, and Indo-Pacific allies and partners? It is because the Russia-Ukraine War has made it apparent that liberal democracies cannot match the speed at which authoritarian regimes divert resources toward wartime needs. Authoritarian regimes can establish wartime economies at a rapid clip without popular protests because their citizens lack the freedom to publicly voice discontent and cannot oppose key government decisions.

By Masafumi Ishii, Former Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia (until 2020) Special adjunct professor of the Faculty of Law, Gakushuin University

April 4, 2025

National Security and Japan-U.S. Program

IINA: 【Cooperation Between European and Indo-Pacific Powers in the US alliance system project：Policy Paper Vol. 11】 NATO-IP4: Accelerating Defense-Technological Cooperation Through a Networked Institutional Ecosystem

Many indicators suggest that strategic competitors are gaining a lead in advanced technologies across their commercial and defense applications. For example, Beijing’s Military-Civil Fusion (MCF) strategy is effectuating China’s rise. Defense-technological cooperation with the Russian Federation under the rubric of their no-limits strategic partnership is enhancing China’s progress. Since this partnership of revisionist powers transcends both the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific theaters, the strategic challenge for NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand is to accelerate their own efforts in the domain of next-generation technologies, collectively as well as nationally. Such efforts extend beyond the confines of scientific innovation and hold implications across all domains of strategic competition writ large.

By Thomas Wilkins, Senior Fellow, Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)

April 4, 2025

Explore Latest Essays and Commentary

Videos

Peacebuilding Program

The Role of Parliamentarians for Advancement of WPS Agenda

On February 6, 2025, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation hosted a symposium titled "The Role of Parliamentarians for Advancement of WPS (Women, Peace and Security) Agenda." This symposium was organized, taking the opportunity of "Focal Point Network Meeting" to be held in Tokyo, co-chaired by the Japanese and Norwegian governments.

April 15, 2025

The Role of Parliamentarians for Advancement of WPS Agenda

Security Studies Program

Interview with Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group

What are the international crises facing the world today, and how will they impact Japan? Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group and SPF Senior Research Fellow Ippeita Nishida tackle these questions with a wide-ranging discussion covering the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and Trump 2.0, the implications for the Global South, and more.

April 8, 2025

Japan-U.S. Program

Current State and Challenges of Youth Mental Health, w/ Dr. Joshua Gordon, Former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation’s Japan-U.S. Program hosted a lecture featuring Dr. Joshua Gordon, former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the United States, on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

February 21, 2025

Security Studies Program

Trends of Global Crisis in 2025 and Beyond

Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group, was the guest speaker for a keynote address on global conflict trends, with a focus on the Crisis Group's relevance to the Global South.

December 25, 2024

Explore Latest Videos

Reports and Publications

The importance of shipping routes thrown up by the Panama Canal

Publication of the English Book “The Battles of Imphal and Kohima: Japanese Operations in Northeast India”

Soft Recognition: Enabling Participation of Self-Determination Groups in Intergovernmental Organisations

Report: US-Australia-Japan strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: Testing trilateralism through crisis simulation

Explore Our Reports and Publications

Think, Do, and Innovate-Tank

Featured News

[Event Report] Arctic Connections 2025 and the Italy-Japan Seminar on Arctic Cooperation

Latest Events

Special Seminar “Science and Policy Nexus and Stakeholder Engagement for A Sustainable Ocean”

Ocean Science and Policy Nexus – UNOC 3 and Beyond

The 3rd Pacific Islands Young Professionals Forum

World Island Forum

Blue Impact Finance –“Actions for System Change”

The Present and Future of the Chinese Entertainment Market 2025

Latest News

The Role of Parliamentarians for Advancement of WPS Agenda

IINA: Will Artificial Intelligence Change Warfare? -Future battlefield of mixed expectations and concerns

Interview with Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group

Programs

General Affairs and Networking Program(Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

National Security and Japan-U.S. Program(Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

Strategy and Deterrence Program(Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Peacebuilding Program(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Social Innovation Program(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Program(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Division of Ocean Vision and Action(Ocean Policy Research Institute)

Division of Island Nations(Ocean Policy Research Institute)

Sasakawa Scholarship Program(Scholarship Unit)

Essays and Commentary

IINA: Will Artificial Intelligence Change Warfare? -Future battlefield of mixed expectations and concerns

Latest News

IINA: 【Cooperation Between European and Indo-Pacific Powers in the US alliance system project：Policy Paper Vol. 13】Japan’s Rationale for Defense Industry Cooperation with the United States, NATO, and Indo-Pacific Partners

IINA: 【Cooperation Between European and Indo-Pacific Powers in the US alliance system project：Policy Paper Vol. 12】Prospects of NATO-IP4 Cooperation in Quantum Technology

IINA: 【Cooperation Between European and Indo-Pacific Powers in the US alliance system project：Policy Paper Vol. 11】 NATO-IP4: Accelerating Defense-Technological Cooperation Through a Networked Institutional Ecosystem

Videos

The Role of Parliamentarians for Advancement of WPS Agenda

Interview with Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group

Current State and Challenges of Youth Mental Health, w/ Dr. Joshua Gordon, Former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Trends of Global Crisis in 2025 and Beyond

Reports and Publications

The importance of shipping routes thrown up by the Panama Canal

Publication of the English Book “The Battles of Imphal and Kohima: Japanese Operations in Northeast India”

Soft Recognition: Enabling Participation of Self-Determination Groups in Intergovernmental Organisations

Report: US-Australia-Japan strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: Testing trilateralism through crisis simulation

Video Title

General Affairs and Networking Program
(Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

National Security and Japan-U.S. Program
(Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

Strategy and Deterrence Program
(Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program
(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Peacebuilding Program
(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Social Innovation Program
(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Program
(Asia and Middle East Unit)

Division of Ocean Vision and Action
(Ocean Policy Research Institute)

Division of Island Nations
(Ocean Policy Research Institute)

Sasakawa Scholarship Program
(Scholarship Unit)