Program Policy and Five Priority Goals

In recent years, with the rise of China and emergence of the Global South, the post-World War II international order has undergone a dramatic transformation. At the same time, people's lives, livelihoods, and safety continue to be threatened by the ongoing global polycrisis, encompassing challenges from global environmental changes and intensifying disasters to outbreaks of infectious diseases, conflicts, demographic shifts, and food-related concerns. As the international community seeks to overcome divisions and work together to take on these challenges, the question remains as to how Japan can leverage its unique position and role in the global community.

In this turbulent world, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) aims to design a new international society incorporating diverse actors through our own “Sasakawa-style” public diplomacy, leading the charge to seek out solutions to the challenges the world faces today.

For Japan, the United States has been its most important ally from a political, economic, and security perspective. At the same time, Japan is continuing efforts to promote its vision for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” while fulfilling its leadership responsibilities as a democratic society alongside the United States. SPF seeks to contribute to the international community by promoting the development of intellectual and private sector exchanges between the peoples of Japan, the United States, and like-minded partners, while also strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries. Regarding security-related matters in particular, SPF aims to promote initiatives that incorporate multifaceted perspectives from the U.S., Western nations, and the Global South.

As many countries and regions in Asia have achieved remarkable growth in recent years and continue to increase their global presence as part of the Global South, Japan is expected to expand its strategic partnerships with these countries on a more equal footing. At the same time, however, certain areas in Asia continue to face challenges including population and environmental issues as well as enduring conflicts and fragility. SPF seeks to strengthen the strategic relationship between Japan and countries in Asia through dialogue and collaboration to promote peace and stability in the region and resolve common global issues. 

The emergence of extremism and protracted armed conflicts in the Middle East have had a ripple effect on the rest of the world, even reaching Muslim communities in Asia. However, Japanese society still has a long way to go before establishing recognition and true understanding of people in Muslim societies. To this end, SPF seeks to promote exchanges with Islamic countries around the world, urging Japanese people to establish an accurate understanding about Muslim societies.

The ocean, which acts as a natural divider between countries and regions, also plays an important role in bringing these same countries and regions together. As a shared asset for all living things, our ocean provides water, ecosystems, and other materials necessary to sustain life, while also regulating the global environment. However, the ocean has also become the site of conflicts between nations, illegal fishing, piracy, and other crimes, and is threatened by a variety of factors, both natural and caused by humans. With the goal of protecting the shared asset of the ocean for all life on earth, SPF aims to collect and analyze data based on research conducted in the field and seek out new values to make the ocean a platform for peace and prosperity, bringing together nations, communities, regions, and diverse populations through information sharing, dialogue, and education. 

To ensure peace and stability around the world, it is essential that the international community collaborate to take on persistent global challenges. Japan is expected to play an active role in this process, which will require the country to develop the next generation of leaders who are not only well-versed in international affairs, but also have the knowledge necessary to lead and the flexibility to incorporate diverse values. To this end, SPF provides the Sasakawa Scholarship to support young people from Japan who aspire to study at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom, giving them the opportunity to broaden their perspectives, cultivate an international mindset, and acquire knowledge that will serve as a foundation for their future activities. Furthermore, SPF aims to develop internationally minded Japanese leaders by promoting the creation of communities that can support their future endeavors.