The Center for Mediation Support of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation hosted a panel discussion titled “Growing Importance of Mediation Diplomacy and the Role of Middle Powers” at the 31st Nikkei Forum “Future of Asia,” organized by Nikkei Inc. and held on June 10–11, 2026. The Sasakawa Peace Foundation served as a corporate sponsor of the forum.
Moderated by Akiko Horiba, Director of the Center for Mediation Support, the panel brought together distinguished speakers, including Mohamed Said Al Busaidi, Ambassador of Oman to Japan; Jafri Abdul Jalil, Deputy Director General at the Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia; Janne Taalas CEO of the CMI Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation; and Yoko Kamikawa, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (online).
The discussion featured a substantive and dynamic exchange of views on peace mediation, an area of increasing importance amid rapid changes in the international order, with particular emphasis on the role of middle powers. Panelists highlighted that engagement in peace mediation not only contributes to easing tensions between conflicting parties but also provides strategic benefits to mediators themselves. They further noted that peace mediation is emerging as an effective diplomatic tool in the context of a growing number of inter-state conflicts.
To organize the panel, the Center for Mediation Support invited Jafri Abdul Jalil and Janne Taalas to Japan. On June 9, the Center hosted a closed-door seminar with Dr. Taalas, bringing together experts, including fellows of the Center, to discuss the significance of peace mediation in an era increasingly shaped by geopolitical competition.
On the same day, the two invited guests paid courtesy visits to Representatives Keishi Abe and Kaoru Fukuda, founding members of the Peace Mediation Caucus, where they exchanged views on the current state and key challenges of peace mediation.
Through this invitation program, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation engaged senior officials from countries with established experience in peace mediation, such as Oman, Malaysia, and Finland, as well as a representative from a non-governmental organization. Discussions explored the relationship between peace mediation and economic development, along with the potential role Japan can play in advancing these efforts. The program also provided participants with a deeper understanding of the growing momentum surrounding peace mediation initiatives in Japan.
