The West Asia and Islam Program works to build and strengthen networks and expand dialogue with governments, think tanks, and researchers across the region, while also promoting human exchange and capacity development.
The program hosts high-level roundtables aimed at strengthening Japan's strategic relationships with Iran and Türkiye, initiatives it has consistently pursued over the years. It also supports human resource development through exchange programs for young diplomats and students, as well as through research grants and academic support for emerging Japanese scholars specializing in West Asian studies.
In addition, the program engages with private organizations, non-state actors, and opinion leaders to open channels for dialogue through private diplomacy. In building these relationships, the foundation leverages networks of trust that it has cultivated over time with Iran and Southeast Asian countries, while also fostering new partnerships with countries such as Qatar and Oman.
In addition, to broaden dialogue with Arab states, the program organizes Japan–Arab roundtables and hosts key opinion leaders from the region to Japan, thereby expanding opportunities for sustained engagement and mutual understanding.