On April 14, 2021, Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) President Atsushi Sunami and SPF Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) President Hide Sakaguchi received a courtesy call from H.E. Mr. Stefan H. Johannesson, Ambassador of Iceland to Japan. The two sides discussed issues including the sustainable research and development of the Arctic Ocean between Japan and Iceland and gender equality, and also shared progress regarding preparations toward the upcoming event entitled "Prelude to the Arctic Circle Japan Forum" to be held online on May 7, co-hosted with the Arctic Circle. The event will be held ahead of the 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial meeting co-hosted by the governments of Japan and Iceland from May 8-9, and will serve as a pre-event toward the "Arctic Circle Japan Forum" to be held this autumn.
From left: Mr. Eiji Sakai (Vice President, OPRI), Dr. Hide Sakaguchi (President, OPRI), Dr. Atsushi Sunami (President, SPF), H.E. Mr. Stefan H. Johannesson (Ambassador of Iceland to Japan), Ms. Sakiko Hataya (Research Fellow, OPRI), and Mr. Halldor Elis Olafsson (Trade Representative, Embassy of Iceland in Japan)
*Regarding the Arctic Circle
Founded in 2013 following a proposal by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former president of Iceland and current chairman of the organization, the Arctic Circle is the world's largest international conference to discuss Arctic issues. The Arctic Circle Assembly takes place each year in October in Reykjavik, Iceland, and is attended by around 2,000 people from more than 50 countries, including high-level government officials, researchers, and business representatives. The 2020 Assembly was postponed to the autumn of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.