On March 24, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation convened the Harmony by Design: Asia Dialogue, inviting distinguished leaders from across Asia to discuss the evolving global landscape and the roles of Asia, Japan, and the foundation within it. Participants included former Prime Minister of Thailand Mr. Chuan Leekpai, former Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Professor Muhammad Yunus, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, Mr. Harsha Kumara Navaratnasabaran, Chairperson of the Sevalanka Foundation (Sri Lanka), and Professor Takashi Shiraishi, Professor Emeritus of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, among other senior leaders representing Asia.
Against a backdrop of rising tensions and fragmentation, participants agreed that trust building dialogue is essential for regional stability. They highlighted shared challenges across Asia, noting that the rapid spread of information and communication technologies—particularly social media—has changed the way people consume information and use it to take concrete actions. For example, such information technologies made it possible for frustrated youth to take concrete action to challenge existing political and social systems. At the same time, participants underscored that the speed and scale of information dissemination, including the spread of disinformation and false narratives, have made societies more vulnerable and prone to instability. The discussion then turned to how Japan and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation can help revitalize cross Asian dialogue and foster regional harmony amid these complex dynamics.
