Videos

Pacific Fleet, sat down with SPF for a wide-ranging interview covering the impact of Japan's new National Defense Program Guidelines, the Trump Administration's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, and debate over the U.S. articulation of a grand strategy in the region.

In collaboration with the East West Center, SPF started the JMA/AMJ project in 2009 as a part of “Asia Matters for America” initiative, which has been developed by Dr. Satu Limaye, Director of East West Center in Washington. DC. The JMA/AMJ publication is written in both English and Japanese, and provides readers with information about the bilateral connections between Japan and the U.S. through the alliance, trade, jobs, investment, tourism, education, population, and sister city relationships. Data for the booklet has been collected from extensive research at the state, city, and local levels. Along with the JMA/AMJ booklet, an updated and interactive website on state and congressional district information is also available.

At this event, we introduced the new edition of JMA/AMJ, and had a panel discussion on U.S. relationships with the region especially focusing on Japan, Australia and ASEAN. By examining these regional relationships with the U.S., we can also see unique characteristics and similarities through the “Asia Matters for America” series, and the panel also discussed how Japan, Japan-U.S. relations, and the Japan-U.S. alliance matters in the region.

The panelists includes Dr. Satu Limaye and three Japanese experts of international relations in the Indo-Pacific region; Prof. Mie Oba from Tokyo University of Science, Dr. Ryo Sahashi from University of Tokyo, and Dr. Tomohiko Satake from National Institute for Defense Studies.

While denuclearization of North Korea is one of the popular new topics and we are often blinded by idealism by which disarmament and denuclearization can be achieved, we once again need to think about concrete processes to realize denuclearization. In addition, we need to realize that realistic thought and understanding of military and weapons are necessary to promote that process.

On October 2, 2018, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation organized the open forum and invited the following experts to discuss what is necessary to realize North Korean denuclearization in light of US experiences on the Iranian denuclearization agreement.

Panelists:
Mr. Robert Einhorn, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute

H.E. Mrs Tomomi Inada, a member of the House of Representatives, Former Defense Minister of Japan

Prof. Ken Jimbo, Professor, Department of Policy Management, Keio University

Moderator:
Mr Bonji Ohara, Senior Fellow, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Mr. Fontaine is a distinguished expert on American Foreign Policy. He served as foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain for more than five years, and worked at the State Department, the National Security Council and on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Indo-Pacific region is undergoing geopolitical changes that will transform the region for generations to come. Both Washington and Tokyo are struggling to respond, and to do so in a way that promotes their common interests, strengthens the Japan-U.S. alliance, and remains consonant with domestic politics in each country. How is Washington thinking about the Indo-Pacific region today, and about Japan-U.S. relations within it? How should both Washington and Tokyo collaborate to enhance their own ties, deepen the prospects for peace, and strengthen the rules-based regional order?

Having two Japanese experts; Mr. Hiroki Sugita from Kyodo News as a moderator, and Prof. Ryo Sahashi from Kanagawa University as a commentator, we explored those critical question for the region, and Japan-U.S. relations.

Prof. McGann is a leading expert of think tanks studies, researching not only think tanks in the United States but also in many other countries. His annual “Global Go To Think Tank Index Report” (Pennsylvania University), which examines more than 6,000 think tanks in the world, has been receiving greater attention through the world now, and he has also just published his new book Think Tanks, Foreign Policy and the Emerging Powers (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). Prof. Calder is a well-known expert on Japanese politics and International Political Economy. He also has published a lot of books including Asia in Washington (Brookings Institution Press, 2014), and also has been involved in many projects of think tanks both in the United States and Japan.

With increased information and communication tools, rapidly changing technological and international landscape, the think tanks have expanded its role and importance in the world in the past decades. Currently, we can see a lot of different types of the think tanks from autonomous to government affiliate having different functions, depending on the different political systems and the environment of civil society. It is reported that the think tanks have now more influence in the emerging powers, such as India and China. On the contrary, in the United States, the decline of the influence and the raison d’etre of think tanks in Washington D.C. is also argued under the Trump administration where the President himself and his closer staff have made many important policy decisions without much consultation with policy makers.

In the rapidly changing world environment and United States, what will be the role of the think tanks for the future, what will be the necessary changes to tackle with the new challenges, Prof. McGann and Prof. Calder discussed from a broader perspective including the future Japan-U.S. relations and the role of Japan.

Kristin Haffert is an expert in women’s leadership and initiatives to advance gender equality. For more than two decades Kristin has conducted research, created practical tools, and delivered gender-related initiatives to more than 100 countries. Kristin founded the women and gender equality team at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) in 2002. Her award-winning work on gender equality, and work with political parties, makes her a go-to adviser globally to build and grow gender-inclusive workplaces.

Jessica Grounds is recognized as a thought leader in the space of women’s leadership. Jessica was named to Marie Claire's List of 50 Most Influential Women and recognized by Campaigns & Elections magazine as a Top 50 Political Influencer. She is the Co-Founder and former Executive Director of Running Start, a U.S. based organization training young women to run for elected office. She has worked on the campaigns of hundreds of women seeking elected office in the United States including working twice for Hillary Clinton. Jessica is a prominent speaker globally on gender and women's leadership.