Experts Discuss Japan’s Challenges (in English)

A special Tokyo Foundation roundtable providing an overview of the economic, political, and foreign policy challenges facing Japan will be held in English on September 19 . It will be an opportunity to gain an in-depth update on where Japan stands for the 25 young professionals from China, Germany, India, Japan, and the United States who are participating in the Global Governance Futures 2027 program.

A limited number of seats (40) will be available for members of the media and the general public who are interested in participating as observers. The GGF fellows are engaged in examining what are expected to become key governance issues in 2027. The presentations will examine the major issues facing Japan today for the fellows, who will be the main discussants.

A brief Q&A session for general participants will be held following the roundtable discussion.

Date: Monday, September 19, 2016

Time: 16:20 to 17:50 (door opens at 15:50)

Venue: 2nd Floor Meeting Room, Nippon Foundation Building (1-2-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Admission: Open to 40 observers ( free, but RSVP required: https://krs.bz/tkfd/m/registration_ggf )

Language: English only (no simultaneous interpretation)

Presenters:

• Takeo Hoshi , Chair of the Board, Tokyo Foundation
  Earned his PhD in economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1988 after graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1983. Was the Pacific Economic Cooperation Professor of International Economic Relations at the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (now the School of Global Policy and Strategy), UC San Diego, before joining Stanford University in 2012 as a Senior Fellow in Japanese Studies at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.
• Sota Kato , Executive Director, Director of Policy Research, and Senior Fellow, Tokyo Foundation
  After earning a law degree from the University of Tokyo, joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1991. Served as assistant director for Aircraft and Defense Industries and deputy director for the International Economic Division (MITI) and senior fellow at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Received an MBA (with honors) from Harvard Business School and PhD in political science from the University of Michigan. Is concurrently a professor at the International University of Japan.
• Tsuneo Watanabe , Senior Fellow, Tokyo Foundation
  Became a dentist after graduating from the Tohoku University School of Dentistry. Attended the New School for Social Research, where he received his MA in political science. In 1996, became a visiting research scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), going on to become a research associate, fellow, and senior fellow. Returned to Japan in 2005 and became a senior fellow at the Mitsui Global Strategic Studies Institute in Tokyo before assuming his current position. Is concurrently an adjunct fellow, CSIS, and senior fellow, Okinawa Peace Assistance Center.

Moderator:

• Wolfgang H. Reinicke, President, Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi)
  Co-founded GPPi in 2003 and was the founding dean of the School of Public Policy at Central European University in Budapest, where he is currently a professor of political economy. He is also a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, where he served as a senior scholar from 1991 to 1998. Received his PhD in political science from Yale University. Areas of expertise include global governance, global finance, and international economic institutions.

Discussants:

• 25 current GGF2027 fellows *
  * Young professionals from China, Germany, India, Japan, and the United States who are looking ahead 10 years to recommend ways to address such global governance challenges as data governance, pandemics, and transnational terrorism. The Tokyo Foundation is a partner in organizing the program with Germany’s Global Public Policy Institute. GGF is supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung.