Multiple international actors have become involved in helping Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan alleviate the devastating consequences of one of the worst human-made environmental disasters across the Central Asian region: the loss of the Aral Sea. One notable partner in these endeavors is Japan. The East Asian nation has a long history of interactions with Central Asia, … Read more
Advertisement Prime Minister Kishida Fumio gave a policy speech in the 212th session of Japan’s Diet on October 23. The speech stirred interest among many analysts, who speculated that Kishida would dissolve the Diet to call for a snap general election. However, that scenario fizzled amid declining approval ratings. There was no surprise in bold … Read more
Advertisement A newly published report co-written by 11 researchers of Japanese foreign policy and international relations, intending to sketch a new blueprint for Japanese foreign policy, may sound provocative – even naïve – to some observers. In the publication entitled, “Asia’s Future at a Crossroads: A Japanese Strategy for Peace and Sustainable Prosperity,” the co-authors … Read more
Advertisement “Japan’s Contributions to the Sustainable Development of a Free and Open World” may not read like a particularly catchy subtitle for the long-awaited 2023 Development Cooperation Charter, announced last year, but it accurately conveys the core message of the new document right from the beginning. Japanese policymakers believe that development assistance cannot be sustainable … Read more
Magazine “The G-7 has exemplified Japan’s identity as a liberal democracy as well as serving as a valuable tool to sustain the economic growth of the global economy.” Advertisement For 2023, Japan holds the rotating presidency of the G-7 grouping (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States). The highlight of … Read more
Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio speaks during an interview with foreign media members at the Prime Minister’s official residence, April 20, 2023, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko Advertisement From May 19 to 21, Hiroshima will be hosting the G-7 Summit. In addition to G-7 members, host nation Japan has invited leaders from outreach countries, … Read more
Advertisement Since entering office in October 2021, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has embraced many of the underlying principles of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s proactive diplomacy – no surprise, since Kishida served as Abe’s foreign minister for five years. But times have changed. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the growing tensions between … Read more