On October 1, Sasakawa USA welcomed Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa for a virtual roundtable. Min. Kamikawa addressed the impact of COVID-19 on women in Japan, her vision for women’s leadership in the Japanese public and private sectors, and opportunities for promoting diverse leadership around the globe. Following Min. Kamikawa’s remarks, Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Director of Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace, and Security, provided commentary, drawing on her own experiences as the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, moderated the Q&A discussion following Amb. Verveer’s commentary, and Dr. Atsushi Sunami, President of Sasakawa Peace Foundation, introduced Min. Kamikawa. A detailed recap and video of the event are available here. This event can also be found on the Ministry of Justice’s website.

On October 23, Sasakawa USA in partnership with the Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), co-hosted the third of a series of events on the U.S. Presidential Election. This event was held the day after the last debate between President Donald J. Trump and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. During the event, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Rep. George Holding (R-NC) discussed recent developments with the election and the future direction of U.S. Foreign Policy, moderated by The Honorable Elizabeth Esty (D-CT, 2013-2019), Member of the Board of FMC. A recap of the event, as well as a recording of the discussion, is available on Sasakawa USA’s website here.

To read about and view the previous webinars in the Countdown to Election series, please go here.

Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, is scheduled to have an interview on TBS “Sunday News Biz Square” on the result of the U.S. presidential election. His appearance on this TV program will be LIVE and will occur on November 8 (JST)

In his new article, “High Public Support in Japan for the Suga Cabinet, Polls Show,” Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, delivers an analysis of recent Nikkei polling showing a high degree of public support for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s cabinet. While the cabinet approval rating has decreased slightly from its high of 74% in September, the second poll rating for a new Prime Minister has only gone up twice in recent Japanese political history and therefore a slight decrease between September and October is typical. Of particular note, public approval of the cabinet’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has risen above 50% for the first time since February. In the coming months, the durability of these high approval rating will become apparent with much riding on Prime Minister Suga’s ability to deliver on the specific promises he has made to the Japanese people as well as his administration’s ability to weather the crises that stand in its way.

Photo: Prime Minister Suga’s first Diet policy speech on October 26, 2020. (Official Website of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet)

In his new article, “Maritime Domain Awareness in the Freely Associated States: Why It Matters for the United States and Japan,” Mr. Adam Morrow, Sasakawa USA Associate Program Officer, describes the importance and challenge of monitoring the massive ocean areas of Pacific Island states. With a combined marine area the size of the contiguous United States, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are in need of assistance to maintain the safety and security of this vast blue space. Mr. Morrow discusses how newly available technologies as well as the close relationships shared by the United States and Japan with the Freely Associated States place them in a critical position to assist and promote a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

In his new article in The Japan Times, “All Eyes on Suga’s Foreign-Policy Agenda,” Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, analyzes how Prime Minister Suga’s policies are viewed by foreign-policy experts in Washington, D.C. He finds that despite Prime Minister Suga’s powerful role within the Abe administration as Chief Cabinet Secretary, he was welcomed as a new leader by the Japanese public with a high approval rating. The outline of Prime Minister Suga’s policies have gradually been unveiled in the past month and a half since he became prime minister. While Prime Minister Suga emphasizes the importance of continuity in former Prime Minister Abe’s foreign policy, Dr. Akimoto outlines the questions regarding those policies that still loom among the foreign-policy community in Washington, D.C.

In his new Asan Forum article, “Anticipating Japan’s Attitudes Toward the U.S. President in 2021,” Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, discusses Japan’s attitudes toward the upcoming U.S. presidential election. In this piece, Dr. Akimoto ponders upon the question of if Vice President Joe Biden is elected, what Japan would like to see from a new administration. To that, Dr. Akimoto identifies that the key discussion topics for Japan are U.S. involvement in the international community, the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision, China, free trade, and the rapport between Vice President Biden and Prime Minister Suga.

Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, wrote an article for the current issue of a leading monthly Japanese opinion magazine, Wedge, covering the future of U.S.-Japan relations after the November election. Dr. Akimoto outlines three important points for Japan and its U.S. alliance: call on the U.S. for increased international engagement, especially in Asia-Pacific affairs; advocate for a stronger U.S. role in upholding international order; and actively promote the growth and diversity of U.S.-Japan personnel exchange across government, business, and education sectors. He concludes that it is critical for Japan to take strategic efforts to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship for the future.

Wedge is written in Japanese, and is also available on Green Cars of the Japanese Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen.

The Sasakawa USA Forum Emerging Voices Program is now accepting submissions for future publications! Click here for details on how to submit research for consideration. The Emerging Voices Program, an online publication, provides an opportunity for graduate students and young professionals in diverse fields to publish papers early-on in their careers, and provides unique, specialized perspectives on subject matters relevant to U.S.-Japan relations.