Included in this issue of the newsletter:

• Message from Sasakawa USA's Chairman Satohiro Akimoto

August Activities

• Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED): SEED Trip to Japan
• Washington Kenkyu Group: Discussion with Mr. Taisuke Abiru and Mr. Tsuneo Watanabe
• Washington Kenkyu Group: Discussion with Prof. Shino Watanabe
• Policy Discussion with Hon. Kentaro Gemma, Hon. Kazuhiko Shigetoku, and Hon. Takashi Yamashita



Recaps 

• US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative: Trends in Science, Technology, and Economic Security in the United States and Japan
• US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative: US-Japan Cybersecurity Mapping Project Advisory Workshop

Publications 

• Commentary & Analysis: Back to Territorial Defense? France's Indo-Pacific Strategy in the Context of AUKUS and Russia's War against Ukraine (Dr. Duchâtel)
• In-Depth Research Trip Publication: Sea of Japan: Resurgent Flashpoint or Strategic Distraction? (Mr. Sadler)
• Japan Political Pulse: The Post-Abe Liberal Democratic Party (Dr. Akimoto)

External Engagements

• Mr. James Schoff Briefs Nakasone Peace Institute on Economic 2+2 Results

Announcements

• Sasakawa USA Welcomes Dr. Haruka Sakamoto as Senior Fellow (Non-Resident)
• US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative Welcomes Dr. Crystal Pryor as Scholar (Non-Resident)

Featured Intern

• Mr. Keisuke Wada

Message from Sasakawa USA's Chairman Satohiro Akimoto

Pandemic experts agree that there is little chance that the COVID-19 virus will completely disappear as Omicron is now the dominant strain. Even if everyone in the world gained immunity against COVID 19, 140 million newborn babies will store the virus in their bodies. However, the perception of COVID-19 gradually has changed as characteristics of the Omicron variant have become apparent. In short, it is more infectious than the Delta variant, but appears to cause milder illness in most people. Society has begun to adjust how to operate in accordance with characteristics of the Omicron variant.

Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA (Sasakawa USA) is doing the same. While we continue to place priority on the safety of our work environment and professional community, we have begun to gradually increase in-person events, which we have not been able to hold since the COVID-19 crisis began two and a half years ago. We hosted Japanese lawmakers while they visited Washington, D.C. to discuss integrated security, consisting of traditional military and economic security, between the U.S. and Japan under our Integrated Security Delegation (ISD) program. We helped U.S. lawmakers visit Japan in partnership with the Former Members of the Congress (FMC) Congressional Study Group on Japan delegation, to deepen their understanding of Japan’s political landscape and security strategy this past June. We sent a group of U.S. pandemic experts to Japan to examine Japan’s measures against COVID-19 and explore potential cooperation between the U.S. and Japan to prepare for future pandemics under the Sasakawa Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED).

Sasakawa USA has similar exchanges of policy makers and experts in the coming months. The US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative will have two conferences, one in Annapolis and one in Tokyo, involving both American and Japanese participants. The Pacific Islands MDA program plans to have two conferences, one in Washington, D.C. and one in Hawaii, inviting both American, Japanese, and experts from the Pacific Island region. The U.S. Japan Military program (JUMP) is considering having events in various cities with a strong military community presence, such as Pensacola, Florida; Honolulu, Hawaii; Seattle, Washington; Washington, D.C.; and Yokosuka, Japan. We plan to send a couple of U.S. researchers to Japan for short-term research trips on their subject matter of expertise such as Japan’s refugee and immigrant policies and U.S. Japan.

We certainly are not out of the COVID-19 crisis yet. While we will stay vigilant about the safety of our workplace and community, we will continue to take a measured approach to increase in-person exchanges and programs in the future. We look forward to seeing many of you involved in our future programs.

In closing, Sasakawa USA bids farewell to Ms. Katherine Jordan, who worked for us for over seven years. She has contributed much to the area of administration. We wish her well in her next endeavors.

Photo: (L-R back row) Ms. Izumi Swarts, Ms. Yoshiko Takahashi, Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Mr. Naritada Miura, Ms. Isabelle Burke, Mr. James Schoff, and Mr. Dustin Hinkley.

(L-R front row) Ms. Misa Imanaka-Miller, Ms. Katherine Jordan, and Ms. Chie Zuniga

August Activities

Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED): SEED Trip to Japan

From July 31 to August 6, SEED, consisting of nine American public health professionals, traveled to Tokyo, Japan to deepen their understanding of Japanese perspectives on the COVID-19 response, and the principles and goals behind the Japanese government and medical community’s handling of the pandemic. The delegation met with Japanese national, prefectural, and local politicians and officials; public health experts; health security scholars; journalists; and health practitioners to grow their own understanding of how to address future global health issues and foster collaboration with Japan. This is the eighth program year for the SEED study trip and the first since 2019, due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Photo: SEED delegates at National Institute Infectious Diseases. 

(L-R back row) Dr. Ryusuke Matsuoka, Director, Division of International Cooperation; Dr. Yoshimasa Takahashi, Director, Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development; Dr. Itsuro Yoshimi, Chief, Office of Planning and Coordination, Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response; and Dr. Tomimasa Sunagawa, Chief, Infectious Disease Surveillance Center. 

(L-R middle row) Ms. Shanti Shoji, Director of Programs, Sasakawa USA; Ms. Catherine Evans, Interdisciplinary Scientists, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Matthew Donahue, Internal Medicine Physical Acting State Epidemiologist, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services; Ms. Natalie de Graaf, Bio-Lead and Program Analyst, Division of Strategy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Ms. Rishika Desai, Senior Associate, Center for Public Health, Milken Institute; Ms. Barbara Knust, Asia Program Director, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Ms. Eliya Harnood, Associate Program Officer, Sasakawa USA.

(L-R front row) Ms. Alyssa Merski, Senior Analyst, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; Ms. Amanda Sealy, Senior Producer, CNN Health; Captain (Dr.) Christopher L. Perdue, Senior Policy Analyst, National Advisory Committees Executive Director, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Ms. Alana Morrell, Interdisciplinary Scientist, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Takaji Wakita, Director-General, NIID; Dr. Tetsuro Matano, Deputy Director-General Joint Appointment Director, AIDS Research Center; Dr. Nozomi Takeshita, Director, Center for Research Planning and Coordination; and Dr. Motoi Suzuki, Center for Surveillance, Immunization, and Epidemiologic Research.

Washington Kenkyu Group: Discussion with Mr. Tsuneo Watanabe and Mr. Taisuke Abiru

On August 11, Washington Kenkyu Group welcomed two researchers from The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Mr. Tsuneo Watanabe, Senior Fellow, Security Studies Program; and Mr. Taisuke Abiru, Senior Research Fellow. Mr. Watanabe shared his findings from his recent visit to Washington, D.C., which focused on U.S. strategy on China. Mr. Abiru, an expert on Russia, then provided his analysis on U.S. perspectives on Russia. Their remarks were followed by an engaging Q&A discussion amongst the attendees, which included Japanese representatives from the private sector, think tanks, government, and media. 

Photo: Mr. Tsuneo Watanabe and Mr. Taisuke Abiru 

Washington Kenkyu Group: Discussion with Prof. Shino Watanabe

On August 18, Washington Kenkyu Group welcomed Prof. Shino Watanabe from Sophia University’s Department of Global Studies. Prof. Watanabe shared insights gathered during her sabbatical year as a visiting Fulbright Scholar at the Sigur Center for Asian Studies in George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, where her research focused on China’s development finance activities. Prof. Watanabe's remarks included an overview of the financial institutions and domestic political environment in China and concluded with policy recommendations for the United States and Japan.

Photo: Prof. Shino Watanabe 

Policy Discussion with Hon. Kentaro Gemma, Hon. Kazuhiko Shigetoku, and Hon. Takashi Yamashita

On August 25, Sasakawa USA welcomed three Japanese lawmakers, Hon. Kentaro Gemma, Member of the House of Representatives, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; Hon. Kazuhiko Shigetoku, Member of the House of Representatives, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; and Hon. Takashi Yamashita, Member of the House of Representatives, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, for a discussion of geopolitical issues from a Japan-U.S. alliance perspective. The delegation members visited the U.S. with three Korean National Assembly members as part of the U.S. State Department’s premier professional exchange program called the International Visitor Leadership Program. Sasakawa USA assisted the delegates with meeting their U.S. counterparts to experience the U.S. firsthand and foster lasting relations. Thank you for visiting Sasakawa USA!

Photo: Ms. Shanti Shoji, Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Hon. Takashi Yamashita, Hon. Kazuhiko Shigetoku, Hon. Kentaro Gemma, and Mr. James Schoff

Recaps

US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative: Trends in Science, Technology, and Economic Security in the United States and Japan

The NEXT Alliance Initiative released a recap of its Breakfast Dialogue event held on July 27, highlighting key points of the in-person bilateral dialogue on science, technology, and economic security. American and Japanese participants from Japan’s cabinet office, U.S. legislative staff, officials from both foreign ministries and other government departments discussed supply chain resiliency, bilateral science, and technology cooperation, along with economic security legislation in both countries. The bilateral dialogue occurred at a fortuitous time, just two days before the first ministerial meeting of the Economic Policy Consultative Committee and a few months ahead of an expected resumption of the bilateral Joint High-Level Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation. For the full summary, published on Sasakawa USA’s website. 

Photo: (L-R) Mr. Nobuhiko Tanaka, Counsellor, Cabinet Secretariat; Mr. Yutaka Hara, Director, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Japan’s Cabinet Office; Ms. Allison Schwier, Acting Science and Technology Advisor, U.S. Department of State, EAP; Mr. Andrew Zvirzdin, Foreign Policy Fellow, Office of U.S. Senator Todd Young, Indiana; The Hon. Keitaro Ohno, Member, House of Representatives; Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President, Sasakawa USA; Mr. Mitchell Dobbs, International Relations Officer, Office of Science and Technology Cooperation, U.S. Department of State, STC; Mr. James Schoff, Senior Director, US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative, Sasakawa USA. 

US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative: US-Japan Cybersecurity Mapping Project Advisory Workshop

The NEXT Alliance Initiative released a recap of its cybersecurity Advisory Workshop event held on July 20. The paper recounts the feedback and advice given by a small gathering of subject matter experts to improve the NEXT Alliance cybersecurity “Alliance Mapping” project. Japanese and American specialists from think tanks and government gathered at Sasakawa USA to improve the overall approach of the project, which will produce a web-based tool for users to navigate the organizations and processes by which the United States and Japan address cybersecurity challenges. The not-for-attribution summary, published on SPF’s website, was prepared to raise awareness of our Alliance Mapping project and highlight important bilateral issues in the realm of cyber security management. The recap is available on Sasakawa USA's website.

Commentary & Analysis: Back to Territorial Defense? France’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in the Context of AUKUS and Russia’s War against Ukraine (Dr. Duchâtel) 

Sasakawa USA published its seventh paper in the Commentary & Analysis series on Europe’s evolving strategic vision for the Indo-Pacific. Dr. Mathieu Duchâtel, Director of the Asia Program at Institut Montaigne, authored “Back to Territorial Defense? France’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in the Context of AUKUS and Russia’s War against Ukraine” which focuses on France’s historical role and vision for the region. Dr. Duchâtel emphasizes France’s strong security and maritime order in the Indo-Pacific and suggests EU Member States should play to their strengths in the region. While AUKUS and the ongoing war in Ukraine complicates a European security role in the Indo-Pacific, Dr. Duchâtel indicates a commitment to deepened trade and investment ties, along with infrastructure development, are tangible outcomes for European and Indo-Pacific countries alike. You can read Dr. Duchâtel’s paper here.  

Photo: Dr. Mathieu Duchâtel

In-Depth Research Trip Publication: Sea of Japan: Resurgent Flashpoint or Strategic Distraction?

Last month, Mr. Brent Sadler, Senior Research Fellow for Naval Warfare and Advanced Technology at The Heritage Foundation, published a paper summarizing the key findings from his 2022 In-Depth Research Trip to Japan with Sasakawa USA. Mr. Sadler spent two weeks in Tokyo, Kyoto, Maizuru, and Kobe visiting experts from government, think tanks, universities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Coast Guard, and the Japanese Self Defense Forces to gain insights on current Japanese perceptions of security threats in and around the Sea of Japan. He maintains that deterring a Chinese assault on Taiwan remains a top security objective for Japan and the United States; however, Japan must also sustain an adequate military posture and appropriate political attention on the Sea of Japan, as a poorly handled incident in this particularly vulnerable area could jeopardize Japan’s broader security efforts. Mr. Sadler’s paper is available to read on the Sasakawa USA website here. 

Photo: Mr. Brent Sadler with faculty members of the JMSDF Command and Staff College. 

(L-R back row): LCDR Higashijima (Instructor, Military History & Leadership Studies Office), CDR Ishihara (Instructor, National Security & Strategic Studies Office), LCDR Hasegawa (Instructor, National Security & Strategic Studies Office), and CDR Ushirogata (Instructor, National Security & Strategic Studies Office). 

(L-R front row): RADM Yuki Sekiguchi (Vice President, JMSDF Command and College Staff), Mr. Brent Sadler (CAPT, USN ret.; Senior Fellow, The Heritage Foundation), VADM Tomohiko Madono (President, JMSDF Command and Staff College), and CAPT Nagai (Director, Operational Art & Design Studies Department). 

Japan Political Pulse: The Post-Abe Liberal Democratic Party (Dr. Akimoto)

In his recent article, “The Post-Abe Liberal Democratic Party,” Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, examines the status of the Liberal Democratic Party’s Abe faction after the assassination of its iconic leader former PM Abe. Who will take over leadership of the Abe faction? Will the Abe faction remain intact? How will leadership struggles within Abe’s namesake faction impact PM Kishida? Dr. Akimoto remarks that PM Kishida may have a “Golden Three Years” to fulfill his duties in the near term. However, in conclusion, Dr. Akimoto proffers three areas of concern for PM Kishida: dealing with inside LDP politics in the absence of Abe, the prospect of the Abe faction breaking apart, and handling right-wing pressure groups on his own. You can read Dr. Akimoto’s article here.

Photo: Former PM Abe waved alongside PM Kishida during a House of Councillors election campaign in Hiroshima back in July 2019. (Kyodo News via Getty Images) 

External Engagements

Mr. James Schoff Briefs Nakasone Peace Institute Study Group on Economic 2+2 Results

On August 10, US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative Senior Director James Schoff provided an exclusive briefing for Japan’s Nakasone Peace Institute regarding the recently completed ministerial meeting of the Japan-U.S. Economic Policy Consultative Committee (or Economic "2+2"). Mr. Schoff’s presentation was titled “Assessing the First Japan-US Economic 2+2: Highlights, Implications and Tasks Ahead,” and it was followed by a question-and-answer session involving dozens of study group members including more than one dozen officials from Japan’s Foreign Ministry. The discussion touched on establishing priorities within the Economic 2+2 such as supporting resilient semiconductor supply chains, expanding trusted telecom networks, and engaging effectively with the private sector on these and other economic security activities.

Announcements

Sasakawa USA Welcomes Dr. Haruka Sakamoto as Senior Fellow (Non-Resident)

Dr. Haruka Sakamoto, MD, MPH, PhD, is associate professor at the Department of International Health and Tropical Diseases, Tokyo Women’s Medical University. In 2022, the SEED program for public health experts visited Japan where they met Dr. Sakamoto to learn and exchange perspectives on public health and pandemic issues. Her research focuses on the strengthening and financing of healthcare systems, as well as the politics in global health. From 2011-2013 and 2016, she worked at the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, where she was deeply involved in health policy activities in Japan; participating in WHO meetings, G7 meetings, and bilateral cooperation activities. She strongly believes that Japan-U.S. cooperation is crucial in the field of global health. She’s currently working as a consultant at WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, Senior Fellow at Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Senior Fellow at Health and Global Policy Institute, and Kushiro City Policy Advisor in public health. She obtained her MD from Sapporo Medical University, MPH from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and PhD in public health from the University of Tokyo. With her expertise and experience, Sasakawa USA will continue to play a critical role in strengthening the U.S.-Japan relations.

Photo: Dr. Haruka Sakamoto

US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative Welcomes Dr. Crystal Pryor as Scholar (Non-Resident)

Dr. Crystal Pryor joined Sasakawa USA as a Non-Resident Scholar for the US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative in August. She will provide occasional research articles in her area of expertise, as they relate to newly emerging or fast-changing foreign or technology policy challenges facing the US-Japan alliance. Alongside her contributions to the NEXT Alliance Initiative, Dr. Pryor is currently the Vice President & Director of Research at Pacific Forum, a non-profit, foreign policy research institute based in Honolulu, Hawaii. She works on nonproliferation in Asia while developing research agendas on technology policy and Women, Peace, and Security. Previously, she researched US-Japan outer space security cooperation, strategic trade control implementation in advanced countries, and Japan’s defense industry and arms exports. Our NEXT Alliance non-resident scholars and visiting fellows represent a select group of high-quality specialists who contribute regularly to our research and mission, with occasional writings featured on the Sasakawa USA website. 

Photo: Dr. Crystal Pryor

Featured Intern

Mr. Keisuke Wada

Hello! I am Keisuke Wada, the US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative Intern at Sasakawa USA since April 2022. In 2021, I graduated with a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. While studying at UC Berkeley, I developed my interest in U.S.-Japan relations through several experiences related to the bilateral relationship, such as doing an internship at the Japan External Trade Organization San Francisco, participating in the Japan-America Student Conference, and being a research team member for Professor Steven Vogel at UC Berkeley.  

As a member of the NEXT Alliance Initiative led by Sasakawa USA Senior Director James Schoff, I worked on researching Japan’s current system and structure regarding cyber security issues. Since cyber security is a comparatively new topic for both Japan and the US, it was very exciting and worthwhile to seek how we can foster the bilateral cooperation on cyber security issues. I am so grateful for having been given the chance to participate in such a valuable experience with Sasakawa USA since I have gained a wide-range of knowledge by meeting a lot of high-level professionals and officials and seeing the actual frontline of the U.S.-Japan relationship through my internship. I am sure that this five-month internship will help me pursue my career in global politics significantly.  

Though I’m leaving the U.S. soon, my current plan is to come back to the U.S. for graduate school next fall. When I was in college, I was a typical bighead Poli-Sci student, however, I have realized there are a lot of people of the same age who have already developed specializations soon after I started my internship at Sasakawa USA. Therefore, I began to think that I want to pursue a master’s degree to gain further knowledge and experience in global politics.  

Lastly, I would like to show my gratitude to all colleagues at Sasakawa USA, particularly Mr. Schoff and Program Assistant Erim Gulum. I couldn't have such an exciting yet very fun time in D.C. without these wonderful and professional colleagues. Moving to D.C. without knowing anybody from the west coast was very tough, but my D.C. life turned very bright after I started working with such amazing people. That was my true honor to work with the people at Sasakawa USA!  

Photo: Mr. Keisuke Wada

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