50 years of normalised Japan-China diplomatic relations with Professor Takahara Akio

In this episode of Japan Memo, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino host Professor Takahara Akio, Director of the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development, Professor of Contemporary Chinese Politics at the University of Tokyo, Distinguished Research Fellow at the Japan Forum on International Relations, Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs and Senior Researcher at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research.

Robert, Yuka, and Takahara-sensei provide a historical overview of the Japan-China diplomatic relationship since its normalisation, analyse the current state of bilateral relations between the two and offer their perspectives on the future of Sino-Japanese ties going forward.

Topics discussed include:

• The key turning points in the last five decades
• Japan and China’s public and government level perceptions of each other
• Potential channels for cooperation between the neighbouring states
• Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s legacy in Japan-China relations
• How Japan effectively manages its inherently contradictory relationship with China

The following literature is recommended by our guest to gain a clearer picture of Japan and Japanese society today:

• Our guest recommends listeners browse through major Japanese newspapers over the course of a week to gain a better sense of the pulse of contemporary Japanese politics and society

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Japan Memo on the podcast platform of your choice.

Date of Recording: 31 August 2022

Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.

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