Japan's approaches to nuclear non-proliferation and deterrence with Akiyama Nobumasa and William Alberque

In the fourth episode of Japan Memo season 3, Koshino Yuka hosts Professor Akiyama Nobumasa, Dean of the School of International and Public Policy and Professor at the Graduate School of Law at Hitotsubashi University, and William Alberque, Director of Strategy, Technology and Arms Control at the IISS.

Yuka, Akiyama-sensei and William unpack the dynamics of nuclear issues in the region, examine the Kishida government’s responses to the nuclear security flashpoints surrounding Japan, and analyse Japan’s approaches towards reinvigorating the stalled process of nuclear arms control and disarmament. Topics discussed include:

• The dynamics of nuclear weapons development surrounding Japan;
• The credibility of US extended deterrence, debates on nuclear sharing and nuclear proliferation in the region;
• Japan’s policy tools and approaches to nuclear non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament;
• A ‘grand strategy’ for deterrence, nuclear non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament; and
• The significance of the 2023 Shangri-la Dialogue for addressing nuclear issues in the region.

The following literature is recommended by our guests to gain a clearer picture of the topics discussed:

• Mark Fitzpatrick, Asia's Latent Nuclear Powers: Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (London: IISS, 2016).
• Nobumasa Akiyama, ‘Genshi ryoku/ kaku mondai’ [Atomic Power and Nuclear Issue], in Syowa ship kogi [Lectures on History of Showa era], ed. Kiyotada Tsutsui (Tokyo: Chikuma Shobo, 2020), 245-267.
• Haruki Murakami, Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche (New York: Vintage International, 2003).
• Shin Godzilla, directed by Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi (Tokyo: Toho, 2016).

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: 11 April 2023

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

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