Japan Memo

Experts like Prof. Richard Samuels, Prof. Kotani Ken, and Hosaka Sanshiro discuss Japan's intelligence history, current capabilities, threats from China and Russia. They explore Japan's lagging cyber defense, efforts to join the Five Eyes alliance, and debunk misconceptions about Japan's technology landscape.

Robert Ward hosts Iwama Yoko, Professor at Japan's National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Guibourg Delamotte, Professor of Political Science at the Japanese Studies Department of the French Institute of Oriental Studies (Inalco), and Dr Alexandra Sakaki, Deputy Head of the Asia Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs at Stiftung Wissenschaft and Politik (SWP).   Robert, Yoko, Guibourg and Alexandra discuss Japan and the EU:  EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific amid Russia’s war against Ukraine China's growing footprint in Europe and its implications for the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy The development and challenges of enhanced defence cooperation between Japan and the EU Implications for the future of the similarity between Japan’s and the EU’s economic security strategies For more information, transcript and background reading, please visit out website IISS Podcast: Japan Memo. We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Japan Memo on your podcast platform of choice. If you have any comments or questions, please contact us at japanchair@iiss.org.Date recorded: 24 May 2024  Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Ward hosts Chris Hughes, Professor of International Politics and Japanese Studies at the University of Warwick, Dr Naoko Aoki , Associate Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation, and Joseph Dempsey, Research Associate for Defence and Military Analysis at the IISS.Robert, Chris, Naoko and Joseph discuss Japan and North Korea:Japan’s diplomatic strategy towards North KoreaNorth Korea’s strategy for its advancing missile and nuclear capabilitiesThe development of Japan’s counterstrike capabilities and the challenges they faceImplications for Japan of the strategic cooperation between North Korea, China and RussiaWe hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Japan Memo on your podcast platform of choice. If you have any comments or questions, please contact us at japanchair@iiss.org or visit our website The International Institute for Strategic Studies (iiss.org)Date recorded: 26 April 2024Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Ward hosts Alessio Patalano, Professor of War & Strategy in East Asia at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, Veerle Nouwens, the Executive Director of IISS-Asia, and Nick Childs, the IISS Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security. Robert, Alessio, Veerle, and Nick discuss Japan’s maritime security policy in the Indo-Pacific. Topics discussed include: Japan’s positioning of maritime security policy in relation to other domains; China’s perspective on Japan’s growing maritime capabilities; Japan’s strategic navigation between different layers of partnerships; The impact of Trump’s possible re-election on Japan’s maritime security policy. We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Japan Memo on your podcast platform of choice. If you have any comments or questions, please contact us at japanchair@iiss.org. Date recorded: 04 April 2024 Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professor Higashino Atsuko, Professor James D.J. Brown, and Dr Nigel Gould-Davies discuss Japan's response to the Russia-Ukraine war, possible military aid to Ukraine, Japan's support for post-war rebuilding, defense and energy policy, challenges faced by Ukraine, Japanese firms in Ukraine, Japan's energy vulnerabilities, Sino-Russian relationship complexities, trade relations with China, book recommendations, and addressing misconceptions about Japanese interests.

Robert, Professor Sato, Aaron, and Evan discuss Japan’s relationship with ASEAN. Topics discussed include: Japan’s shifting diplomatic and economic relationship with ASEAN amid the rapid growth of ASEAN countries; Japan-ASEAN security relationship in the increasingly complicated geopolitical landscape in the region; Japan’s defence policy in ASEAN amid rising competition between the US and China; ASEAN’s policy on navigating the great powers competition in the region. The episode's transcript can be found on https://www.iiss.org/podcasts/japan-memo/2024/02/japans-relationship-with-asean/The following books are recommended by our guests to gain a clearer picture of the topics discussed: Wilhelm Vosse (ed.) and Paul Midford (ed.), Japan's new security partnerships: Beyond the security alliance, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2018), 264 pp. Sakai Hidekazu (ed.) and Sato Yoichiro (ed.), Re-rising Japan: Its Strategic Power in International Relations, (New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2018), 264 pp. Danny Orbach, Curse on This Country: The Rebellious Army of Imperial Japan, (New York: Cornell University Press, 2017), 384 pp. Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino, Japan’s Effectiveness as a Geo-Economic Actor: Navigating Great-Power Competition, (London: Routledge, 2022), 168 pp. Gerald L Curtis, The Logic of Japanese Politics: Leaders, Institutions, and the Limits of Change, (New York: Columbia University Press, 1999), 336 pp. We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Japan Memo on the podcast platform of your choice. If you have any comments or questions, please contact us at japanchair@iiss.org. Date of Recording: 31 January 2024 Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the twelfth episode of Japan Memo Season 3, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino host Professor Taniguchi Tomohiko, a Visiting Professor at Takushoku University's Institute of World Studies and a Senior Fellow at the Alliance of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and former Special Advisor to Prime Minister Abe's Cabinet and also as a Councillor in the Cabinet Secretariat (April 2013 to September 2020), where he contributed to crafting foreign policy speeches for Prime Minister Abe.Robert, Yuka, and Professor Taniguchi discuss Abe’s Grand Strategy, especially focusing on his landmark speeches.Topics discussed include:Role of diplomatic speechwriter under the Abe administrationFormer Prime Minister Abe’s grand strategy and diplomatic legaciesSignificance of former Prime Minister Abe’s diplomatic speechesAbe administration’s legacies in Japan’s foreign and defence policiesThe following individuals are recommended by our guests to gain a clearer picture of the topics discussed:Crown Prince Naruhito, translated by Sir Hugh Cortazzi, The Thames and I: A Memoir by Prince Naruhito of Two Years at Oxford (Folkestone: Renaissance Books Ltd, 2019)Geoffrey Bownas, Japanese Journeys: Writings and Reflections: Writings and Recollections (Epsom: Global Oriental; Illustrated edition, 2005)Fukuzawa Yukichi, The Autobiography of Yukichi Fukuzawa (Tokyo: Library of Japan, 2000)Ian Buruma, A Tokyo Romance (London: Atlantic Books, 2019)Christopher Ross, Mishima's Sword: Travels in Search of a Samurai Legend (London: Fourth Estate Ltd. 2006)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: 15 November 2023Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the eleventh episode of Japan Memo Season 3, Robert Ward and Togashi Mariko host Professor Tanaka Koichiro, a professor at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University, and Dr Hasan Alhasan, Research Fellow for Middle East Policy at the IISS.Robert, Mariko, Professor Tanaka, and Hasan discuss Japan’s relationship with the Middle East. Topics discussed include:Japan’s key strategic interests including energy security in the Middle East.Japan’s standpoint and communication strategy regarding the Israel and Hamas conflict.Geopolitical and economic motivations of great powers in the Middle East.The perspectives of Gulf countries towards great-power geopolitics in the Middle East.The outlook for Japan’s relationship with the Middle East.The following individuals are recommended by our guests to gain a clearer picture of the topics discussed: Mohammed Jaber Al-Ansari, a prominent Bahraini philosopher and political thinker who is fascinated by the Japanese experience of being able to rise as a global industrial powerhouse. Dr Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, an associate professor of economics at Tokai University and a vice president and co-founder of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS).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: 09 November 2023Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the tenth episode of Japan Memo Season 3, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino host Professor Kotani Tetsuo, a professor of global studies at Meikai University and a senior fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs; and Dr Lynn Kuok, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Security at the IISS. Robert, Yuka, Tetsuo, and Lynn discuss Japan’s response towards expanding grey-zone situations in the Indo-Pacific region. Topics discussed include: The historical background of grey-zone activity and its definition. The tactics and objectives of Chinese grey-zone activity in the East and the South China Seas. Japan’s perspective and policy on Chinese grey-zone coercion in the Indo-Pacific region. The issue facing Japan when dealing with Chinese grey-zone tactics. The future possibilities of grey-zone escalation and the possible measures taken by regional and international organisations. The following literature is recommended by our guests to gain a clearer picture of the topics discussed: Takahashi Sugio, Nippon de Gunji o Kataru To Iu Koto— Gunji Bunseki Nyūmon [Talking about the military in Japan: an introduction to military analysis] (CHUOKORON-SHINSHA, 2023) 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: 06 October 2023 Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the ninth episode of Japan Memo season 3, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino host Ambassador Sujan Chinoy, the Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi who served as the Indian ambassador to Japan from 2015 to 2018; and Ambassador Masafumi Ishii, a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Gakushuin University who was the Japanese ambassador to Indonesia from 2017 to 2020. Robert, Yuka, Ambassador Chinoy and Ambassador Ishii discuss Japan’s relationship with the Global South countries to navigate the complex international security and geo-economic environment amid Russia’s War in Ukraine and the US-China great power competition. The guests provide their insights on the evolving significance of the Global South, Japanese policies towards India and Indonesia, and the opportunities and challenges looking ahead.Topics discussed include: The growing importance of the Global South in international affairs; Japan’s engagement with ASEAN countries to deal with the Russian and Chinese challenges to rules-based international order; The political motivation of Japan for engaging with India and Indonesia to tackle global security issues; Potential role of Japan as a bridge between the West and the Global South as the chair of this year’s G7; and Speaker perspectives on the opportunities and challenges in the future cooperation between Japan and the Global South. The following literature is recommended by our guests to gain a clearer picture of the topics discussed: Edwin O. Reischauer, Japan, The Story of a Nation, (Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1988) Ruth Benedict, The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, (Indianapolis: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1946) 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: 24 August 2023 Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.