Japan Memo

In this special edition of Japan Memo Season 5, Robert Ward reports from Singapore on the 22nd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. Joining him is Professor Jimbo Ken, Managing Director of the International House of Japan, President of the Asia Pacific Initiative, and Professor at Keio University’s Faculty of Policy Management. They deliver timely and in-depth analysis of this year’s key developments and strategic narratives. Robert and Professor Jimbo discuss: ·        Major themes and takeaways from the 2025 Dialogue and how it compares with previous years·        Key messages from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s speech·        Regional perspectives on China’s activities and strategic posture·        Analysis of Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen’s address·        ASEAN’s evolving role in an increasingly contested regional orderWe 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: 1 June 2025 This episode of Japan Memo was recorded in Singapore and produced at the IISS in London. 

Robert Ward hosts Professor Hosoya Yuichi, Professor of International Politics at Keio University, Professor Yee Kuang Heng, Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy and Director of the Security Studies Unit at the Institute for Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo, and Fenella McGerty, the IISS Senior Fellow for defence economics in the Defence and Military Analysis Programme. They discuss Japan-UK relations.   Robert, Yuichi, Yee Kuang and Fenella discuss:  Japan-UK diplomatic alignment, amid the UK’s tilt towards the Indo-PacificJapan-UK defence partnership, including the GCAP, the UK CSG deployment to the Indo-PacificJapan-UK economic cooperation, including the bilateral economic 2+2, the UK accession to the CPTTPWe 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: 6 May 2025  Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.   

Robert Ward hosts Dr Bart Gaens, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and Japan Chair at the International Centre for Defence and Security, Tatsumi Yuki, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center, and Dr Alice Dell’Era, Assistant Professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. They discuss Japan’s role in Indo-Pacific minilateralism.

Robert Ward hosts Professor Takahara Akio, Emeritus Professor of The University of Tokyo, Dr Elizabeth Wishnick, Senior Research Scientist at the Centre for Naval Analyses (CNA) and Dr Catherine Jones, a Lecturer at the University of St Andrews, to explore Japan’s challenges amid growing cooperation between Russia and China.   Robert, Akio, Elizabeth and Catherine discuss:   The recent development of the Russia-China strategic partnership in the Ukraine war The limitations of the Sino-Russian relationship and the potential overlap of their interests  Japan’s security, economy and energy challenges amid growing Sino-Russian aligment   The following books are recommended by our guests to gain a clearer picture of the topics discussed:    Takahara Akio and et al., Japan–China Relations in the Modern Era, (Abingdon: Routledge, 2017), 250pp. Takahara Akio and et al., Nicchū kankei 2001-2022 [Japan-China Relations 2001-2022], (Tokyo: The University of Tokyo Press, 2023), 432pp.  Charles E. Ziegler, Russia in the Pacific: The Quest for Great Power Recognition, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024), 296pp.  Gaye Christoffersen, Russia in the Indo-Pacific: New Approaches to Russian Foreign Policy, (Abingdon: Routledge, 2022), 298pp. Endo Shusaku, Chinmoku [Silence], (Tokyo: Shinchosha, 1981), 320pp. Endo Shusaku, The Samurai, (Tokyo: Shinchosha, 1986), 520pp.  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: 17 February 2025   Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.   

Robert Ward hosts Professor Suzuki Kazuto, Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, and Dr Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp, Director at Agora Strategy Group, to explore Japan’s economic security policy.  Robert, Professor Suzuki and Dr Pohlkamp discuss: Recent developments in Japan’s economic security strategyThe European perspective on Japan’s economic security policyKey differences between Japan and Europe’s economic security approachesThe future of Japan-China economic relations The following books are recommended by our guests to gain a clearer picture of the topics discussed:  Aoyama Michiko, What You Are Looking for Is in the Library, (New York: Doubleday, 2023), 256pp. Okamoto Yukio, Japan and the United States: The Journey of a Defeated Nation - A Diplomat’s Memoir by Yukio Okamoto, (Vermont: Tuttle Publishing), 388pp.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: 30 January 2025 Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London. 

Robert Ward is joined by Bill Emmott, Chairman of the IISS Trustees, Murano Masashi, a senior fellow with Hudson Institute’s Japan Chair, and Dr Baldauff Nanae, Non-Resident Senior Associate Fellow at the NATO Defense College to discuss Japan and deterrence.  Robert, Bill, Masashi and Nanae discuss:  ·        The strategic definition of deterrence, from what it entails to how it works·        Nuclear deterrence, including Japan’s strategy amid the nuclear arms race in East Asia·        Integrated deterrence, including Japan’s efforts to deepen and integrate operations with allies and partnersWe 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: 31 October 2024  Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.  

Robert Ward hosts Axel Berkofsky, Associate Professor at the University of Pavia, Professor Hatakeyama Kyoko, Professor of International Relations at University of Niigata Prefecture, and Professor Takenaka Harukata, Professor of Political Science at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.  Robert, Axel, Kyoko and Harukata discuss: ·        Review of the Kishida administration’s security and foreign policy·        The Ishiba administration’s foreign policy amid intensifying US-China competition·        The Ishiba administration’s defence policy in Japan’s deteriorating security environment·        The Ishiba administration’s economic security and domestic economic policies 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: 08 October 2024 Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London. 

Robert Ward hosts Dr Matsuda Takuya, Adjunct Lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University, Dr Vida Macikenaite, Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of International Relations of the International University of Japan, and Dr Wrenn Yennie Lindgren, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Centre for Asian Research at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.  Robert, Takuya, Vida and Wrenn discuss:  The recent development of Japan’s relationship with the Nordic and Baltic statesJapan’s security cooperation with the Nordic and Baltic states from defense equipment to cyber securityThe Nordic and Baltic approach to authoritarian powers, including their eyes on the potential cooperation between Russia and China in the High NorthThe similarities and differences in the security architecture of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific regions  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: 6 September 2024  Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.