U.S.-Japan Research Institute (U.S.-registered NPO) FY 2012 Annual Report

Transcription

1 March 27, 2013 U.S.-Japan Research Institute (U.S.-registered NPO) FY 2012 Annual Report 1. Operation Policies Our Research Activities (1) Major s 1 (2) Disseminating Research Findings.3 (3) Establishment of Networks and Researcher Database Community Building Efforts Human Resources Development.. 7 U.S.-Japan Research Institute

2 1. Operation Policies The U.S.-Japan Research Institute (USJI) was established in Washington DC in April of 2009 as an NPO think tank operated by five Japanese universities, and was approved for 501 (C) (3) in We were joined by three other universities in April of 2012, and are now operated by eight universities: Doshisha University, Keio University, Kyoto University, Kyushu University, Ritsumeikan University, The University of Tokyo, University of Tsukuba, and Waseda University. Our research focuses on global issues revolving around the US-Japan alliance, particularly environment and energy, national security, and the East Asia/APEC cooperation. We hold USJI Weeks and other seminars, and we also upload the video and summary of the events online, through which we share our research results with the general public. Recently, in order to address the shortage of young researchers who specialize or have an interest in US-Japan relations, we have also offered a place to network for students and young researchers to foster a community of US-Japan related people. Another tool we use is our USJI Newsletter, written in Japanese by our local staff and sent to corporates and the public sector. Through these efforts, we have established connections with universities, think tanks, corporations, government agencies, and other organizations in the States. This network has resulted in mutual trust, which is demonstrated by our recent involvement with the CSPS Presidential Fellows Program. We see much potential in future collaboration with other universities and corporates for a wide range of programs. While we lack the opportunities for disseminating research findings, USJI will engage in conversations with corporations and other entities to facilitate cooperation as well as to solicit donations and research funds. With the recent rise of China in economic and military terms, the study on Japan has received attention in the US from the security point of view. USJI will continue to play a role in strengthening the alliance from the public and private sectors, as well as the academia. 2. Our Research Activities (1)Major s Having focused on environment and energy, security, and East Asia/APEC, we conducted the following nine projects in Any suggestions on research projects made during the year will also be taken into consideration. Climate Change for the U.S. and Japan We will address climate change and its effect on food and energy security. This project will study the policy challenges the U.S. and Japan will face in the short and long terms and how the two countries can cooperate. Term June 2009 March 2013 Research Leader Masahiko Gemma (Waseda University) 1

3 Policy Recommendations for Comprehensive Japan-US Security Cooperation in a New World Order This project studies the necessity of cooperation in a variety of fields between the U.S. and Japan in order to achieve peace and security in a new world order. The global military partnership built upon the U.S.-Japan alliance is not enough. This project, with aid from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, aims to offer policy recommendations for establishing a concrete security system, and we released 5 research reports. The seminar on February 7th of 2011 was broadcasted on C-Span3 Term September 2010 March 2013 Research Leader Shotaro Yachi (Waseda University) Social Resources and Business Development in Japan, USA and India This project will verify the erosion of social and political resources in developing countries. We will study how these resources can be developed jointly by the U.S., Japan, and India with the aid from the S&R Foundation. Term November 2011 March 2013 Research Leader Gautam Ray (Kyoto University) The Role of the US-Japan Alliance in East Asia This project examines how the US-Japan Alliance can contribute to the establishment of the East Asian Community by looking at human security, energy policies, and traditional security policies. Term July 2012 March 2015 Research Leader Toru Oga (Kyushu University) The Structural Transformation of Contemporary American Politics and its Policy Implications Between Ideological Polarization and Bipartisanship Although this research project is primarily an attempt to understand the most essential driving forces of contemporary U.S. politics, it will also look at current U.S. policy towards Japan in the framework of partisanship and bipartisanship. Seminars and presentations held in Washington DC, the United States political center, contributed greatly to the works of the young researchers who participated. Term April 2010 March 2013 Research Leader Fumiaki Kubo (The University of Tokyo) 2

4 Craniofacial translational research based on molecular craniofacial developmental research With financial aid for research, we have established a new research network with the NIH, thus finding new potential for international collaborative studies. Term April 2012 March 2019 Research Leader Ichiro Takahashi (Kyushu University) Comparison Between Civil Society in the US and Japan Mutual understanding on a civil society level is crucial for further understanding on the political stage between the US and Japan. This project analyzes the comparison based on existing survey data on political parties, political movements and lobbying. Term April 2012 March 2013 Research Leader Yutaka Tsujinaka (University of Tsukuba) Religion and Social Factors in US-Japan Relations This project stems from a joint seminar with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on the effect of Middle Eastern religions on US-Japan relations. Term July 2012 March 2013 Research Leader Koji Murata (Doshisha University) Revitalization from the Japan Disease Can Japan Come Back?- This project examines the lost decade(s) after the 1991 bubble collapse from the perspectives of economics, political sociology and international political economy Term July 2012 March 2013 Research Leader Keiji Nakatsuji (Ritsumeikan University) (2)Disseminating Research Findings Our research findings have been transmitted through USJI Week in Washington D.C., newsletters compiling information gathered in D.C., and working papers produced by our researchers. a) USJI Week USJI has established its presence in D.C. by hosting this week long event featuring presentations of research projects. It also provides human resource development opportunities through networking events for Japanese exchange students and researchers. 3

5 Frequency: Biannual (February and September) Events: 5 in September 5-11, 2012 and 8 in February 25-March 1, 2013 Event topics: September security, high education, North Korea, dentistry February energy, climate, natural disaster, TPP/FTA, Abe Attendance: 500 in September and 400 in February Place: Washington D.C. Content: There are a variety of lectures, round table discussions, open houses, and social networking events held throughout the week. Target audience: Researchers, government officials, businesses, think tank representatives, students, etc. b) USJI Seminars USJI will utilize its network to invite specialists, researchers, businesses, and government officials to speak at seminars. It will be a discussion-based seminar on topical themes. We have uploaded the videos and summaries online through our webpage or on YouTube. In 2012, we held a total of 19 symposium/seminars, and we also invited Professor Murata of Doshisha University in to a seminar in December. Frequency: Once or twice a month Place: Washington D.C. Audience: We expect about people at each event. Target audience: Researchers, government officials, businesses, think tank representatives, students, etc. c) Symposium in Japan In September of 2012, we invited the President of the University of Maryland and held a symposium at Waseda University on the future of IT FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 Seminar in the U.S. Seminar in Japan d) Newsletter Frequency: 2 to 3 times a month, 67 editions in 2012 Target audience: USJI sponsors, Japanese and American researchers and their organizations 4

6 Content: The newsletter (in Japanese) contains the latest information on USJI research activities and summary reports of lectures hosted by other organizations in Washington D.C. e) USJI Universities Research Report Frequency: Once a month, 10 in 2012, covering 67 research themes/findings Target audience: USJI sponsors, Japanese and American researchers and their organizations Content: This report contains information on USJI research findings and is sent in English to the USJI listserv FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 Newsletter Research Report (3) Establishment of Networks and Researcher Database a) USJI aims to create communities that impact policy and corporate decision making in Japan and the U.S. This will be done by making our meeting and seminar rooms available for networking opportunities including roundtable discussions and meetings. We will also establish another network of local researchers, companies, foundations, embassies, and undergraduate and graduate students, including Japanese students studying in Washington D.C. Think tanks: Center for a New American Security (CNAS), The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Carnegie Institution for Science The Brookings Institution National Institutes of Health (NIH), Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, US-Asia Institute (USAI), etc. Universities: Georgetown, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, American, Fletcher, Maryland, Yale, Columbia, Harvard, Boston, MIT, New York, Cornell, Princeton, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Rutgers, Idaho, Windsor, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Washington, Montclair, Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, National Defense University Government: US Embassy, Department of State, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Congressional Research Service, JETRO, JICA, JSPS/JST, USJC, CULCON, etc. 5

7 Corporates: Intel, Washington Post, irobot, IBM, World Bank, IMF, Heritage Foundation, Mansfield Foundation, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, S&R Foundation, Japan-America Society of Washington DC b) Database: We have 5000 entries (2900 from the US, 2100 from Japan) in our database, which includes corporate and government decision-makers. This is a result of our networking efforts and hosting events. U.S. Resident Japan Resident Government Think Tank Mass Media Company University Government Think Tank Mass Media Company University Student Student Other Other 3. Community Building Efforts We have held USJI Weeks and Social Networking Receptions to allow a wide range of Japanese people researchers, students, 4 3 corporate workers, government people, academia to interact with 0 US government staffs or American FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 researchers and students interested in Japan. People from corporates and Event host by USJI Washinkai US-Asia Institute Japan Policy Workshop the embassy appreciate the opportunity to speak with younger students. Debates, roundtables, and conferences were also held to create a community that could affect decision making on the political and business levels. - Washin-kai Young Japanese people from the media and think tanks Held 7 times in 2012, the conference offers a place for monthly policy recommendations and interactions between American and Japanese researchers. - Japan Policy Workshop Staff from the Japanese government, students, and Americans interested in Japanese politics 6

8 Established in March of 2012, the workshop allows the government staff to present on challenges in Japanese politics and stimulates open discussion on public policy. - US-Asia Institute US Congressmen and staff In collaboration with USAI, the USJI has periodically held the Capitol Hill Forum on Japan for congressmen with no background knowledge on Japan. In this light, Professor Tanaka of Waseda University held a seminar on March 13, 2013 called The 7th Leadership Change since 2006: An Analysis of Electoral Politics in Japan. 4. Human Resources Development a) Lectures with U.S. and Japanese universities We have Japanese researchers host lectures in collaboration with researchers from universities in Washington D.C., such as Georgetown University. It will be an opportunity for students to learn from the top researchers and engage in discussion with them. We also accept corporate people to participate for a more open discussion. We also held 5 workshops in 2012 for students to nurture the future generation of global leaders, and we had an attendance of 131. Prominent researchers and businessmen gave a lecture, followed by discussion and Q&A. Students were able to interact within their generation and to re-acknowledge the importance of future US-Japan relations. b) Intern Program We will accept American students as interns in our Washington D.C. office. The position will be open to undergraduates and graduate students who are interested in U.S.- Japan relations. It will be an opportunity for the students to build experience by assisting with administrative tasks, organizing USJI seminars, and participating in public meetings that meet their interests Interns University Number Male Female Georgetown University 4 (3) (1) The George Washington University 2 (0) (2) Johns Hopkins University 1 (1) (0) Tufts University 1 (1) (0) Trinity College Dublin 1 (1) (0) Total 9 (6) (3) c) Collaboration with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC) Beginning in FY2011, CSPC has reserved two spots for Japanese students in their International Presidential Fellows program. USJI fills these spots with students from sponsoring universities (Waseda and Ritsumeikan in 2012). This provides Japanese 7

9 students the opportunity to engage and develop among top American students. Program participants will present their experience to an audience including Japanese corporations. d) Other projects We lend the USJI office to young researchers in the DC area to facilitate their research and presentation of findings. Name:U.S.-Japan Research Institute (NPO IRS501(c)(3)) Established:04/14/2009 Website: (English) (Japanese) Address:1875 I Street NW, Suite 512, Washington, DC USA Tel: Totsuka Shinjuku-ku Tokyo Japan Tel: Fax: