Twists & Turns in Japanese Politics: Implications for Japan, the U.S. & the Region

The September 14 elections to select the president of the Democratic Party of Japan and thus to select Japan’s prime minister put to rest concern that Japan will return to the days of the opaque, backroom politicking favored by Ichiro Ozawa while raising questions of whether Naoto Kan would be strong enough to lead the country forward. Two decades of economic stagnation call for tough medicine and strong leadership at home. Recent territorial challenges by Japan’s neighbors, and the still unresolved fate of the U.S. military presence in Japan, require clear leadership on foreign policy, too, for Japan to reestablish its standing in the region. Experts discuss the impact of Japan’s recent elections on the country’s domestic agenda, its foreign policy and its security relations with the U.S.

Panelists:
Tobias Harris, Editor, Observing Japan; Ph.D Candidate, Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
Yinan He, Assistant Professor, Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University
Jun Saito, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Yale University
Sheila Smith, Senior Fellow for Japan Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

Moderator:
Edward Lincoln, Director, Japan-U.S. Center, Stern School of Business, New York University

Agenda:
6-6:30 pm Registration
6:30–8 Lecture and Q&A
8-8:30 Reception

Admission: Corporate members are entitled to a designated number of free admissions to this event, based on their company’s current membership level. These reservations must be made at least 48 hours prior to the event. Additional corporate registrants and Japan Society individual members at the Patron level and above pay the discounted corporate member rate of $10 for the lecture. Nonmember admission is $15. The academic and government admission rate is $10. When payment is required, prepayment must be made, or registration secured, with a credit card. All registrations and cancellations must be made at least 48 hours prior to the event. Substitutions are welcome.

Please contact (212) 715-1208 to register for this program.