Japan Memo

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third episode of Japan Memo season 3, Mariko Togashi hosts Bill Emmott, Chairman of the IISS Trustees, Chair of the Japan Society UK and an Ushioda Fellow of Tokyo College at the University of Tokyo, and Fenella McGerty, IISS Senior Fellow for Defence Economics.

Mariko, Bill and Fenella analyse the balance between defence spending and other public spending priorities, unpack Prime Minister Kishida’s New Capitalism strategy and its implications for the defence budget increase, offer their views on how Japan could achieve the 2% defence spending target with other competing spending priorities, and examine how the defence budget increase can translate into greater military capabilities.

Topics discussed include:

• The relationship between economic health and defence spending;
• New Capitalism and Japan’s economic growth;
• New Capitalism in achieving the defence budget increase to 2% of GDP;
• What is needed for Japan to translate the defence budget increase into greater military capability; and
• The Japanese defence industry’s role in building greater military capabilities

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

• Christopher W Hughes, ‘Japan’s defence industry,’ in The Economics of the Global Defence Industry, Keith Hartley and Jean Belin, ed. (New York: Routledge, 2019), 396-436.
• Bill Emmott, Japan’s Far More Female Future: Increasing Gender Equality and Reducing Workplace Insecurity Will Make Japan Stronger (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020).
• Matt Alt, Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World (Massachusetts: Little, Brown and Company, 2021).

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: 13 March 2023

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of Japan Memo season 3, Yuka Koshino hosts former Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Lieutenant General Oue Sadamasa, currently Consulting Senior Fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics in Tokyo, and Douglas Barrie, IISS Senior Fellow for Military Aerospace.

Yuka, Oue-san and Doug analyse Japan’s current airpower and aerospace capabilities, assess the regional threats around Japan and how its new strategies and the JASDF might address them, offer their insights on opportunities and roadblocks to the landmark Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), and examine what Japan’s air force and air defence capabilities might look like beyond 2035.

Topics discussed include:

• The security environment surrounding Japan and the imminent threats posed to the JASDF;
• The impact of the three new national-security documents on Japan’s airpower;
• The significance of GCAP and its progress so far;
• The industrial implications, opportunities and headwinds for GCAP to the British, Japanese and Italian defence industries; and
• Japan’s investment in advanced technology and future warfighting capabilities to sustain airpower beyond 2035.

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

• ‘令和4年版防衛白書 2022’ / ‘Defense of Japan 2022’ (Annual White Paper), Ministry of Defense, Japan
• Literature by authors such as Endo Shusaku and Kawabata Yasunari

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: 9 February 2023

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of Japan Memo season 3, Yuka Koshino, Mariko Togashi and Robert Ward host Professor Kanehara Nobukatsu, Professor at the Faculty of Law at Doshisha University, senior advisor at The Asia Group in Washington DC, and former Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Abe Shinzo from 2012 to 2019.

Yuka, Mariko, Robert and Kanehara-sensei unpack Japan’s three historic new national-security documents, offer their insights on the significance and details of these documents, analyse the impacts of the ensuing shift in Japanese security and defence policy, and delve into the regional and international perspectives of the three new strategies.

Topics discussed include:

• A macro-scale overview of the key strategy shifts in the documents
• Japan’s ability to develop counterstrike capabilities and their implications for deterrence and war-fighting capabilities
• The trajectory of Japan’s civil-military divide
• How to effectively integrate economic security into a broader national defence strategy
• Perspectives from strategic competitors, allies and like-minded countries

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

• ‘君たち、中国に勝てるのか’/ 岩田清文, 尾上定正, 武居智久, 兼原信克 (‘Can you win against China’ by Kiyofumi Iwata, Oue Sadamasa, Tomohisa Takei and Kanehara Nobukatsu)
• ‘国家安全保障戦略’ (‘National Security Strategy of Japan’ 2022)
• ‘国家防衛戦略’ (‘National Defence Strategy of Japan’ 2022)
• ‘防衛力整備計画’ (‘Defence Programme Guidelines’ 2022)

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: 9 January 2023

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this month’s episode of Japan Memo, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino are joined by Satoru Mori, Professor at Keio University in Tokyo and a Senior Fellow at the Nakasone Peace Institute (NPI) and Zack Cooper, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

Robert, Yuka, Satoru and Zack provide US and Japanese perspectives on Taiwan contingency scenarios; their analyses on Taiwan contingency wargames conducted in the US and Japan between 2021-2022; and offer assessments on what the US and Japan can and should do to better prepare for a contingency scenario in peacetime.

Topics discussed include:

• The outcomes of the wargames conducted between 2021-2022
• The challenges and limitations for the US, Japan and their alliance in a Taiwan contingency
• How Japan’s three new strategic documents will consider a Taiwan contingency
• The peacetime contingency preparations that should be undertaken by the US, Japan, and their alliance

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

• ‘Self-respect and Independence of Mind: The Challenge of Yukichi Fukuzawa’ by Shinichi Kitaoka (translated by James M. Vardaman)
• ‘Japan Prepares for Total War’ by Michael Beinart

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: 25 November 2022

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this month’s episode of Japan Memo, Yuka Koshino is joined by Martijn Rasser, Senior Fellow and Director of the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for New American Security, Meia Nouwens, IISS Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation, and Mariko Togashi, Matsumoto-Samata Research Fellow for Japanese Security and Defence Policy at the IISS.

Yuka, Martijn, Meia and Mariko provide US, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese and European perspectives on their respective geoeconomic landscape and economic security policy; their views towards and preparations for a Taiwan contingency in the context of economic security; and offer their assessment of potential national and multilateral responses to such a contingency.

Topics discussed include:

• The economic security policies of the US, China, Taiwan and Japan
• US, Chinese, and Japanese views on the impact of a Taiwan contingency on economic security
• The global and regional semiconductor landscape and its impact on reactions to tensions in the Taiwan Strait
• A potential sanctions regime against China in a case of Taiwan contingency

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

• ‘Rich Nation, Strong Army’ by Richard J. Samuels
• ‘Middle Kingdom and Empire of the Rising Sun: Sino-Japanese Relations, Past and Present’ by June Teufel Dreyer
• ‘China and Japan: Facing History’ by Ezra Vogel
• ‘自衛隊最高幹部が語る台湾有事’ /岩田 清文 ,武居 智久, 尾上 定正, 兼原 信克 (‘JSDF Top Executives Talk About Taiwan Contingency’ by Iwata Kiyofumi, Takei Tomohisa, Oue Sadamasa and Kanehara Nobukatsu)

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: 10 November 2022

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Japan Memo, Yuka Koshino and Mariko Togashi host Matsubara Mihoko, chief cybersecurity strategist at NTT Corporation and research associate for Cyber, Space and Future Conflict at the IISS.

Yuka, Mariko and Mihoko-san analyse Japan’s approaches to cybersecurity, notably following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, offer perspectives on Japan’s cyber capabilities and their impact on national security, and give a rundown of the state of cybersecurity at Japan’s commercial level.

Topics discussed include:

• Hybrid warfare in Ukraine and its impact on Japan’s cyber policies
• Japan’s views on China’s increasing technological and cyber capabilities
• Japan’s cyber capabilities and its strengths and weaknesses
• Incorporating cyber into the upcoming defence document revisions
• How cybersecurity fits into Japan’s economic security framework

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

• “サイバーセキュリティ 組織を脅威から守る戦略・人材・インテリジェンス”, 松原 実穂子 (“Cybersecurity to Protect the Way of Our Digital Life” by Matsubara Mihoko)

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: 4 October 2022

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Japan Memo, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino host Professor Takahara Akio, Director of the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development, Professor of Contemporary Chinese Politics at the University of Tokyo, Distinguished Research Fellow at the Japan Forum on International Relations, Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs and Senior Researcher at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research.

Robert, Yuka, and Takahara-sensei provide a historical overview of the Japan-China diplomatic relationship since its normalisation, analyse the current state of bilateral relations between the two and offer their perspectives on the future of Sino-Japanese ties going forward.

Topics discussed include:

• The key turning points in the last five decades
• Japan and China’s public and government level perceptions of each other
• Potential channels for cooperation between the neighbouring states
• Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s legacy in Japan-China relations
• How Japan effectively manages its inherently contradictory relationship with China

The following literature is recommended by our guest to gain a clearer picture of Japan and Japanese society today:

• Our guest recommends listeners browse through major Japanese newspapers over the course of a week to gain a better sense of the pulse of contemporary Japanese politics and society

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: 31 August 2022

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Japan Memo, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino host Dr Tsuruoka Michito, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University, as well as Senior Associate Fellow at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) at the Brussels School of Governance, and Senior Fellow at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research.

Robert, Yuka, and Tsuruoka-sensei unpack the background context of growing Japan-NATO relations, the 2022 Madrid Summit, the implications of deepening Japan-NATO engagement, and opportunities and roadblocks to increased Japan-NATO cooperation.

Topics discussed include:

• Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s legacy for Japan-NATO relations
• The significance of Prime Minister Kishida’s participation in the 2022 Madrid Summit
• Japan and NATO’s expectations on the trajectory of their relationship
• Practical avenues of cooperation for Japan and NATO to engage in
• The role of the US in streamlining Japan-NATO cooperation

The following literature is recommended by our guest to gain a clearer picture of Japan and Japanese society today:

• Our guest recommends tabloid papers or weekly magazines such as “Shukan Bunchun” (週刊文春), “Shukan Shinchou” (週刊新潮), or sports and entertainment tabloids such as “Sankei Sports” (サンケイスポーツ)
• Alternatively, “Variety” TV programmes in the form of morning or evening shows also illuminate Japanese viewpoints on domestic or international issues.

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: 19 July 2022

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Japan Memo, Robert Ward and Mariko Togashi are joined by Dr Maria Shagina, the IISS Diamond-Brown Research Fellow for Economic Sanctions, Standards and Strategy.

Maria brings her extensive knowledge on international sanctions, economic statecraft, and energy policies to discuss Japan’s sanctions on Russia in response to its aggressions in Ukraine and understand the broader dynamics within Asia. 

Topics discussed include:

• President Zelenskyy’s speech at the 2022 Shangri-La Dialogue.
• Drivers that compelled Japan to impose unprecedently swift and tough sanctions.
• Value added by Japan’s participation in the international sanctions' regime.
• The broader regional implications of the sanctions, in particular, Sino-Russia relations.  
• Balancing effective sanctions with energy security, the challenges of phasing out Russian energy and alternative partners for Japan. 

The following literature is recommended by our guests for a deeper understanding of the topics discussed:

‘Japan’s Effectiveness as a Geo-Economic Actor: Navigating Great-Power Competition’ by Yuka Koshino and Robert Ward

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: 28 June 2022

Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.