The Japan Update 2018: Peak Japan was held on Wednesday 5 September on The ANU campus at the Molonglo Theatre. A number of distinguished and prominent scholars shared their insights and latest research on Japan at the Update.

The Update is the flagship conference of the Australia-Japan Research Centre (AJRC) in Crawford School of Public Policy, and the Japan Institute at The Australian National University. Bringing together experts from Australia, Japan and around the region, the Update provides a comprehensive overview of Japan’s current economic and political landscape, gives an ‘update’ on the country’s recent developments and forecasts its future directions.

The 2018 Update will focus on Japan’s economy, politics and international relations, and demography. Video podcasts of each panel, filmed by Flying Finish Productions, can be found on ANU TV:

• Opening remarks and keynote speech
• Panel 1: Japan’s politics and foreign policy
• Panel 2: Japan’s economics
• Panel 3: Japan’s demography and closing remarks

Opening remarks were presented by Dr Shiro Armstrong with Murray McLean introducing Dr Sheila Smith, the keynote speaker. Kieran Gilbert chaired the politics and foreign policy panel with Dr Lully Miura, Dr Sheila Smith and Hiroyuki Akita speaking. Ippei Fujiwara introduced and chaired the economics panel with Yuri Okina presenting and Jason McDonald joining the panel. Finally Professor Gary Hansen introduced Dr Elena Capatina, Professor Hiroko Akiyama and Debra Hazelton for the demography panel. Professor Veronica Taylor delivered the closing remarks for the day.

The Japan Update 2018 is supported by the Australia-Japan Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Japan Foundation, Sydney; and the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific.

Photo taken by Satoshi Hirayama and sourced from Pexels.