Navigation menu menu

Japan Update

Japan Update 2024

View the full Program Booklet

Introduction and Welcome

The Japan Update 2024 conference opened with welcoming remarks from Professor Shiro Armstrong, Director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre (AJRC), and Professor Janine O’Flynn, Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University (ANU). Their speeches highlighted the importance of the event and the ongoing significance of Australia-Japan relations.

  • The traditional owners of the land, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people were acknowledged
  • Professor O’Flynn emphasised the importance of Canberra as a place for sharing knowledge and wisdom, Crawford School and the ANU playing a key role in engagement with Asia and the Pacific.
  • The Japan Update was presented as a highlight among the many Japan-related events on campus, organized by the ANU Japan Institute and the AJRC.
  • The Japan Foundation and the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) were thanked for providing financial support to the Japan Update.
  • Professor O’Flynn outlined various Japan-related activities at Crawford School and ANU, including regular events in Tokyo, such as the annual NBER Japan Project Conference, The Japan Institute’s weekly Japan Institute seminar series, the MOU between the Japan Research Institute and Crawford School for hosting Japanese researchers in Canberra and the joint production of the Japan Australia Investment Report with Herbert Smith Freehills
  • Professor O’Flynn noted that it was the 10-year anniversary of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s visit to ANU and suggested organising a visit from the next Japanese Prime Minister.
  • The timeliness of the update was highlighted, given the upcoming change in Japanese leadership, recent stock market fluctuations, and the importance of discussing Japan’s energy transition.
  • The welcome concluded with Professor O’Flynn expressing her wishes for a productive day of discussions and thanking everyone for their participation.

Economy keynote

Watch the recording

View slides - Tomoko Hayashi

The keynote address, delivered by Tomoko Hayashi, Chief Economist and Director General of the Economic Research Bureau in the Cabinet Office of Japan, provided a comprehensive overview of Japan’s current economic situation, recent developments, and future challenges. Hayashi-san highlighted significant shifts in Japan’s economic landscape, including the end of prolonged deflation, changes in wage growth patterns, and the implementation of new economic policies aimed at fostering growth and addressing demographic challenges.

  • Japan’s nominal GDP surpassed 600 trillion yen for the first time in history during the second quarter of 2024, marking a significant milestone after three decades of stagnation around the 500 trillion yen level.
  • Real GDP growth in the second quarter of 2024 turned positive, driven by domestic demand, particularly private consumption and business investment.
  • The country is moving beyond the ‘triple zeros’ era of near-zero inflation, nominal wage growth, and interest rates, signalling a shift towards a more normalised economic environment.
  • Wages began to rise in 2023, with the spring 2024 wage negotiations resulting in record-high growth, contributing to increased real income.
  • Japan’s inflation rate has been around 2-3% since November 2023, with the Bank of Japan ending unconventional monetary policies like quantitative easing and raising interest rates.
  • The government has been actively promoting policies to encourage price pass-through and higher wages, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
  • Japan’s current potential growth rate is estimated to be around 0.6%, significantly lower than other countries, highlighting the need for measures to enhance productivity and stimulate investment.
  • The country faces challenges related to its ageing population, but Japanese elderly are notably healthier compared to global averages, contributing to a high labour participation rate among older citizens.
  • Efforts are being made to mobilise labour and capital towards more productive sectors, addressing issues such as labour market inefficiencies and the concentration of household assets in cash and deposits.
  • The government is promoting various initiatives to boost potential growth, including encouraging investment in research and development, enhancing productivity, and improving labour market efficiency.

Economy panel

Watch the recording

View slides - Shujiro Urata

View slides - Hiroshi Ohashi

The Economy panel featured presentations from Professor Hiroshi Ohashi of the University of Tokyo and Professor Shujiro Urata of Waseda University, followed by a discussion including Tomoko Hayashi. The panel explored various aspects of Japan’s economic policies, industrial strategies, and international trade relations, providing insights into current challenges and future directions.

  • Professor Ohashi discussed Japan’s industrial policies, focusing on the shift from traditional industry-specific approaches to a more holistic strategy encompassing innovation and green technologies.
  • The panel highlighted the importance of balancing competition policy with industrial policy, noting that Japan is re-entering the realm of active industrial policy after a period of market-led approaches.
  • Japan’s Green Transformation (GX) policy was a key topic, integrating energy, climate, and industrial policies to drive economic growth through clean energy transition and decarbonisation efforts.
  • Professor Urata presented on Japan’s international economic policy, particularly its free trade agreements (FTAs) and economic partnership agreements (EPAs), noting that about 80% of Japan’s trade is now covered by such agreements.
  • The panel discussed Japan’s efforts to increase inward foreign direct investment (FDI), which remains low compared to other developed economies, and the challenges in attracting foreign companies.
  • Japan’s ageing population and its impact on the economy were addressed, with panellists noting both challenges and opportunities, such as the high health levels of Japanese elderly.
  • The discussion touched on Japan’s potential growth rate, currently estimated at around 0.6%, and strategies to enhance it, including improving productivity and mobilising resources more effectively.
  • Panellists explored the changing dynamics of Japan’s labour market, including the increasing participation of women and elderly workers, and the need for greater labour mobility.
  • The impact of technological changes, such as the shift towards electric vehicles, on Japan’s traditional industries was discussed, along with strategies for adaptation.
  • The panel concluded by emphasising the need for Japan to continue reforming its economic structures, enhance productivity, and foster innovation to maintain competitiveness in the global economy.

Foreign policy keynote

Watch the recording

View slides - Ryo Sahashi

Professor Ryo Sahashi from the University of Tokyo delivered the foreign policy keynote, offering a comprehensive analysis of Prime Minister Kishida’s foreign policy legacy and insights into Japan’s future diplomatic direction. The presentation highlighted significant shifts in Japan’s security posture and international engagements, contextualising these changes within broader regional dynamics.

  • Kishida was characterised as a ‘Prime Foreign Minister’, leveraging his extensive experience as Foreign Minister under the Abe administration to shape Japan’s international relations.
  • The keynote emphasised Kishida’s success in implementing substantial changes to Japan’s security policy, including increasing the defence budget to 2% of GDP and introducing strike capabilities.
  • Japan’s economic security agenda has been significantly enhanced under Kishida, with new legislation and policies aimed at protecting critical technologies and supply chains.
  • Kishida’s administration has successfully fostered multilateral security arrangements, particularly strengthening ties with Australia, India, the Philippines, and South Korea.
  • The improvement in Japan-South Korea relations was noted as a significant achievement, facilitated by South Korean President Yoon’s more accommodating stance and US mediation.
  • Professor Sahashi discussed the evolving nature of Japan’s security environment, highlighting concerns about China, Russia, and North Korea’s increasing military cooperation.
  • The keynote touched on Japan’s efforts to balance deterrence strategies with the need for de-escalation policies in the region.
  • Sahashi explored the potential foreign policy approaches of Kishida’s successors, suggesting that most candidates would likely continue the current foreign policy trajectory.
  • The presentation highlighted the growing importance of economic security in Japan’s foreign policy calculations, including efforts to secure critical supply chains.
  • Professor Sahashi concluded by emphasising the need for Japan to prepare for various geopolitical scenarios, including potential changes in US foreign policy, and to consider developing new strategic doctrines beyond the traditional Yoshida Doctrine.

Foreign policy and politics panel

Watch the recording

View slides - Alexander Bukh

View slides - Rumi Aoyama

The foreign policy and politics panel, moderated by Dr Lauren Richardson, featured Professor Ryo Sahashi, Professor Alexander Bukh, and Professor Rumi Aoyama. The discussion expanded on the keynote address, delving deeper into Japan’s relations with key regional players and exploring the complexities of Japan’s foreign policy challenges.

  • Professor Bukh provided an analysis of Japan-Russia relations, noting that the relationship has effectively reverted to a Cold War-era dynamic following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  • The panel discussed Japan’s shift from pursuing a resolution to the Northern Territories dispute with Russia to aligning with Western sanctions, albeit with some continued economic engagement.
  • Japan-South Korea relations were examined, with the panel noting the recent improvement but cautioning about the potential fragility of this rapprochement due to domestic political dynamics in South Korea.
  • Professor Aoyama offered insights into China-Japan relations, characterising them as relatively stable but increasingly strained, with economic ties remaining resilient despite political tensions.
  • The discussion highlighted China’s changing approach to Japan, shifting from government-to-government engagement to a focus on people-to-people exchanges as a means of exerting pressure.
  • Panellists explored Japan’s security concerns, noting that while China remains a primary focus, Japan faces simultaneous challenges from Russia and North Korea.
  • The panel addressed Japan’s potential role in a Taiwan contingency, suggesting that Japan is preparing for various scenarios but faces limitations in its potential involvement.
  • Discussions touched on Japan’s efforts to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations and its competition with China for influence in the region.
  • The panellists debated the future of Japan’s constitutional revision efforts, noting that recent security policy changes and public opinion shifts have reduced the urgency of formal constitutional amendment.
  • The session concluded with reflections on Japan’s need to balance its alliance with the United States, regional security concerns, and economic interests in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

Energy security keynote

Watch the recording

View slides - Yukari Takamura

Professor Yukari Takamura delivered the energy security keynote, providing a comprehensive overview of Japan’s energy transition, its importance for the country’s future, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. The presentation highlighted the interconnectedness of energy policy with economic and foreign policy considerations.

  • The keynote emphasised the critical importance of energy transition for Japan, driven by climate change commitments, economic imperatives, and increasing pressure from the private sector.
  • Japan’s long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and its 2030 climate target of 46-50% reduction below 2013 levels were outlined as key drivers of energy policy.
  • Professor Takamura highlighted the growing influence of the business sector in pushing for more ambitious climate action, citing initiatives like the Japan Climate Initiative and Japan Climate Leaders Partnership.
  • The economic rationale for energy transition was underscored, including the need to reduce dependency on fossil fuel imports and improve Japan’s trade balance.
  • The presentation detailed Japan’s Green Transformation (GX) policy, which integrates climate, energy, and industrial policies to drive economic growth through clean energy transition.
  • Japan’s current energy mix was discussed, with renewable energy accounting for 21.7% of power generation in 2023 and ambitious targets set for 2030.
  • Challenges in expanding renewable energy were addressed, including grid integration issues, social acceptance, and the need for more effective supporting policies.
  • The keynote touched on Japan’s plans for hydrogen and ammonia in its future energy mix, including the recent Hydrogen Promotion Act and subsidy schemes.
  • Professor Takamura emphasised the need for a clear plan to phase out unabated coal and fossil fuel power plants, noting the lack of a concrete strategy beyond 2030.
  • The presentation concluded by highlighting the importance of carbon pricing mechanisms and the ongoing discussions about introducing a carbon levy and emissions trading scheme in Japan.

Energy security and transition panel

Watch the recording

View slides - Rowan von Spreckelsen

View slides - Toshi Arimura

The energy security and transition panel featured presentations from Professor Yukari Takamura, Professor Toshi Arimura, Melanie Brock, and Rowan von Spreckelsen. The discussion focused on Japan’s energy transition strategies, carbon pricing mechanisms, and the implications for Australia-Japan energy relations.

  • Professor Takamura outlined Japan’s energy transition goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and a 46-50% reduction in emissions by 2030, highlighting the challenges in meeting these targets.
  • The panel discussed Japan’s GX policy, which integrates energy, climate, and industrial policies to drive economic growth through clean energy transition.
  • The panel explored hydrogen’s potential in Japan’s energy future, with von Spreckelsen explaining production methods and costs. Australia, the US, and Middle Eastern countries were identified as potentially competitive suppliers, with Japan likely to pursue a diversified supply strategy.
  • Professor Arimura provided a comprehensive overview of Japan’s evolving carbon pricing mechanisms, noting that a number of carbon pricing mechanisms already exist in Japan at the regional level and that a national emissions trading scheme (ETS) and carbon surcharge are set to be implemented.
  • The discussion highlighted Japan’s plans to implement a mandatory ETS by 2026, covering more than 50% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, with auctions for the power sector starting in 2033.
  • Melanie Brock emphasised the need for better communication and engagement between Australia and Japan in the energy sector, suggesting a business-led reset in discussions.
  • The panel addressed the challenges faced by Japanese companies investing in Australia’s energy sector, including regulatory uncertainty and high operational costs. Discussions touched on the labour shortages in the energy transition sector, with suggestions for increased training and the empowerment of women in STEM fields.
  • Panellists explored the potential for coordinated frameworks between Australia and Japan to facilitate large-scale investments in energy transition projects.
  • The session concluded by highlighting the ongoing importance of the Australia-Japan energy relationship, despite changes in energy demand patterns, and the need for continued collaboration in emerging areas such as critical minerals and hydrogen.

Conclusion

The concluding remarks, delivered by Professor Llewelyn Hughes, synthesised the key themes and insights from the Japan Update 2024, highlighting the interconnectedness of economic, foreign policy, and energy transition issues discussed throughout the day.

  • The conclusion emphasised the broad range of common challenges faced by both Australia and Japan, despite differences in geography and population size.
  • Professor Hughes highlighted shared economic concerns, including the need to increase total factor productivity, manage competition policy within economic growth strategies, and design effective green industry policies.
  • The foreign policy discussions were summarised, noting both countries’ shared regional security concerns, including potential Taiwan contingencies and the implications of AUKUS.
  • Energy transition challenges were recapped, focusing on renewables integration, grid management, and the development of international supply chains for energy transition technologies.
  • The conclusion stressed the importance of existing bilateral engagement between Australia and Japan, while also suggesting the potential value of additional platforms for discussion and collaboration.
  • Professor Hughes noted the possibility of developing track 1.5 or track 2 dialogues to facilitate information exchange and policy discussions between the two countries.
  • The importance of people-to-people connections and business networking opportunities provided by events like the Japan Update was emphasised.
  • The conclusion acknowledged the efforts of the organising team and the engaged audience in making the event a success.
  • Professor Hughes closed by encouraging attendees to continue the conversations and collaborations initiated during the update in the weeks and months to come.
  • The final remarks looked forward to the 2025 Japan Update, indicating the ongoing commitment to fostering Australia-Japan relations through such academic and policy-focused events.

View full Program Booklet

Watch the Japan Update Panels
•Economy Panel
•Economic Security Panel
•Foreign Policy and Politics Panel
•Science and Technology Panel

CONFERENCE SUMMARY

Now in its tenth year, the Japan Update hosted by the Australia-Japan Research Centre and the ANU Japan Institute at The Australian National University was held on September 7, 2023. Hosted by Shiro Armstrong (ANU), Fujiwara Ippei (Keio and ANU), and Llewelyn Hughes (ANU) the full-day event once again brought together world-leading scholars, business leaders, and government officials to analyse the multidimensional challenges confronting Japanese leaders in an era of intense international and domestic upheaval.

Opening
In his welcome address Dr Armstrong reflected that the Japan Update in its tenth year was taking place against another anniversary, the fiftieth anniversary of the Japan-ASEAN relationship which had grown in strategic and economic importance in recent decades. Turning to the strategic convergence between Australia and Japan, Armstrong struck an upbeat note, arguing that despite challenges and some friction over the climate transition and energy regulations, the relationship had never been stronger. Casting an eye to the future, Armstrong praised the strong student exchanges between Japan and Australia, with the ANU at the forefront of the relationship.

Economy Panel
The first panel hosted by Professor Fujiwara centered on the state of the Japanese economy and had as its keynote speaker Mr Masaki Kaizuka, a thirty-five-year-old veteran of the Ministry of Finance and current executive director of the Bank of Japan. In his presentation Kaizuka outlined the promising signs of Japanese economic recovery, highlighting the surprising resilience of the economy even in the face of external shocks. His presentation ended with a caution of the risks facing Japan – from inflationary pressures to the volatile economic situation in the United States, European Union and China. Kaizuka was followed by ANU Professor Renee McKeeby who delivered an in-depth review of the reforms undertaken by the RBA in Australia in the context of Japan concluding a review of its central bank. The discussion centred on reflections of monetary policy and the challenges facing central bankers in Japan and globally.

Economic Security Panel
The second panel on economic security in Japan featured prominent representatives from the worlds of academia and business. The keynote address was made by Urata Shujiro (chairman of Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry RIETI) who reviewed Japan’s economic security framework. His speech ended pointing out the incongruence between Tokyo’s commitment to welcoming foreign investment while also restricting investment based on national security concerns. Dr. Richard Dyck, a leading business figure heading up Japan Industrial Partners, and a prominent student of the late Ezra Vogel (Harvard). Dyck’s talk took us deep inside Japanese technological sector. He highlighted the challenge Japanese firms – which had grown into major technological suppliers to Japanese firms – now faced against Chinese firms which in contrast to Japanese firms were focused from their beginning on the global market. Melanie Brock, a businesswoman in the Australia-Japan relationship drew on her experience in Japanese boardrooms to underscore the transformation in Japanese business and ended on a note of real hope that the 30% aim to have women in leadership positions in corporate and government was swiftly met.

Foreign Policy and Politics Panel
The afternoon session began with a panel on international politics and foreign affairs hosted by Dr. Amy King (ANU). The panel featured prominent Keio University professor Soeya Yoshihide whose work on middle power diplomacy has been a leitmotif of discussions about Japan’s role in world politics for over two decades. Prof. Soeya began by contextualizing Japanese defense transformation within wider preoccupations with how middle power states can navigate a region dividing into hostile blocs. In addition to Japan’s Washington alignment, Soeya promoted the importance of Japanese relations with states such as ROK and Australia. The second speaker, Prof. Oba Mie followed Soeya’s conclusions by delving into the history of Japan-ASEAN cooperation in a particular highlighting major political markers in the relationship such as the 1977 Fukuda speech and doctrine. The Q&A was particularly lively with a back and forth between Prof. Soeya and Dr. Michael Green (USYD) over the direction of Japanese foreign and defense polices. Their debate over the nature of power and international politics represented two possible alternatives for Japanese political leaders in the years ahead.

Science and Technology Panel
The final panel of the Update focused on Science and Technology and was led by Prof. Hughes who with Prof. Yarime Masaru (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) called on Japan and Australia to deepen collaboration in innovation and development of green technologies and hydrogen production. Yarime in particular focused on the role Australia and Japan could play in helping to draft new laws and governance to regulate technologies such as AI. Professor Anna Moore (ANU) turned our attention from earthly powers to space focusing on human exploration, rocks and space travel. A central theme of her talk was collaboration across the Asia Pacific to leverage space for regional problem-solving, particularly in areas like climate adaptation. For instance, she discussed initiatives aimed at predicting bushfires and monitoring groundwater levels to assist towns in managing their water usage. The final speaker, Izuhara Takero emphasized the depth of opportunities for collaboration between Japan and Australia in the realm of science and technology. He highlighted two projects to demonstrate potential collaboration: The Japanese government’s Digital Garden City Nation initiative and the Yamakoshi DAO project, both of which exemplify the blending of technology with community welfare.

Closing
As the proceedings drew to a close Professors Hughes and Fujiwara shared their closing remarks on the day’s events. Thanking the speakers, Hughes reflected again on the connections between the panels, drawing out lines of argument that link changing definitions of economic security to structural shifts in geopolitics and the new and growing challenges of climate change, energy security, and the balance between sovereign capabilities and a fragmenting multilateral system. Finally, Prof. Fujiwara reflected on the decade of history of the Japan Update and the importance of the event to maintain and expanding the knowledge infrastructure that undergirds the Australia-Japan relationship.

Author: Dr Andrew Levidis

Japan Update 2022

Introduction

On 7 September 2022, the Australia-Japan Research Centre and the ANU Japan Institute hosted the 10th annual Japan Update at Crawford School, The Australian National University. The esteemed group of presenters and panellists discussed the contemporary economic, social and security challenges that Japan faces. A total of 688 attendees signed up for the event, with 288 registered for in-person attendance, 400 registered online and 2.2k views as of 4 November 2022.

The agenda can be viewed here: Japan Update 2022 Agenda.

WATCH THE JAPAN UPDATE 2022 LIVESTREAM

Summary: panels and keynotes

Economy keynote
The opening keynote speech was given by the former governor of the Bank of Japan, Professor Masaaki Shirakawa. Professor Shirakawa discussed many of the societal and economic problems Japan is experiencing, such as its rapidly ageing society. He noted that the term ‘Lost Decade’, used to describe Japan’s low GDP growth rate since the 1990s, masks the reality that Japan’s GDP growth per working-age population is higher than the United States. He underscored the difficulty for Japan to increase birth rates through government spending as Japanese politics favours spending on the elderly — the largest demographic of voters. Shirakawa highlighted that ultimately Japanese society needs to forge a consensus that will lead to a sustainable economy and society, and that every country is faced with a similar challenge.

Japan and the global economy
In this session, Professor Noriyuki Yanagawa gave a presentation which illustrated that Japanese prices do not respond sensitively to changes. This minimises the signalling effect of Japanese prices, preventing structural change to the market and the economy. He also raised that increasing the potential growth rate is the most important issue facing the Japanese economy. He suggested that this could be achieved in part by increasing labour force productivity by utilising market mechanisms to increase labour mobility and nurture Japan’s emerging start-up industry. This was followed by a panel discussion with Professor Yanagawa and Professor Shirakawa. They argued that increased immigration is essential to boosting Japan’s economy. Additionally, increasing worker productivity is also necessary to combat the challenges Japan’s economy faces.

Japanese society keynote
Professor Sawako Shirahase spoke about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Japanese society. She emphasised that Japan faces the dual problem of a rapidly aging society and a falling fertility rate, both of which were exacerbated by the pandemic. She also said that while female participation in the workforce has increased, a large gender imbalance in the workforce remains, with many women only engaged in part-time work. A greater proportion of women also left employment during the pandemic. She argued that greater diversity, flexibility and investment are needed to create an inclusive future to tackle Japan’s problems.

Japanese society post-COVID-19
Shirahase’s keynote was followed by a panel discussion on Japanese society post-COVID-19, chaired by Dr Lauren Richardson. Professor Hiroshi Ono noted that many Japanese firms are structurally inefficient, and many operations have still not been digitalised. He said that COVID-19 accelerated some parts of digitalisation in Japan. The transition to remote work revealed that some aspects of Japanese working culture — previously viewed as essential — proved to be unnecessary. Professors Shirahase and Professor Ono then debated the possible reasons why Japan has few women in managerial positions.

Japan’s strategic choices
The final panel on Japan’s strategic choices was chaired by Associate Professor Amy King. Ryo Sahashi argued that Japan needs to adjust its diplomacy and economy to deal with a more assertive China. The United States’ domestic issues mean that the United States is restricted in what it can do on the global stage, so Japan and Australia must work to create inclusive multilateral mechanisms such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Professor Evelyn Goh stated that Japan has propped up US hegemony in East Asia and that if Japan were to align itself more with China, it would tip the regional order. She also noted that any Taiwan Contingency assumes that Japan will support US defensive operations, but this may not always be the case. She highlighted that not enough attention is given to how domestic politics affects Japan’s decision-making. Professor Yoshihide Soeya discussed that Shinzo Abe’s legacy is that of divided politics in Japan, with conservative politics currently being dominant. He suggested that current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is more likely to focus on multilateral diplomatic efforts as part of Japan’s comprehensive security strategy. Yoko Iwama talked about the Japanese reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She said that the invasion had generated a change of atmosphere in Japan, with the population fearing something similar could happen to Japan. She noted Japan’s efforts to augment its deterrence capability, citing its increase in defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP. This is the first-time defence spending has reached this level in the post-war era.

The Japan Update 2022 was supported by the Japan Foundation.

Japan Update 2021 recordings

Session 1 (Opening, Keynote Speech & Panel 1: The Impact of COVID-19 on Japanese Society)

Session 2 (Panel 2: Science, Defence and Technology)

Session 3 (Panel 3: Governance Challenges)

Event Summary

The Japan Update 2021 was held on 8 September via webinar. Bringing together experts from Australia, Japan and the region, the Update focused on the impact of COVID-19 on Japanese society and prospects for recovery, governance challenges and science, defence and technology issues.

The Update is the flagship conference of the Australia-Japan Research Centre (AJRC) in the Crawford School of Public Policy and the Japan Institute at The Australian National University.

Holding the Update as a webinar provided our speakers with the unique opportunity to reach an audience that extended far beyond Canberra, with members of industry, business and academia from Japan, Australia and across the region in attendance. The 2020 Update featured three panels via Zoom webinar.

Professor Sawada Yasuyuki (University of Tokyo) delivered the opening keynote speech on Japan and Asia after COVID-19, highlighting the economic impact of the pandemic on the region and examining the role of the Asian Development Bank in its recovery.

Dr Lauren Richardson (ANU) chaired the first panel on the impact of COVID-19 on Japanese Society. Associate Professor Nana Oishi (University of Melbourne) outlined the impact of COVID-19 on migration in Japan, with a focus on government support for migrants, remaining challenges and what migration in post-COVID-19 Japan will look like. Professor Yoko Ibuka (Keio University) suicide in Japan in the context of COVID-19, the drivers of its increase throughout the pandemic and its implications for public policy.

The second panel was chaired by Professor Ippei Fujiwara (Keio University & ANU) and focused on science, defence and technology issues. Jun Mukoyama (Asia Pacific Initiative) outlined Japan’s challenges in digitalisation, particularly focusing on the transition away from fax machines and the embrace of new forms of digital modernisation. Yuki Tatsumi (Stimson Center) joined from Washington D.C. to share her insights on the existing and upcoming defence challenges for Japan, highlighting how Japan’s defence establishment is seeking to respond and adapt to the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data. Associate Professor Llewelyn Hughes (ANU) outlined the road ahead after Japan’s net-zero emissions announcement, and the challenge of reconciling these goals with Japan’s current public policy environment.

Professor Ippei Fujiwara (Keio University & ANU) chaired the final panel on Japan’s governance challenges. Professor Keiichiro Kobayashi (Keio University) shared his views on Japan’s governance issues on policy measures in response to COVID-19, citing inter-agency coordination failures, fiscal policy issues and loose border controls. Motoko Rich (The New York Times) the current political and crisis governance landscape in Japan, touching on the implications of the Olympics and Paralympics, factional politics and the Yoshihide Suga resignation and the rising influence and power of younger politicians and women and other traditionally marginalised voices in Japanese political leadership. Associate Professor Shiro Armstrong (ANU) outlined Japan’s new economic-security policies as a response to US-China strategic competition and an increasingly uncertain external environment.

The Japan Update 2022 was supported by the Japan Foundation.

Updated:  21 November 2024/Responsible Officer:  Crawford Engagement/Page Contact:  CAP Web Services Team