CEPEX

On Saturday, November 27th, the  Global Policy Initiative (GPI) held its 2010 Tokyo Forum at Josai International University with the support of CEPEX. Chairman of the Board Yukio Tada was on hand for the event and gave closing remarks. Justin Manger, from the CEPEX Washington, D.C., office was in Tokyo for business and dropped by briefly before heading to the airport.

The event drew approximately 80 participants. Sessions were held on Japan’s economic growth strategies and challenges as well as the immigration debate regarding bringing  in more foreign workers. A recap will be published by GPI shortly. For the time being, event details can be found here in Japanese:

http://www.gpi-japan.net/event/forum/224/

CEPEX, in conjunction with the CU Center for Asian Studies, hosted its first ever seminar on U.S.-Japan environmental sustainability at the University of Colorado, Boulder on Tuesday, November 8^th. The event was a huge success with approximately 60 students, educators, and members of the community braving snowy weather to attend. The event brought together those passionate about sustainability and the U.S.-Japan alliance. In addition, it raised awareness and introduced others to the relationship through the three expert panelists who  discussed the differing approaches to education and sustainability practices: Dan Bihn, Eric Wilson, and Dai Kato. Their bios can be found here.   A networking reception was held afterwards where scholars and students mingled over appetizers and exchanged ideas for improving environmental knowledge and practice in both countries.

CEPEX co-sponsored the first ISG (International Study Group) closed workshop on “Building Sustainable Peace and Security” with the Gulf Research Center and Sojitz Research Institute at the Japanese Diet Members Building on Tuesday, October 26.

This event was a brand new initiative and “Chatham House Rules” applied.

1. Topics: In addition to Far East Asia, we discussed India, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and created a comfortable, non-public atmosphere where experts could candidly exchange views on how to vigorously and creatively build sustainable peace and security in the region.

2. Participants: In addition to experts from think tanks and universities, invitees included non-partisan Diet members and related government officials, business and defense industry representatives, NPOs, and embassy staff from all over the world.

Opening Remarks:  Hon. Mieko Nakabayashi, CEPEX Vice Chairwoman

Guest Remarks:  Hon. Shinzo Abe, Former Prime Minister

Moderator: Yukio Tada, CEPEX Chairman of the Board

Session #1  Where Does Japan Stand?
by Tomohiko Taniguchi, Senior Guest Fellow, Sojitz Research Institute

Session #2 Transforming the Unstable Situation in the Middle East

by Dr. Mustafa Alani, Senior Adviser, the Gulf Research Center, Dubai, UAE

Session #3 Does the War on Terror Pay?
by Dr. Keiichiro Komatsu, Senior Guest Fellow, Sojitz Research Institute, London, UK

Join the Center for Professional Exchange (CEPEX) and the University of Colorado’s Center for Asian Studies (CAS) for a seminar exploring how Japan, one of the world’s most energy efficient countries, and Colorado, a leader in the U.S., can move toward sustainability and work together in bringing about a cleaner, greener world. See promotional flier here.

Speakers include:

Dan Bihn: New Energy Marketing and Communications

Eric Wilson: PhD Candidate, Educating for Sustainability; President, 2nd Green Revolution

Dai Kato: Research Fellow at Center for the study of Conflict, Collaboration and Creative Governance (3CG) at CD Boulder

Moderator: Justin Manger, CEPEX

Location: University of Colorado at Boulder, Eaton Humanities, RM 150
Date: November 9, 2010
Time: 5:00-6:30 PM
Reception and Networking to Follow

On Saturday, October 16, CEPEX hosted an informal, off the record dinner with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and current LDP Party Shadow Cabinet Foreign Minister Itsunori Onodera. The event was attended by approximately thirty-five guests and took place at Tono Sushi in Woodley Park.

In attendance were many former JETs who have continued their involvement with Japan, in addition to participants of the Mansfield Scholarship Program, Congressional staffers, think tank representatives and members of the private sector.

Mr. Abe and Mr. Onodera were visiting Washington, DC to meet with various U.S. governmental and non-governmental officials to discuss the current state of U.S.-Japan relations as well as related global political and economic issues. The attendees enjoyed candidly discussing their past experiences living and teaching in Japan and sought to impress upon Mr. Abe and Mr. Onodera the importance of the Japanese government’s continued support of the JET Program and the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Future Japan experts listen to former PM Abe speak