Included in this issue of the newsletter:

August Activities

• Policy Briefing: Forging a Path for U.S.-Japan Collaboration on Women, Peace and Security
• Policy Briefing: Returning of Yosegaki Hinomaru to Where They Belong
• Washington Kenkyu Group: Discussion with Major General Hiroyuki Sugai

Recaps

• Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED): Women, Peace and Security Research Trip

External Engagements

• Mr. Jim Schoff Speaks on U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Summit at Stimson Center

Publications

• Japan Political Pulse: Camp David Trilateral Success Unseen in Polls for Prime Minister Kishida (Dr. Akimoto)
• Commentary & Analysis: Catalyst for Change: Strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance through Women, Peace and Security (Ms. Shoji)
• USJETAA: JETS on Japan Publication Series

Upcoming Activity

• Rising Indo-Pacific Security Experts (RISE): RISE Discussion with CDR Andre Agraviador and Ms. Shanti Shoji

Featured Staff

• Ms. Kaede Ishidate

August Activities

Policy Briefing: Forging a Path for U.S.-Japan Collaboration on Women, Peace and Security

On August 30, Sasakawa USA hosted the virtual policy briefing and discussion, “Forging a Path for U.S.-Japan Collaboration on Women, Peace and Security,” featuring remarks by Ms. Sahana Dharmapuri, director at Our Secure Future, and Ms. Shanti Shoji, director of programs at Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA.

In July, Ms. Shoji led a delegation of eight American Women, Peace and Security (WPS) experts on a week-long research trip to Tokyo to gain insights on the status of WPS implementation in Japan and explore potential collaborations with Japanese counterparts. Ms. Dharmapuri, who spearheaded the establishment of the U.S. Congressional caucus on WPS, was one of the delegates who traveled to Japan.

As a policymaking framework, WPS presents a golden opportunity for the United States and Japan to reinforce their shared commitment to democratic values while simultaneously striving toward greater alignment on their national security strategies—a task of vital importance to maintaining peace and stability in the greater Indo-Pacific region. In this event, Ms. Shoji and Ms. Dharmapuri provided updates on the current state of WPS in the U.S. and Japan and discussed current challenges to be addressed and opportunities to explore for U.S.-Japan collaboration on WPS. Following their remarks, Ms. Tomoko Matsuzawa, director for international cooperation on Women, Peace and Security, Indo-Pacific Regional Policy Division, Bureau of Defense Policy, Ministry of Defense Japan; and director for defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region, Ministry of Defense Japan, provided a brief update on Japan's defense ministry’s WPS programs. Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, chairman and president of Sasakawa USA, moderated the Q&A session following their remarks. The video recording and recap of the event will be available on Sasakawa USA's website in the coming weeks. More information on SEED can be found on Sasakawa USA’s website. 

Photo: Ms. Sahana Dharmapuri and Ms. Shanti Shoji

Policy Briefing: Returning of Yosegaki Hinomaru to Where They Belong

On August 31, Sasakawa USA hosted the virtual policy briefing and discussion, “Returning of Yosegaki Hinomaru to Where They Belong,” featuring remarks by Mr. Rex Ziak, co-founder of the Obon Society. Mr. Ziak spoke about a story of healing, reconciliation, and new connection between the U.S. and Japan through the flag returning ceremony held at the Lexington Museum in July. Following his remarks, the Honorable Haruko Arimura, member of the House of Councillors of Japan, provided commentary on the returning of the flag from Japan’s perspective. Mr. Hidemi Mutsuda, grandson of Mr. Shigeyoshi Mutsuda to whom the Yosegaki Hinomaru belonged, provided a brief reflection about attending the Yosegaki Hinomaru return ceremony in Japan and conveyed appreciation to everyone involved in the flag's return. A lively Q&A discussion was moderated by Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, chairman and president of Sasakawa USA. The video recording and recap of the event will be available on Sasakawa USA's website.

Photo (clockwise from top left): Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Mr. Rex Ziak, Mr. Hidemi Mutsuda, and Honorable Haruko Arimura

Washington Kenkyu Group: Discussion with Major General Hiroyuki Sugai

On August 8, Washington Kenkyu Group welcomed Major General Hiroyuki Sugai, Defense, Air, and Space Attaché at the Embassy of Japan in the United States. Major General Sugai discussed the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance in achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific. His presentation was followed by a lively Q&A discussion with attending Japanese representatives from the private sector, media, and think tanks. Major General Sugai departed for Japan at the end of August, and we greatly appreciate his service and efforts while in Washington, D.C.





Photo: Major General Hiroyuki Sugai and Dr. Satohiro Akimoto

Recaps

Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED): Women, Peace and Security Research Trip

A recap of the 2023 Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED) program is now available to read on Sasakawa USA’s website. From July 24-29, SEED participants traveled to Tokyo to engage with Japanese experts from the Diet, academia, civil society, media, Japanese self-defense forces, government ministries, and cabinet offices to exchange insights on implementing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and explore possibilities for U.S.-Japan cooperation on WPS. The website recap includes some of the general takeaways from the trip, as well as photos and summaries of the delegates’ engagements in Japan. Each of the eight SEED participants will produce an article summarizing the key takeaways from their engagements in Tokyo, which will include their perceptions of challenges and opportunities for advancing WPS in Japan and relevant points of comparison between their home organization’s work on WPS and the corresponding body in Japan. These SEED WPS articles will be published on Sasakawa USA’s website in the coming weeks.

Photo: The 2023 SEED WPS delegation with members of Japan's parliamentary WPS caucus.

(Back row, left to right): Ms. Maho Nakayama, Mr. Itsu Adachi, Ms. Monica Herrera, Dr. Jennifer Hawkins, Ms. Shanti Shoji, Hon. Takako Suzuki, Ms. Erin Cooper, Hon. Kiyoshi Odawara, Ms. Kayla McGill, Hon. Noriko Horiuchi, Dr. Jessica Smith, CDR Andre Agraviador, Dr. Carolyn Washington, Dr. Akiko Horiba. (Front row, left to right): Hon. Ryosei Akazawa, Hon. Yoko Kamikawa, Ms. Sahana Dharmapuri, and Hon. Haruko Arimura

External Engagements

Senior Director Jim Schoff Speaks on U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Summit at Stimson Center

Sasakawa USA Senior Director Jim Schoff spoke at a private roundtable discussion convened by the Stimson Center on August 16 to discuss opportunities for deeper U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea cooperation related to North Korea. The event was attended by 15 scholars and experts who reflected on current trilateral security and diplomatic cooperation and examined avenues for sustaining and expanding effective collaboration. Mr. Schoff described various groundbreaking trilateral initiatives likely to stem from the leaders’ summit at Camp David, but cautioned that future political volatility could endanger these gains and strategies for building resiliency should be pursued. He urged the allies to invest in the relationship via security coordination, trilateral engagement with multilateral forums, and public-facing activities such as in health and the environment.

Photo: Mr. Jim Schoff

Publications

Japan Political Pulse: Camp David Trilateral Success Unseen in Polls for Prime Minister Kishida (Dr. Akimoto)

In his recent article, “Camp David Trilateral Success Unseen in Polls for Prime Minister Kishida,” Sasakawa USA Chairman and President Dr. Satohiro Akimoto remarks how Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s poll numbers remain stagnant despite a successful Camp David trilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and Republic of Korea (ROK) President Yoon Suk Yeol. Dr. Akimoto explains how the Japanese public supported the historic Japan-U.S.-ROK summit on August 18, but Prime Minister Kishida’s general poll numbers remain low due to political missteps such as technical issues with the My Number card system. Furthermore, Dr. Akimoto notes Prime Minister Kishida’s static poll numbers led to a missed opportunity to call a snap election. Despite a narrowing window of opportunity for a snap election, Dr. Akimoto predicts a Cabinet and LDP leadership reshuffle possibly in September. You can read more of Dr. Akimoto’s article here. Japan Political Pulse (JPP) is a resource for American media, policymakers, academics, and the public with regular and reliable insight and analysis of the trends and state of Japanese politics. 

Photo (left to right): Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a joint press conference for the historic Japan-U.S.-ROK trilateral summit at Camp David on August 18, 2023. (Official Website of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet) 

Commentary & Analysis: Catalyst for Change: Strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance through Women, Peace and Security (Ms. Shoji)

This July, Director of Programs Ms. Shanti Shoji led the ninth Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation research trip to Japan on the theme of Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Her findings from the one-week research trip—which included meetings with government agencies, the Self-Defense Forces, academia, and civil society organizations—are summarized in her newly published paper, “Catalyst for Change: Strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance through Women, Peace and Security,” available to read on the Sasakawa USA website. In her article, Ms. Shoji provides a brief overview of WPS and shares key insights from the delegation’s engagements in Tokyo. She emphasizes the evident mutual desire from American and Japanese policymakers and experts to collaborate on WPS and offers suggestions of concrete steps for pursuing short- and long-term collaborative projects to support WPS integration. Articles written by the other SEED participants will continue to be published on our website on a rolling basis over the coming weeks. 

Photo: Ms. Shanti Shoji

USJETAA: JETS on Japan Publication Series

The latest addition to the JETs on Japan publication series: “From Post-War Peace to Partners in Space: New Frontiers for the U.S.-Japan Alliance,” is authored by Gil Breit, detective sergeant (Ret.) for the Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit of the Bergen County, NJ, Prosecutor’s Office. In his piece, Mr. Breit (who served as a JET in Gunma prefecture from 1989-1990) outlines how U.S.-Japan defense cooperation on outer space has evolved, and explains why increased coordination to protect satellites, defend against space-based weaponry, and other outer space initiatives are such an integral piece of the bilateral alliance.

The JETs on Japan Forum publication series elevates the voices of JET alumni working across diverse sectors who can present nuanced and up-to-date insights on U.S.-Japan relations within their area of expertise. It is a part of Sasakawa USA’s partnership with the United States Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme Alumni Association (USJETAA) to support JET Alumni’s continued engagement with Japan and strengthen JET Alumni’s professional networks.

Photo: Mr. Gil Breit

Upcoming Activity

Rising Indo-Pacific Security Experts (RISE): RISE Discussion with CDR Andre Agraviador and Ms. Shanti Shoji

On September 12, Sasakawa USA will host its next RISE event, "Women, Peace and Security in the U.S.-Japan Alliance," featuring CDR Andre Agraviador, senior military advisor with the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues at the Department of State, and Ms. Shanti Shoji, director of programs at Sasakawa USA.

In July, Ms. Shoji led a delegation of eight American Women, Peace and Security (WPS) experts on a week-long research trip to Tokyo to gain insights on the status of WPS implementation in Japan and to explore potential collaborations with Japanese counterparts. CDR Agraviador, who is the senior military advisor to Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues, was one of the delegates who traveled to Japan. This trip was a part of Sasakawa USA’s annual Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation program.

In this iteration of RISE, CDR Agraviador and Ms. Shoji will discuss their trip to Japan, along with the critical role Women, Peace and Security plays in forging a more safe and secure Indo-Pacific and how the U.S.-Japan alliance can be further strengthened through WPS collaboration.

For additional information, please visit Sasakawa USA’s RISE and SEED program webpages.

Photo: Commander Andre Agraviador and Ms. Shanti Shoji

Featured Staff

Ms. Kaede Ishidate

Hajimemashite! My name is Kaede Ishidate and I am a program assistant at Sasakawa USA supporting Networking and Presentations, the Congressional Study Group on Japan, and the Japan-U.S. Military Program. I am a new member of the Sasakawa USA team having joined in July of this year after completing my bachelor’s degree in government and East Asian studies at Harvard College. While much of my family still reside in Japan, I consider myself a proud second-generation or Nisei born in the United States to Japanese parents.

My upbringing developed a natural interest in U.S.-Japan relations, particularly in terms of fostering lasting ties between the people of both countries. One of the most impactful experiences I have had with bilateral exchange prior to joining Sasakawa USA was through the 73rd and 74th Japan-America Student Conferences (JASC), which led me to realize the power of relationship-building in tackling global issues and challenges. This passion drew me to Sasakawa USA’s mission because of its emphasis on facilitating connections and collaboration between the U.S. and Japan at a multitude of levels.

I have had a particularly exciting first few months as I was fortunate enough to travel to Tokyo to support the Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), which was a privilege to learn from both American and Japanese experts in a policy area that is still emerging in the public sphere in both countries. As a personal takeaway, WPS as a framework expanded my own understanding of security from being primarily focused on defense capabilities and strategy to a more nuanced and human-centered approach that incorporates gender perspectives. I was also able to observe firsthand the impact that the U.S.-Japan alliance on the people-to-people scale can have, as I witnessed many exchanges—both formal and informal—between the delegates and their Japanese counterparts to stay connected and continue exploring potential areas for collaboration beyond the trip. I am honored to support Sasakawa USA in continuing to facilitate more exciting connections and opportunities within the bilateral relationship in the future!

Photo: Ms. Kaede Ishidate

Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA

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202.296.6694

www.spfusa.org