November 16, 2016 - In This Issue:
Op-ed: Celebrating Japan's constitution, 70 years later

November 3 marked the 70th anniversary of the promulgation of Japan's constitution, a remarkable  document forged in the aftermath of World War II that has guided the country's democratic development, allowing Japan to overcome the bitterness of the war years, regain its position in the international community, and set the country on a path to economic prosperity.

In this op-ed published in  The Diplomat, Sasakawa USA's  Adm. Dennis Blair and  Daniel Bob make the case for why Japan's constitution should be celebrated as a testament to the strong and enduring ties between Japan and the United States, which have served as a bulwark for peace and prosperity throughout the Asia-Pacific.

 
Op-ed: Japan's golden opportunity to play a larger regional role
 
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's  overtures to China, hostility to the U.S. and lavish praise of Japan have certainly raised some eyebrows, writes Sasakawa USA's Dr. Jeffrey Hornung in this article published in The Interpreter, a publication of the Lowy Institute for International Policy.

Yet, as surprising as the rhetoric has been, Dr. Hornung writes, there is no reason to be overly concerned at this juncture. The fissure that has opened between Manila and Washington has given Tokyo an opportunity to play a larger regional role. 

Japan Political Pulse: First polls after Trump's victory show uneasy Japanese public

As the Japanese government scrambles to react to Donald Trump's upset victory in the November 8 United States presidential election-and with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expected to be the first world leader to meet with Trump this Thursday, November 17-new opinion polls suggest the Japanese public is uneasy about the impact of the election on the U.S.-Japan relationship. 

Read the full analysis from Sasakawa USA's Tobias Harris in the latest at Japan Political Pulse.



 
Report: Into the Gray Zone: The Private Sector and Active Defense against Cyber Threats

A new report from the GW Center for Cyber and Homeland Security offers the most comprehensive assessment to date of the legal, policy, and technological contexts that surround private sector cybersecurity and active defense measures to improve U.S. responses to evolving threats. The report provides a framework to develop active defense strategies and offers a set of policy recommendations to the public and private sectors to support implementation of more effective cybersecurity defenses.

The report draws on knowledge from a task force co-chaired by Sasakawa USA Chairman and CEO Adm. Dennis Blair and other experts in the public and private sectors who are thought leaders in technology, security, privacy, law and business.

Click here to read more or here to read a roundup of media coverage on the report. 
 
News: JUMP recognized at 62nd SDF Day celebration

On the occasion of the Japan Self Defense Forces 62nd anniversary, Sasakawa USA's Japan-US Military Program (JUMP) was excited to join with the Embassy of Japan to celebrate the accomplishments both countries have achieved together over the past year. The reception, hosted for members of the U.S. defense community in industry, academia, and government, was held at the Ambassador's Residence in Washington, D.C. on October 27.

While speaking at the program, Ambassador Ken-Ichiro Sasae, Ambassador of Japan in the U.S., introduced the JUMP Program as a still new but growing initiative that brings together those who have served in Japan. 
 
Click here to read more or here to read the Ambassador's remarks.  

Maritime Awareness Project: Follow the fish when considering options in the South China Sea

Nearly four months after the landmark UNCLOS arbitration ruling in the case brought by the Philippines against China, President Rodrigo Duterte's about-face in his approach to the Philippines' bilateral disputes with China has dominated regional discussion.

While this attention is entirely warranted, writes author Kerry Lynn Nankivell in the latest on the Maritime Awareness Project, it has also meant undue neglect of other dimensions of the ruling and its regional effects. All the South China Sea disputes, including the bilateral one between the Philippines and China at the Scarborough Shoal, are importantly about regional fishing rights.

 
 
Program recap: Congressional Staff Program on Asia wraps up successful inaugural class

Throughout September and October, The East-West Center in Washington, with support from Sasakawa USA, held the EWC-Sasakawa USA Congressional Staff Program on Asia (CSPA) on Capitol Hill. The series helped Congressional staff members with varying levels of knowledge on Asia delve deep into a variety of topics with experts from local universities, think tanks, government agencies, and other policy institutions.  
Click here to read more.  


  Upcoming events: November 2016
 
decorated_turkey.jpg The holiday season will be upon us soon, but we still have several events planned to close out the year! Not all events are open to the public, and we anticipate listing a couple more in the coming weeks -----     check each event link for details and view our events page for new listings as they get posted. 
Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA

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