Japan’s Lower House election last October produced a surprising defeat of the LDP-Komeito ruling coalition, resulting in the minority government of Prime Minister Ishiba. What are the underlying causes of this change and what further repercussions can we expect in the coming months? With the stability of the LDP rule – the hallmark of Japan’s – in doubt, how does that impact Japan’s foreign policy in the face of growing US-China tensions and President Trump’s America First version two? We will discuss these important issues in the context of the anticipated Ishiba-Trump Summit meeting.

Speakers

Harukata Takenaka is a professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo. He holds a PhD from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tokyo.

His key research areas are the role the prime minister in Japanese politics, changes in Japanese external policy, and democratization in Pre-war Japan.

Prof. Takenaka’s recent publications include: “Kyokoku Chugoku” to Taijisuru Indo-Taiheiyo Shokoku [Indo-Pacific Nations facing China aspiring to be a “Great Country”](edited) (Tokyo: Chikura Shobo, 2022), “Evolution of Japanese security policy and the House of Councilors,” Japanese Journal of Political Science, 22:2, (June 2021), 96-115, Korona Kiki no Seiji [Politics of Covid 19 Crisis](Tokyo: Chuo Koron Shinsha, 2020), “Expansion of the Japanese prime minister’s power in the Japanese parliamentary system: Transformation of Japanese politics and the institutional reforms,”Asian Survey,59:5:844-869 (September 2019); Futatsu no Seiken Kotai [Two Changes of Government] (edited) (Tokyo: Keiso Shobo, 2017); Failed Democratization in Prewar Japan (Stanford University Press 2014),

Noriko Akiyama is a senior political writer at The Asahi Shimbun, the second largest newspaper company in Japan, with a 140 year history and a circulation of about 4 million.

Before assuming her current role, she served as an assistant political editor, political reporter, and reporter for AERA, a Japanese weekly magazine owned and published by Asahi Shimbun. She is the first female senior political writer and an assistant political editor in Asahi. In addition, Ms. Akiyama has authored eight books on women in non-profits, gender politics in Japan, female bureaucrats, civil society leaders, a guide to Japan’s political history, and a biography on Chiyo Obata,Japan’s first female professional wrestler.

In 2018, Ms. Akiyama received the Social Journalist Award from the Japan Association of New Public and in 2024, was selected as the International House Journalism Award Finalist. She is also an alumna of the Japan Women Leadership Initiative (2018), a Fish Family Foundation sponsored program for Japanese women; and the International Visitor Leadership Program (2016), the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program.

Ms. Akiyama holds a ph. D. in Social Science from University of Tsukuba, Master of Science in empires, colonialism and globalization from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in sociology from the University of Tokyo. 

Moderator

Kiyoteru Tsutsui is the Henri H. and Tomoye Takahashi Professor and Senior Fellow in Japanese Studies at Shorenstein APARC, the Director of the Japan Program and Deputy Director at APARC, a senior fellow of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and Professor of Sociology, all at Stanford University. Tsutsui received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kyoto University and earned an additional master’s degree and Ph.D. from Stanford’s sociology department in 2002. Tsutsui’s research interests lie in political/comparative sociology, social movements, globalization, human rights, and Japanese society. His most recent publication, Human Rights and the State: The Power of Ideas and the Realities of International Politics (Iwanami Shinsho, 2022), was awarded the 2022 Ishibashi Tanzan Award and the 44th Suntory Prize for Arts and Sciences.