event

Japan in 2015: A Look at the Year Ahead

Thu. January 22nd, 2015
Washington, DC

The Japan-America Society of Washington, DC, in cooperation with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and the National Association of Japan-America Societies presented a one-day symposium examining the big foreign and domestic policy challenges facing Japan in 2015. Top experts from think tanks, academia, government, and the nonprofit sector considered a broad range of issues from trade negotiations to regional diplomatic tensions, and from tax hikes to economic reform. Carnegie’s James L. Schoff moderated the opening panel on international prospects.

Thu. January 22nd, 2015 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM EST

Welcome and Keynote

The private and public sectors are already taking steps to increase diversity in workplaces in Japan.

After an introduction to the conference, Sakie Fukushima, President of G&S Global Advisors, gave an address titled “Womenomics in Japan: How Much Progress Have We Made?” She argued for the importance of women to Japan’s economy, outlined what steps the private and public sectors were already taking to increase diversity in workplaces in Japan, and presented which crucial issues she believed would need to be addressed going forward.

Thu. January 22nd, 2015 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM EST

Domestic Political, Economic and Social Developments: A Look Ahead

There are a number of key opportunities and challenges facing the Abe administration in 2015.

Panelists discussed the opportunities and challenges facing the Abe administration in 2015. These included such topics as upcoming local elections, Abenomics and Japan’s economic prospects, and improving ties with neighboring countries 70 years after the end of World War II. The discussion was moderated by Carnegie’s James L. Schoff and panelists included Keiko Iizuka, Washington bureau chief for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Richard Katz, editor-in-chief of The Oriental Economist Report, and Shihoko Goto from the Woodrow Wilson Center.

Keiko Iizuka

Thu. January 22nd, 2015 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM EST

Japan, Asia, and the U.S.-Japan Relationship in 2015

How can Japan play a role in global and regional affairs going forward?

The second panel discussed 2015 for Japan in a global context. The discussion focused around how Japan could play a role in global and regional affairs going forward, especially as a key partner of the United States. Matthew P. Goodman of CSIS moderated, and the panelists included Emma Chanlett-Avery of the Congressional Research Service, Robin H. Sakoda from Armitage International, L.C., and Brian Harding, director for East and Southeast Asia at Center for American Progress.

Emma Chanlett-Avery

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
event speakers

James L. Schoff

Senior Fellow, Asia Program

James L. Schoff was a senior fellow in the Carnegie Asia Program. His research focuses on U.S.-Japan relations and regional engagement, Japanese technology innovation, and regional trade and security dynamics.