Japan Update 2022

Presented by ANU College of Asia & the Pacific

This year's event will bring together experts from Australia and Japan to provide insights into Japan's social, political and economic challenges and opportunities beyond COVID-19.

This event will be held in-person and live streamed on YouTube.

REGISTRATION: Please select if you will be attending in-person or online at the check-out. All attendees will receive a confirmation email upon registration with instructions on how to join.

Event Schedule

Welcome and introduction (9 - 9:10am AEST) Opening keynote speech (9.10 - 9.40 AEST)

The Japanese economy keynote (9.40-10.10 AEST)

  • Masaaki Shirakawa, Former Governor of the Bank of Japan
  • Chair: Bruce Miller AO, Former Australian Ambassador to Japan

Panel: Japan and the global economy (10:45 - 12pm AEST)

How is Japan navigating an uncertain global economy and managing its own inflation and demographic transition? This panel will discuss the trends in the Japanese economy and the priorities and prospects for reform.

Panelists

  • Masaaki Shirakawa, Former Governor of the Bank of Japan
  • Noriyuki Yanagawa, Professor of Economics, the University of Tokyo
  • Chair: Jennifer Hewett, Australian Financial Review

Japanese society keynote (1:30 - 2pm AEST)

  • Sawako Shirahase, Professor of Sociology, the University of Tokyo.

Panel: Japanese Society post-COVID (2 - 3pm AEST)

Japan was one of the most successful countries in managing the health and economic response to Covid-19 without lockdowns, but the social costs have been high with the pandemic exposed and exacerbated some of Japan's social problems.

Panelists

  • Sawako Shirahase, Professor of Sociology, the University of Tokyo.
  • Hiroshi Ono, Professor of Human Resource Management , Hitotsubashi University Business School
  • Carol Hayes, Professor of Japanese Language and Studies, the Australian National University
  • Chair: Lauren Richardson,the Australian National University

Panel: Japan's Strategic Choices (3.30- 5pm AEST)

Japan faces difficult strategic choices in response to the return of great power politics and war in Europe. Will Prime Minister Kishida continue former Prime Minister Abe's foreign policy legacy?

Panelists

  • Evelyn Goh, Professor of Security and International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, The Australian National University
  • Ryo Sahashi, Associate Professor of Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo
  • Yoshihide Soeya, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, Keio University
  • Iwama Yoko, Professor of International Relations, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
  • Chair: Amy King, the Australian National University

Closing remarks

  • Ippei Fujiwara, Keio University
  • Lauren Richardson, the Australian National University

Date and Times

Location

Room: Molonglo Theatre, Crawford School of Public Policy

Contact