Japan in the Year

Japan in the Year is an all-day symposium that gathers the top experts on Japan from think tanks, academia, the government, the press and the business and non-profit sectors to look at Japan’s domestic and international prospects for the coming year.

This event is held every January and is part of the NAJAS Japan Currents series.

Japan in 2023: A Look at the Year Ahead

On January 24, the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC and the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution hosted the ninth annual Japan in the Year program, “Japan in 2023.” The event invited senior and next-generation Japanese and American experts and officials to look ahead at what 2023 holds in store for Japan’s domestic and foreign affairs.

Watch the full program recording here.

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Opening remarks (9:00 am-9:05 am)

Ryan Shaffer, President, Japan-America Society of Washington DC

Keynote Session (9:10 am-9:55 am)

Pre-recorded discussion:
Rahm Emanuel, Ambassador of the United States of America to Japan (pre-recorded)
Moderator: Ryan Shaffer, President, Japan-America Society of Washington DC

Live discussion:
Koji Tomita, Ambassador of Japan to the United States of America
Moderator: Mireya Solís, Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies, Director and Senior Fellow, Center for East Asia Policy Studies, Brookings Institution

Panel 1: Foreign policy (10:00 am-10:55 am) 

Naoko Eto, Professor, Department of Political Science, Gakushuin University
Matthew Goodman, Senior Vice President for Economics, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Chris Johnstone, Senior Adviser and Japan Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Moderator: Shihoko Goto, Director for Geoeconomics and Indo-Pacific Enterprise and Deputy Director, Asia Program, Wilson Center

Panel 2: Domestic issues (11:00 am-11:55 am)

Jennifer Sklarew, Assistant Professor, Energy and Sustainability Policy, Food-Energy-Water-Climate Nexus, Social Science, George Mason University
Sheila Smith, John E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Randall Jones, Non-Resident Distinguished Fellow, Korea Economic Institute; Professional Fellow, Center on Japanese Economy and Business, Columbia University
Moderator: Tobias Harris, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Asia Program, German Marshall Fund

Closing remarks (11:55 am-12:00 pm)

Ryan Shaffer, President, Japan-America Society of Washington DC
Mireya Solís, Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies, Director and Senior Fellow, Center for East Asia Policy Studies, Brookings Institution

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Past Japan in the Year Programs