Past Events

29 October 2019

The Challenge of Migration in the UK and Japan

Migration has become one of the most prominent global issues of the 21st century. In the UK, the possibility of a no-deal Brexit in October this year might severely impact low-skilled migration, while in Japan some see migration as an important potential solution to the imminent demographic challenge the country is facing. In this seminar chaired by Professor Brad Blitz, two speakers explained the current migration situation in the UK and Japan. Dr Heather Rolfe focused on low skilled migration in the UK, and Dr Nana Oishi then presented the growing ‘brain drain’ phenomenon in Japan.

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28 October 2019

Skilled Migration: Solving Japan’s demographic crisis?

In the past decade, skilled migration policies in Japan have undergone some major transformations through the points-based system and the regional migration scheme. In April 2019, the new migration scheme for ‘Specific Skilled Workers (SSWs)’ opened a new migration era, admitting 345,150 migrants, who used to be labelled as ‘unskilled’, in the next five years. How did these policy changes take place and what factors were behind them? Can skilled migration be the answer to Japan’s demographic crisis? What else would be needed? While addressing these questions, Dr Oishi also presented her most recent quantitative and qualitative research on the growing ‘brain drain’ phenomenon in Japan and highlighted the need for ‘brain circulation’ policies.

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17 October 2019

Digital Technologies and Global Innovation

Innovation bringing global change can emerge from anywhere in the world. Recent innovations in digital technologies applied to new business models, such as FinTech and digital payments, have started to generate significant benefits for our economies and societies. These technologies are expected to expand the frontiers of traditional financing systems. In this seminar, Soumitra Dutta explained how digital technologies are expected to impact global innovation. Makoto Goda explained the impact of digital transformation in the context of local economies, as well as presenting some examples of local currency applications in Japan. Finally, Ben Brabyn talked about the innovation ecosystem in London, and how to apply a similar model to other cities.

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16 October 2019

FinTech: Investing in the Future?

FinTech is changing traditional finance systems and creating a new model which has the potential to change individual behaviour and society at large, both locally and globally. In the fast-changing world of finance, new technologies and financial mechanisms are seen as the way forward. In this seminar, Mr Goda, a prominent FinTech entrepreneur, explained his business model which has implemented a new electronic money and payment system in Africa, in collaboration with the public and private sectors. He then explained how to apply the business model in local scenarios through some examples of local currency applications in Japan.

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4 October 2019

Archaeology of the Future

In this seminar, two prominent young architects from the UK and Japan discussed the intersection between the future and the past in the present, physical actuality of architecture. Matt Ball and Tsuyoshi Tane examined from two different perspectives the way in which architecture offers the possibility to capture the convergence of the past, and memory, with the future. Mr Tane aspires to create an architecture that nobody has ever seen, experienced, or even imagined, an architecture that inherits the memory of a place from the past and carries it into the future. Mr Tane introduced his working philosophy, “Archaeology of the Future”.

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3 October 2019

Artist Talk: Naoya Inose in conversation with Dr Lena Fritsch

The artist Naoya Inose discussed his work and exhibition The Post-Anthropocene with Dr Lena Fritsch. What kind of influence will humanity bring to this new geological age? Is the age of humanity in fact the history of time itself? The main work in this exhibition, Ave Maria, depicts a Ferris wheel quietly enshrined in a huge cave. This Ferris wheel left by humans is a metaphor of humanity itself and it slowly rotates. If life and death are the motif of the Ferris wheel, the Ferris wheel in the work Ave Maria has stopped, and time restrictions no longer exist.

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3 October 2019

Private View: The Post-Anthropocene by Naoya Inose

The Private View was a chance to have a first look at the exhibition The Post-Anthropocene by the London-based Japanese artist Naoya Inose. The main work in this exhibition, Ave Maria, depicts a Ferris wheel quietly enshrined in a huge cave. This Ferris wheel left by humans is a metaphor of humanity itself and it slowly rotates, climbing up and plunging down from top to bottom. Indeed, the Ferris wheel embodies the time constraints by which humanity is bound. If life and death are the motif of the Ferris wheel, the Ferris wheel in the work Ave Maria has stopped, and time restrictions no longer exist.

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24 September 2019

Space Exploration – the Future of Human Progress?

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. 50 years on, the possibilities of space have multiplied, with governments and private companies attempting to take advantage of various opportunities. This seminar looked at developments in space technology and their effects on society. Lynn Zoenen talked about the Japanese company ispace’s attempts to create a world where the earth and moon are part of the same ecosystem, beginning with their efforts to find water on the moon using the Hakuto space rover. Ian Crawford discussed the potential long-term scientific benefits of space resources.

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12 September 2019

Noh 120919

Noh X Contemporary Music

In this seminar, Ryoko Aoki talked about Noh and her collaborations with contemporary classical musicians. Ryoko studied Shite-kata (lead role performance) with the Kanze school of Noh, and she is currently working with contemporary composers to create and perform new works that use “Utai” (recitation) – the vocal music of Noh. 

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11 September 2019

Plea Bargains – Japan’s approach to corporate crime, similar to DPAs?

Following the introduction of the Japanese “plea bargaining” system last year, Japanese prosecutors began to pursue white-collar crimes. This system, at first glance, seems similar to Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA). However, a closer analysis reveals significant differences between the systems, especially in terms of the incentive structures they create. In this seminar, we reviewed these differences, taking into account the cultural differences between Japan and England and Wales, and explored the legal tools available in the fight against global corporate criminality.

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26 July 2019

Japan's Economic Diplomacy

Faced with wide-ranging challenges in the global economy, including trade tensions and increasing calls to reform the WTO, the world needs strong leadership to uphold the multilateral trading system. Mr. Shingo Yamagami, Director General of the Economic Affairs Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a seasoned expert in international law and intelligence, shed light on Japan’s economic diplomacy. He discussed Japan’s recent chairmanship of the G20, the conclusion of TPP11 and the Japan-EU EPA, and how Japan and the UK can play a greater role in supporting a strong rules-based trading system.

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20 July 2019

The myriad worlds of manga - GOLDEN KAMUY

Manga is a visual form of narrative storytelling, which can extend people’s understanding of the world. The manga Golden Kamuy reveals a dramatic and inspiring storyline replete with cultural diversity, violence, adventures of survival, and love. It reveals the complex history and lifestyles of mainland Japanese settlers and indigenous Ainu people in Hokkaido during the Meiji era. In this talk Ōkuma Hakko, editor of Golden Kamuy, spoke about the story behind the creation of this manga; Kaizawa Tôru, an Ainu artist, shared his view on Golden Kamuy; and Nicole Rousmaniere, curator of the British Museum’s current Citi Exhibition Manga, spoke about the exhibition.

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