Events category: Webinar

4 November 2025

Japan’s Security Policy in a New Era of Geopolitical Tensions

In the context of increasing global tension, the world has been experiencing a surge of conflict. Wars continue to rage in Ukraine and Gaza, while tensions in East Asia remain high. Where should Japan’s foreign and security policy be headed, at a time when the international order is being profoundly shaken by the United States, the now avowedly illiberal leader of the ‘free world’? In this webinar, Professor Nakano discussed recent security-related legislation, the expanding role of the Self-Defense Forces, the implications for Japan’s peace constitution as well as the principle of constitutionalism, and the effects of emerging right-wing populist political parties on political decision-making. He also shared recommendations for maintaining peace in East Asia at a time of flux and uncertainty.

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18 November 2025

The Impact of Donald Trump's Tariffs on the Japanese Economy

Donald Trump’s tariff policies have been designed to bring manufacturing back to the United States and protect American jobs. Although the practical results in the US have been mixed so far, retaliation from trading partners such as China and the EU has hit US agriculture especially hard. The impact of tariffs and policy uncertainty has also been significant globally, including in Japan, affecting regions and industries in different ways, with some companies tending to benefit, but others getting left behind. In this webinar, moderated by Professor Hugh Whittaker, Dr Daisuke Adachi talked about the impact of the tariffs; potential trends; related challenges; and lessons for Japan.

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25 September 2025

Populism in the UK and Japan: Elections, Immigration and Economic Insecurity

Political populism is on the rise globally, driven by factors including social inequality, economic insecurity and immigration. This trend is also evident in the UK and Japan, as reflected in recent elections and the current political landscape in both countries. In this webinar, Associate Professor Naoko Hashimoto discussed the politicisation of immigration in Japan, based on the experience of the July 2025 House of Councillors election, which featured a ‘Japanese First’ campaign launched by a few minor and relatively new political parties, as well as some apparently deliberate use of misinformation. Professor Jane Green addressed the realignment of the British electorate and the fragmentation of the right, exploring how Reform may overtake Labour in numerous constituencies and examining the underlying social factors.

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4 September 2025

Chashitsu: Auditory Tea Room

More than ritual, Chadō, the Way of Tea, is also a deeply sonic practice: a choreography of sound, silence, gesture, and space. Chashitsu, the tea room, becomes a resonant vessel for listening—a place where every element is attuned to create a shared sonic awareness. Drawing on this tradition, violinist and composer Midori Komachi and MSCTY founder/producer Nick Luscombe explore the aesthetics of Japanese sound design and immersive experiences grounded in the shared language of music and architecture. Their project, Chashitsu: Auditory Tea Room —a concert premiering at the Royal Albert Hall on 14th October 2025 alongside the launch of Komachi’s album of the same name — brings a new perspective to the tea room as a ‘sonic architecture’. Join Komachi and Luscombe as they offer an insight into their creative process ahead of the premiere, inviting you into a deeper Way of Listening.

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30 July 2025

Populism and New Political Divisions in Japan after the Election

Dr Masato Kamikubo examined how Japan’s unique political structure shapes its political landscape and how it differs from or resembles other democratic countries around the world. Specifically, he discussed the uniqueness of the Liberal Democratic Party’s ‘catch-all party’ system and how it has suppressed populism in Japan, compared with global democratic trends. Additionally, he analysed the emergence of new political forces such as ‘digital innovation groups’ driven by digitalisation, and the resulting shifts in political fault lines. The aim is to provide a concise overview of the future of Japanese politics and the broad implications of the elections.

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25 June 2025

Did the Atomic Bombs end World War II?

In August 1945, two atomic bombs were detonated over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing thousands of people, including many civilians. A few days later, Japan officially surrendered, bringing World War II to an end. Conventional wisdom credits the dropping of the atomic bombs with Japan’s surrender and the end of WWII in Asia. Professor Richard Overy tells a different story in his new book Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima and the Surrender of Japan. In this webinar, moderated by Professor Endo, Professor Overy discussed his views on the use of the atomic bombs and how they changed the post-World War II world.

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18 June 2025

The Second Trump Administration: A Changing International Order

Trump’s second term has been impacting international relations between the US and the rest of the world at a whirlwind pace. The US-led international order established after WWII is shifting, bringing uncertainty on security, defence, and free trade to NATO, Japan, and the rest of the world. In this webinar, moderated by Bill Hayton of Chatham House, Japan’s former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Hitoshi Tanaka discussed the new Trump Administration and its effects on the global order. How is the post-WWII international system changing, what are the potential impacts on Japan, and what can Japan do to mitigate them?

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22 May 2025

National Ballet of Japan at the Royal Opera House

Miyako Yoshida, former Principal of the Royal Ballet and now Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Japan, discussed her work there, her motivation in bringing Giselle to the UK, her daily practice routines in Japan, and her challenges and goals as an artistic director.

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23 April 2025

アウシュビッツー戦後80年を迎えた今

第 2 次世界大戦中、ナチス・ドイツがユダヤ人を中心におよそ 110 万人を虐殺したアウシュビッツ強制収容所が解放されてから今年で 80 年目。2025 年 1 月に開催された式典には生存者 56 人が参加した。現在、アウシュビッツ強制収容所などでのホロコーストを生き延びた人の平均年齢は 86 歳。生存者の高齢化が一段と進む中、記憶をどう語り継いでいくかが課題となっている。このウェビナーでは、国立アウシュビッツ・ビルケナウ博物館で日本人唯一の公認ガイドで ある中谷剛氏が、ホロコーストの歴史的背景、現代社会との繋がり、生存者なき記憶の継 承、近年訪問者数が増加している欧州の若者（英国がポーランドに次いでトップ）、次世代に伝えたいことなど、お話しします。

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3 April 2025

Young Suicide in Japan

The suicide rate among young people in Japan is one of the highest among all OECD countries. The Japanese government regards the situation as “serious,” and needs to move swiftly to implement effective suicide prevention and post-suicide support mechanisms for young people. In this webinar, Prof Kenji Kawano described the recent situation, analysing the background factors behind it, along with some prevention measures and the education programme he has been working on. Prof Daisuke Kawashima presented the results of some studies addressing the impact on young people of suicide bereavements. He talked about some of his postvention activities and considered the future prospects for postvention to help young people in Japan affected by suicide.

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