Commentary / World Sep 8, 2021

It's in America's interest to court ASEAN

ASEAN is of tremendous strategic importance to the U.S. and Japan and should not be downplayed.

Commentary / Japan Apr 19, 2021

Why sanctions could worsen the tragedy in Myanmar

The modest democratic progress Myanmar made during the period of awkward coexistence between the NLD and the military over the last decade appears to have been completely wiped out.

Commentary / Japan Feb 11, 2021

Diversity is key to Japan’s relations with the U.S.

In the words of a recent study by the Brookings Institution, “the Biden team is on track to assemble the most diverse set of Senate-confirmed appointees in American history.”

Commentary / Japan Dec 25, 2020

Remembering a mentor: Ezra Vogel's big vision on Asia

There are many scholars who are well-versed in matters related to Japan and China, but Vogel was simply in his own league in terms of his academic work.

Commentary / Japan Oct 19, 2020

All eyes on Suga's foreign-policy agenda

His pledge for a continuity of Abe's policies has been welcomed, but still many questions loom among the foreign-policy community about Japan's new leader.

Commentary / Japan | Commentary Jun 23, 2020

How the U.S. and its allies should prepare for the post-COVID-19 world

With many nations looking to the United States for leadership, the country risks being hemmed in by its economic ties with China.

National / Politics | Commentary Apr 14, 2020

Japan and U.S. must lead preparations for next pandemic

The global crisis over the COVID-19 pandemic calls for a global solution, but so far the international community has not shown a strong desire to get on the same page. Instead of formulating a coordinated front in the fight against the coronavirus, world leaders are ...

National / Politics | Commentary Jan 19, 2020

The Japan-U.S. alliance is stronger than ever, but that doesn't mean it's on autopilot

When the Japan-U.S. security treaty was revised 60 years ago, nobody expected that it would become one of the most remarkable security alliances in history. The treaty, which is the centerpiece of the two nations' alliance, has continuously provided a strong security architecture to protect ...

National / Politics | Commentary Dec 24, 2019

The great power game in the Pacific: What Japan can do

The Pacific island states have never been at the center of geopolitical discussion. The names of the 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) — nations such as Fiji, Kiribati, Palau and Samoa — may evoke a romanticized image of a remote paradise in ...

National / Politics | Commentary Sep 12, 2019

This time it's for real: U.S. must help Tokyo and Seoul end crisis

For years, tension between Japan and South Korea has waxed and waned in a cyclical pattern. In the recent past, friction and animosity has repeatedly emerged as a result of the politicization of historical issues. Tension would subside only after the political winds changed to ...