Robert Ward hosts Dr Kristin Vekasi, the Mansfield Chair of Japan and Indo-Pacific Affairs at the University of Montana, and Professor Hatakeyama Kyoko, Professor of International Relations at the Graduate School of International Studies and Regional Development, University of Niigata Prefecture for an in-depth discussion on the current state and future direction of Japan’s critical mineral strategy. Together, they explore: · Developments in Japan’s critical mineral strategy from 2010 when China...
Mar 12, 2026•40 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Robert Ward hosts Professor Taniguchi Tomohiko, Chairman of Nippon Kaigi and Specially Appointed Professor at the University of Tsukuba. They discuss the outlook of Japan’s foreign and security policy in 2026. Together, they explore: · The upcoming Japanese snap election · The Takaichi government’s security and defence reforms · Japan’s foreign and security relations with the US · Japan’s security and economic relations with China Recommended materials from our guests: · Agawa Naoyuki, Friendshi...
Feb 03, 2026•50 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Robert Ward hosts Kristi Govella, senior advisor and Japan chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and Eva Pejsova, Japan chair at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy of the Brussels School of Governance. They review Japan’s security and diplomacy in 2025. Together, they explore: The US tariffs on Japan and trade negotiations between the two countries Ishiba Shigeru’s legacy as prime minister Takaichi Sanae’s selection as prime minister, her cabinet appointments a...
Dec 15, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Robert Ward hosts Ogi Hirohito, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics; Ito Ayano, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ITO Strategy Company; and Tom Corben, Research Fellow at the United States Studies Centre. They discuss the increasing cooperation between Japan and the US in the defence industry. Together, they explore: · How Takaichi and Trump might cooperate on US-Japan defence-industrial issues · The Takaichi government’s new policies in relation to the defence industry ...
Nov 21, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Robert Ward hosts Yamashita Yukari, Managing Director at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), and Stephen Stapczynski, Asia Energy Team Leader at Bloomberg News, for an in-depth discussion on the current state and future direction of Japan’s energy security. Together, they explore: Japan’s 7th Strategic Energy Plan and its emphasis on economic security and energy mix. The balance between renewables, nuclear and fossil fuels in achieving realistic decarbonisation. Japan’s pioneering r...
Oct 20, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Robert Ward hosts Goto Shihoko, Senior Fellow for Indo-Pacific Affairs at the Mansfield Foundation, and Eto Naoko, Professor at Gakushuin University and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics, for a timely discussion on Japan–US–China economic relations.. Together, they explore: · US-China competition and its implications for Japan’s economic strategy · Japan-China dynamics in rare earths supply chains and technology competition · Japan’s balancing act between economic engagement with Ch...
Sep 23, 2025•53 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Robert Ward hosts Dr Chijiwa Yasuaki, Chief, International Conflict Division, National Institute for Defence Studies (NIDS), Ministry of Defence, Dr Jennifer Lind , Associate Professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth, and Dr Sayuri Romei, Senior Fellow in the German Marshall Fund, GMF, Indo-Pacific Program. They discuss the evolution of Japan's post-war defence policy in light of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Robert, Yasuaki, Jennifer and Sayuri discuss: Evolution...
Sep 08, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Robert Ward hosts Sakata Yasuyo, Professor of International Relations at Kanda University, Victor Cha, President of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Jung-Hoon Lee, Dean and Professor of International Relations at the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University. They discuss Japan–South Korea relations in light of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalisation. Robert, Yasuyo, Victor...
Jul 18, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this special edition of Japan Memo Season 5, Robert Ward reports from Singapore on the 22nd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. Joining him is Professor Jimbo Ken, Managing Director of the International House of Japan, President of the Asia Pacific Initiative, and Professor at Keio University’s Faculty of Policy Management. They deliver timely and in-depth analysis of this year’s key developments and strategic narratives. Robert and Professor Jimbo discuss: · Major themes and takeaways from the 2025 Di...
Jun 06, 2025•32 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Robert Ward hosts Professor Hosoya Yuichi, Professor of International Politics at Keio University, Professor Yee Kuang Heng, Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy and Director of the Security Studies Unit at the Institute for Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo, and Fenella McGerty, the IISS Senior Fellow for defence economics in the Defence and Military Analysis Programme. They discuss Japan-UK relations. Robert, Yuichi, Yee Kuang and Fenella discuss: Japan-UK diplomatic a...
May 20, 2025•49 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Robert Ward hosts Dr Bart Gaens, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and Japan Chair at the International Centre for Defence and Security, Tatsumi Yuki, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center, and Dr Alice Dell’Era, Assistant Professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. They discuss Japan’s role in Indo-Pacific minilateralism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 11, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Robert Ward hosts Professor Takahara Akio, Emeritus Professor of The University of Tokyo, Dr Elizabeth Wishnick, Senior Research Scientist at the Centre for Naval Analyses (CNA) and Dr Catherine Jones, a Lecturer at the University of St Andrews, to explore Japan’s challenges amid growing cooperation between Russia and China. Robert, Akio, Elizabeth and Catherine discuss: The recent development of the Russia-China strategic partnership in the Ukraine war The limitations of the Sino-Russian relati...
Mar 04, 2025•48 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Robert Ward hosts Professor Suzuki Kazuto, Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, and Dr Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp, Director at Agora Strategy Group, to explore Japan’s economic security policy. Robert, Professor Suzuki and Dr Pohlkamp discuss: Recent developments in Japan’s economic security strategy The European perspective on Japan’s economic security policy Key differences between Japan and Europe’s economic security approaches The future of Japan-China e...
Feb 13, 2025•45 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Robert Ward hosts Dr Sheila Smith, Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and Dr Jeffrey Hornung, the Japan Lead for the RAND National Security Research Division. Robert, Sheila and Jeffrey discuss: Japan’s strategic landscape under Trump 2.0, including insights for PM Ishiba from Abe’s successful approach Japan’s defence policy challenges under Trump 2.0, including potential US demands for increased financial contributions to the security alliance. The...
Dec 13, 2024•52 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Robert Ward is joined by Bill Emmott, Chairman of the IISS Trustees, Murano Masashi, a senior fellow with Hudson Institute’s Japan Chair, and Dr Baldauff Nanae, Non-Resident Senior Associate Fellow at the NATO Defense College to discuss Japan and deterrence. Robert, Bill, Masashi and Nanae discuss: · The strategic definition of deterrence, from what it entails to how it works · Nuclear deterrence, including Japan’s strategy amid the nuclear arms race in East Asia · Integrated deterrence, includi...
Nov 20, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Robert Ward hosts Axel Berkofsky, Associate Professor at the University of Pavia, Professor Hatakeyama Kyoko, Professor of International Relations at University of Niigata Prefecture, and Professor Takenaka Harukata, Professor of Political Science at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. Robert, Axel, Kyoko and Harukata discuss: · Review of the Kishida administration’s security and foreign policy · The Ishiba administration’s foreign policy amid intensifying US-China competition · ...
Oct 17, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Robert Ward hosts Dr Matsuda Takuya, Adjunct Lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University, Dr Vida Macikenaite, Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of International Relations of the International University of Japan, and Dr Wrenn Yennie Lindgren, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Centre for Asian Research at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. Robert, Takuya, Vida and Wrenn discuss: The recent development of Japan’s relationship with the Nordic and Baltic states Japan’s securit...
Sep 23, 2024•53 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Robert Ward hosts Professor Koga Kei, Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Shiozawa Hideyuki, Senior Program Officer at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and Euan Graham, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Robert, Kei, Hideyuki and Euan discuss: Japan’s strategic approach to the Pacific Island countries China’s growing influence in the region Australia and its allies’ strategic objectives in the region Outlook of Japan and its allies’ approach to the re...
Aug 15, 2024•43 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Robert Ward hosts Richard J Samuels, Ford International Professor of Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kotani Ken, Professor at Nihon University in Japan, and Hosaka Sanshiro, Research Fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security and PhD student at the University of Tartu. Robert, Richard, Ken and Sanshiro discuss: The history of Japanese intelligence agencies Japan’s current intelligence capabilities Intelligence threats faced by Japan and the West O...
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Robert Ward hosts Iwama Yoko, Professor at Japan's National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Guibourg Delamotte, Professor of Political Science at the Japanese Studies Department of the French Institute of Oriental Studies (Inalco), and Dr Alexandra Sakaki, Deputy Head of the Asia Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs at Stiftung Wissenschaft and Politik (SWP). Robert, Yoko, Guibourg and Alexandra discuss Japan and the EU: EU strategy for cooperati...
Jun 13, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Robert Ward hosts Chris Hughes , Professor of International Politics and Japanese Studies at the University of Warwick, Dr Naoko Aoki , Associate Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation, and Joseph Dempsey , Research Associate for Defence and Military Analysis at the IISS. Robert, Chris, Naoko and Joseph discuss Japan and North Korea: Japan’s diplomatic strategy towards North Korea North Korea’s strategy for its advancing missile and nuclear capabilities The development of Japan’s counterstr...
May 14, 2024•45 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Robert Ward hosts Alessio Patalano , Professor of War & Strategy in East Asia at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, Veerle Nouwens , the Executive Director of IISS-Asia, and Nick Childs , the IISS Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security. Robert, Alessio, Veerle, and Nick discuss Japan’s maritime security policy in the Indo-Pacific. Topics discussed include: Japan’s positioning of maritime security policy in relation to other domains; China’s perspective on Jap...
Apr 16, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In the second episode of Japan Memo season 4, Robert Ward hosts Higashino Atsuko, a Professor at the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Tsukuba, James Brown, a Professor of political science at Temple University, Japan campus, and Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, the IISS Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia. Robert, Atsuko, James and Nigel discuss Japan and the Russia-Ukraine war. Topics discussed include: Japan’s response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine over the past...
Mar 14, 2024•50 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Robert, Professor Sato, Aaron, and Evan discuss Japan’s relationship with ASEAN. Topics discussed include: Japan’s shifting diplomatic and economic relationship with ASEAN amid the rapid growth of ASEAN countries; Japan-ASEAN security relationship in the increasingly complicated geopolitical landscape in the region; Japan’s defence policy in ASEAN amid rising competition between the US and China; ASEAN’s policy on navigating the great powers competition in the region. The episode's transcript ca...
Feb 19, 2024•43 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In the twelfth episode of Japan Memo Season 3, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino host Professor Taniguchi Tomohiko, a Visiting Professor at Takushoku University's Institute of World Studies and a Senior Fellow at the Alliance of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and former Special Advisor to Prime Minister Abe's Cabinet and also as a Councillor in the Cabinet Secretariat (April 2013 to September 2020), where he contributed to crafting foreign policy speeches for Prime Minister Abe. R...
Dec 06, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 12
In the eleventh episode of Japan Memo Season 3, Robert Ward and Togashi Mariko host Professor Tanaka Koichiro, a professor at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University, and Dr Hasan Alhasan, Research Fellow for Middle East Policy at the IISS. Robert, Mariko, Professor Tanaka, and Hasan discuss Japan’s relationship with the Middle East. Topics discussed include: Japan’s key strategic interests including energy security in the Middle East. Japan’s standpoint and communication ...
Nov 23, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In the tenth episode of Japan Memo Season 3, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino host Professor Kotani Tetsuo, a professor of global studies at Meikai University and a senior fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs; and Dr Lynn Kuok, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Security at the IISS. Robert, Yuka, Tetsuo, and Lynn discuss Japan’s response towards expanding grey-zone situations in the Indo-Pacific region. Topics discussed include: The historical background of grey-zo...
Oct 16, 2023•29 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In the ninth episode of Japan Memo season 3, Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino host Ambassador Sujan Chinoy, the Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi who served as the Indian ambassador to Japan from 2015 to 2018; and Ambassador Masafumi Ishii, a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Gakushuin University who was the Japanese ambassador to Indonesia from 2017 to 2020. Robert, Yuka, Ambassador Chinoy and Ambassador Ishii discuss Japan’s r...
Sep 05, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In the eighth episode of Japan Memo Season 3, Yuka Koshino hosts Ben Schreer, Executive Director at the IISS-Europe and Head of European Security and Defence Programme, and Tsuruoka Michito, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Policy Management in Graduate school of Media and Governance at Keio University, as well as Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University Strategic & Defence Studies Centre (SDSC). Yuka, Ben, and Michito unpack the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and ...
Aug 01, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 8
In the seventh episode of Japan Memo Season 3, Robert Ward hosts Sakata Yasuyo, Professor of International Relations at the Kanda University of International Studies; Dr Mireya Solís, Director of the Center for East Asia Policy Studies, Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies, and a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Program at Brookings; and Dr Chung Min Lee, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Professor at the Institute of Convergence and Security Affairs, Korea A...
Jul 04, 2023•54 min•Season 3Ep. 7
