On Friday, December 5th, the Hamilton Lugar School's (HLS) 21st Century Japan Politics and Society Initiative (21JPSI)* convened seven leading experts from Japan and the United States in Bloomington for its inaugural “Japan, the United States, and the World” national conference and academic workshop.
The international affairs-focused afternoon public conference featured two panels and a keynote address by Ambassador David Shear, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs and former Chairman of the National Association of Japan-America Societies. More than 220 students, faculty, staff, and community members from across Indiana and as far away as southern Ohio trudged through snow and ice to listen to and participate in the discussion. Conference speakers also held additional engagements on campus during their time in Bloomington. The morning academic workshop entailed five speakers presenting, discussing, and sharing critical feedback on draft manuscripts analyzing important issues in Japanese foreign policy and U.S.-Japan relations (workshop details here). Ambassador (ret.) Hans Klemm also participated in a student engagement session focused on careers in diplomacy and hosted by HLS Dean and Professor of International Studies John Ciorciari.
The afternoon public conference began with brief welcome remarks from Dean Ciorciari and 21JPSI Founding Director and Professor of East Asian International Relations Adam Liff, the host and organizer of the day’s events. Speaking first, Dean Ciorciari introduced the school and its commitment to area studies and policy-relevant scholarship, in addition to highlighting the importance of U.S.-Japan relations to Indiana and the greater Midwest. During his own welcome remarks, Liff noted three unique features of this conference: (1) it is the only one of its kind in the Midwest; (2) five of the seven visiting speakers received one or more degrees from Midwestern universities (e.g., the two ambassadors received their undergraduate degrees from Earlham and IU, respectively); and (3) the conference aimed to highlight Japan’s and the U.S.’ other important relationships, beyond just each other.
Prof. Liff moderated the first panel, which was focused on “Japan’s Major Power Relations Beyond the USA: Implications for the U.S.-Japan Alliance.”Prof. Kristin Vekasi (University of Montana) kicked off the discussion with an overview of the major trends in China-Japan relations since Sino-Japanese diplomatic normalization in 1972, followed by a focus on recent frictions in Japan-China relations. In that context, she drew particular attention to the recent worsening of the bilateral relationship, including remarkable Chinese economic coercion against Japan in response to recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that displeased Beijing. Next, Prof. Leif-Eric Easley (Ewha University) highlighted how shared concerns over North Korea have prompted an unprecedented degree of trilateral cooperation among Japan, South Korea, and the United States. He also emphasized the important ways in which Takaichi and South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung have sustained positive momentum in South Korea-Japan cooperation, to some extent contrary the expectations of many observers. Following Prof. Easley’s remarks, Dr. Jeffrey Hornung (RAND Corporation) discussed the myriad ways in which Japan-Europe cooperation has deepened in recent years, both including and independent of the United States. A long-term trend, Dr. Hornung noted that the pace at which cooperation has expanded increased markedly in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and because of shared concerns about China’s international behavior more generally. After the panelists’ prepared remarks concluded, Prof. Liff moderated an intra-panel discussion covering such issues as allies’ concerns about U.S. tariffs and economic statecraft, U.S. and Japanese policy toward North Korea, and prospects for greater trilateral (US-Japan-South Korea) cooperation. The session closed with 20 minutes of audience Q&A.
After the first panel concluded, Ambassador (ret.) David Shear, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs and former Chairman of the National Association of Japan-America Societies, took the stage to deliver the conference’s keynote speech. In his prepared remarks, Ambassador Shear discussed his career in the foreign service, the origins and evolution of the U.S. Asia-Pacific strategy, highlighted strategic challenges that the U.S. and Japan face today, and discussed the U.S.-Japan partnership’s importance for both countries’ efforts to tackle a diverse array of foreign policy challenges and to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. Next, he sat down with Prof. Liff for a brief conversation in which Amb. Shear shared his views on change versus continuity in the U.S.’ approach to Japan and the region more broadly, and what advice he would offer the current U.S. administration if asked. The forty-minute session closed with questions from students, faculty, and community members in the audience.
The second panel brought together experts from the U.S. and Japan for a discussion on “U.S.-Japan Business and Economic Relations in Turbulent Times.” Moderated by HLS’ Prof. Hilary Holbrow, the panel begin with remarks from Dr. William Chou (Hudson Institute) on the importance of U.S.-Japan trade and cooperation in the economic security space. He highlighted the allies’ shared agendas in responding to Chinese economic coercion and improving supply chain resilience, access to energy, and standards. At the same time, Dr. Chou pointed out several challenges in the U.S.-Japan economic relationship in recent months. For example, tariffs have created uncertainty and also put stresses on supply chains and the bilateral relationship. Dr. Chou’s remarks were followed by remarks from Tokyo-based Ambassador (ret.) Klemm (U.S.-Japan Council; American Chamber of Commerce in Japan), who shared an American perspective on the U.S. business community in Japan’s reaction and efforts to shape Japanese policies. Klemm expressed that the direction of the overall business relationship is very positive, and Japan and the U.S. are each other’s largest single foreign investor. Meanwhile, U.S. goods exports to Japan have been increasing, and service exports are also doing well. On the other hand, U.S. firms operating in the Japanese market face some challenges, including the growing prominence of a “Japan first” approach that sees the government prioritize Japanese companies. Additional challenges are Japan’s aging and shrinking population, which are making it harder for companies to find skilled labor in financial services, hospitality, and other industries. The panel’s final speaker was Mr. Hiroyuki Nakashima (Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)), who shared a Japanese perspective on Japan-U.S. business ties and Japanese investment in the USA. Mr. Nakashima began his remarks by informing the audience that JBIC is one of the primary conduits for the $550 billion in Japanese investment pledged to the United States through the recent trade deal; as such, it has a particularly high-profile role to play in the bilateral economic and business relationship. Mr. Nakashima noted recent survey data from JBIC showing that the U.S.—and especially California, Texas, and the Midwest—has become an increasingly attractive target for Japanese investment due to its market size and growth potential. He closed by noting some misperceptions about the $550 billion fund, emphasizing that JBIC can only provide financing for an investment project if it is considered a good investment, i.e., likely to be profitable. After the three panelists’ prepared remarks, Prof. Holbrow led an intra-panel discussion, covering such issues as the importance of Indiana and the Midwest to the U.S.-Japan business and economic relationship and the role of demographics and immigration in shaping each country’s respective business and economic future. After 25 minutes of audience Q&A, Prof. Holbrow closed the session, and Prof. Liff closed the event.
This conference and workshop were made possible by generous support from the Japan Foundation. The views expressed by the participants were their own and did not represent those of their respective organizations.
*The 21st Century Japan Politics and Society Initiative (21JPSI) was launched at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies in 2018. Under the leadership of Founding Director and HLS faculty member Adam Liff, from its base in the Midwest 21JPSI aims to invigorate and expand research, teaching, and programming on contemporary Japanese politics, society, and international (esp. U.S.-Japan) relations, and to educate, raise awareness, and debate policy responses to the various political, social, and foreign policy challenges that Japan faces today. For more information about 21JPSI, please visit https://jpsi.indiana.edu/ and sign up for our event announcement mailing list.
If would like to make a charitable contribution to support 21JPSI’s unique mission to deepen understanding of Japan and the U.S.-Japan relationship at a flagship public university in the U.S. heartland, please click here or contact HLS’ Senior Director of Development