This report serves as a record of the second discussion for “Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections,” a project conducted in 2021–2022 as part of JCIE’s Expanding Support for Democratic Governance program. The project provided a platform for Japanese scholars, political and opinion leaders, and the broader Japanese public to reflect on Japan’s own experience in building a democratic society post-WWII, examine the resilience of the elements that support democratic governance in Japan today, and identify possible ways to strengthen it further into the future. JCIE organized a series of three discussions to conduct this reassessment with Japanese scholars and policymakers in partnership with Dr. Harukata Takenaka, professor at National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), who is a leading Japanese scholar on the study of democracy.
The second discussion covered Japan’s current government systems, decentralization as seen in the COVID-19 response, and Japanese political party and electoral system reforms. It also featured a discussion on what lessons other countries might learn from Japan’s example. Dr. Takaneka moderated the discussion with three other speakers including:
YOSUKE SUNAHARA, Professor,Kobe University Graduate School of Law
SATOSHI MACHIDORI, Professor, Kyoto University Graduate School of Law
TAKAKO HIKOTANI, Professor, International Centre, Gakushuin University
*To learn more about the project in Japanese please visit our Democracy for the Future Website.
