GOVERNANCE & DEMOCRACY

JCIE engages legislators and government leaders, civil society leaders, and other experts in explorations of how to strengthen the building blocks of democratic governance and how support for democratic governance can be better reflected in national approaches to foreign policy. We also encourage a more enabling environment for civil society as a critical component in establishing and protecting democratic norms.

CURRENT PROGRAMS

RELATED ACTIVITIES


Diet Roundtable | Policy Dialogue for Advancing LGBT Rights and Equality in Japan

November 28, 2023 | Tokyo

JCIE brought together a group of Diet members to speak with a representative who worked on Taiwan’s campaign for marriage equality, to discuss recent Japanese legislation aimed at protecting LGBTQ peo…


2023 Japanese Women Leaders Delegation to the US

September 11–15, 2023 | Washington DC

JCIE brought a delegation of six Japanese women leaders from political and business sectors to Washington DC to participate in a weeklong series of activities to explore issues related to US-Japan rel…


Diet Roundtable | Defending Universal Values in the Indo-Pacific Region: Japan's Role Post-Hiroshima Summit

July 26, 2023 | Tokyo

JCIE brought together a group of Diet members to meet with Derek Mitchel, President, National Democratic Institute, to discuss defending human rights and universal values in the Pacific as a follow-up…


Democracy for the Future | March 2023 Diet Roundtable

March 29, 2023 | Tokyo

JCIE brought together a group of leaders in the field to discuss how the international community should address human rights violations and expectations for the G7, which Japan was hosting later that…


Trilateral Commission | 2022 Asia Pacific Group Regional Meeting

November 20, 2022 | Tokyo

The Asia Pacific Group of the Trilateral Commission held its annual regional meeting in Tokyo, gathering leaders from around the globe to promote dialogue on key issues facing the international commun…


Interviews from the Sunnylands Initiative Retreat

August 1–2, 2022 | Odawara, Japan

At the second meeting of the Sunnylands Initiative on Enhancing Democratic Partnership in the Indo-Pacific region in Japan, select participants shared their thoughts on key issues concerning democracy…


Second Sunnylands Initiative Retreat Hosted in Japan

August 1–2, 2022 | Odawara, Japan

Responding to the urgent need to address the threats to democracy in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world, JCIE convened the second meeting of the Sunnylands Initiative on Enhancing Democratic…


Webinar | Enhancing Democratic Partnership in Asia

December 7, 2021 | Online

In the lead-up to President Biden’s Summit for Democracy, JCIE organized a webinar on December 7 that convened over 40 Asia-Pacific experts to discuss how to enhance democratic partnership in the regi…


CSO Roundtable on Japan's Support in Addressing the Global Crisis for Democracy and Human Rights

August 10, 2021 | Online

JCIE hosted a roundtable which brought together participants from a variety of Japanese and international CSOs to discuss what kind of support is needed from japan to support democracy and human right…


Democracy for the Future | Roundtable on Shared Values in Asian Led Efforts to Defend and Support Democracy

June 29, 2021 | Online

JCIE brought together a group of leaders in the field to discuss the question of shared values in Asian led efforts to support and defend democracy


Democracy for the Future | Meeting of Civil Society Leaders on COVID-19 and Challenges to Democratic Values

June 11, 2020 | Online

JCIE brought together a group of civil society leaders for an online discussion on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for civil society and the challenges it might pose to democratic values in…


Democracy for the Future | Diet Roundtable with NED Vice President Brian Joseph

December 12, 2019 | Tokyo

National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Vice President Brian Joseph spoke about the role of nongovernmental organizations such as the NED in supporting democracies to a group of 15 Diet members as well…


Expert–Diet Member Delegation to the United States to Discuss US-Japan Cooperation on Democracy Support

September 17–20, 2019 | Washington DC

JCIE’s 30th Parliamentary Exchange Program featured a delegation that combined members of the Diet with experts in the field of democratic governance. The group traveled to the United States to explor…


Democracy for the Future | Diet Roundtable with Professor Andrew J. Nathan

May 30, 2019 | Tokyo

Twenty-five thought leaders from Japan met with Professor Andrew Nathan for discussions on the state of democracy and democracy assistance.


Democracy for the Future | Our Role, Japan’s Role—Thought Leaders Seminar

April 19, 2019 | Tokyo, Japan

Twenty-five thought leaders from Japan met with the president of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (USA) for discussions on the state of democracy and democracy assistance.

Related Publications & Media


The US and Japan as G7 Champions of Health and Democracy

Kazuyo Kato

May 11, 2023

In this op-ed published in the Diplomat ahead of the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima, JCIE/USA Executive Director Kazuyo Kato and Ambassador (ret.) Mark Lagon, Chief Policy Officer at Friends of the Globa…


The Struggle for Democracy in Asia Deserves Our Support

Michael Abramowitz

August 18, 2022

This piece by Freedom House President Michael Abramawitz highlights recent trends in democracy in Asia and beyond, as well as Mr. Abramawitz’s attendance at the recent Sunnylands Initiative Retreat in…


Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections | Concluding Paper

Harukata Takenaka

May 2022

This report serves as the concluding paper for a project on “Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections” and was written by the project lead, Dr. Harukata Takenaka, to summarize the key points that em…


Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections 3 | Civil Society, Diversity, and Media

Harukata Takenaka, Toshiki Abe, Rieko Kage, Kaori Hayashi

April 2022

This report transcribes discussions that took place as part of JCIE’s project on “Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections”. The report details the contents of the 3rd dialogue to take place as part…


Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections 2 | Government Systems

Harukata Takenaka, Yosuke Sunahara, Satoshi Machidori, Takako Hikotani

April 2022

This report transcribes discussions that took place as part of JCIE’s project on “Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections”. The report details the contents of the 2nd dialogue to take place as part…


Japan’s Democracy: Lessons and Reflections 1 | The Current State of Japan’s Democracy

Harukata Takenaka, Kenneth Mori McElwain, Kensuke Takayasu, and Naoko Taniguchi

April 2022

This report transcribes discussions that took place amongst members of JCIE’s research team for our project on Expanding Support for Democratic Governance. The initial discussion took place shortly af…


Research Team Trialogue 2: The Spread of COVID-19 and Its Impact on Global Democracy

Kaori Shoji, Hiroaka Shiga, and Ryo Sahashi

January 2021

This transcription of a discussion between three research team members from JCIE’s project on Expanding Support for Democratic Governance focuses on the potential threats to democracy in the light of…


Research Team Trialogue: The Spread of COVID-19 and Its Impact on Global Democracy

Takako Hikotani, Harukata Takenaka, and Kimitoshi Yabuki

November 2020

This transcription shares a conversation between three JCIE research team members from the project on Expanding Support for Democratic Governance on their assessments of the current state of democracy…


Japan's Support for Democracy-Related Issues: Mapping Survey

Atsuko Geiger

2019

Background and examples of Japan’s work on democracy-related issues, compiled as part of JCIE’s program on Expanding Support for Democratic Governance.


Looking for Leadership: The Dilemma of Political Leadership in Japan

Ryo Sahashi and James Gannon, eds.

2015

Looking for Leadership explores the obstacles facing Japan as it looks for greater stability and power in its leadership, and explains how these lessons can also apply to the rest of the world.


Navigating Change: ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership in East Asia and in Global Governance

Rizal Sukma and Yoshihide Soeya, eds.

2015

In preparation for the Japan-ASEAN Ministerial meetings, Navigating Change proposes ways in which strategic partnerships between ASEAN and Japan can help to create a more stable East Asia, as well as…


Beyond 2015: ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership for Democracy, Peace, and Prosperity in Southeast Asia

Rizal Sukma and Yoshihide Soeya, eds.

2013

This report, based on the study conducted to reexamine and redefine the strategic value of ASEAN-Japan cooperation, offers recommendations for such cooperation and integration among ASEAN countries.


Hatoyama's Resignation and Japan's Foreign Policy

June 2010

This issue analyzes Hatoyama’s resignation, and the effects of his fall and of the establishment of the new Kan government on Japan’s foreign and national security policy.


The US-Japan Alliance: Beyond Futenma

February 2010

This issue discusses the need to reassess the US-Japan alliance to ensure that it is equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century.


The Crisis of Global Governance and the Rise of East Asia

September 2008

With the November US presidential election approaching, this special edition incorporates and expands elements raised in previous issues, examining them in the context of the global governance system,…