The US and Japan as G7 Champions of Health and Democracy

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 Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, call for more deliberate US-Japan collaboration in the areas of global health and democratic norms to underpin the two countries’ mutual commitment to uphold human dignity.

AHWIN Papers No. 4: Disaster Preparedness for Aging Populations—Lessons from Japan

The fourth publication in the “AHWIN Papers” series examines Japan’s actions to improve disaster preparedness to better safeguard the country’s aging population.

Japan Elderly Care Services Drawing Interest from Thailand, Other Asian Nations

“In early November, three older people with dementia were cleaning a park in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. A group of nine visitors from Thailand, Vietnam, China and Singapore observed the way the three, who receive the services of a nearby daycare center, were contributing to their community. The visitors included representatives of civil society organizations that provide support for the elderly. The Japan Center for International Exchange, which aims to help other Asian countries in dealing with issues related to population aging, was among the organizations that invited the visitors to learn about Japan’s elderly care services.”

The Road to UHC: The GFF’s Catalytic Role in Supporting PHC Toward the Achievement of UHC

GFF UHC PHC report

This report provides a overview of the Global Financing Facility (GFF)’s role in supporting primary health care (PHC) toward the goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC), as well as examples from three country cases: Cote d’Ivoire, Viet Nam, and Tajikistan.

East Asia Insights | Five Myths about Dealing with North Korea: A Japanese Perspective

This issue discusses the validity of the oft-heard critiques of the February Joint Statement, which was created after North Korea conducted a series of missile tests in July, in addition to its first-ever nuclear weapons test in October.

JCIE/Japan’s Toshihiro Menju Writes on Japan’s Immigration Policy

“At a recent event…, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio told attendees that, ‘we must imagine a society in which we can live together with foreigners’ in light of Japan’s demographic decline. The prime minister should also explain to the Japanese people in a concrete and clear manner that coexistence with foreigners is essential for Japan’s future. […]

JCIE/Japan’s Momoko Abe Interviewed on Aging by NHK

On the sidelines of the 16th International Federation on Ageing Conference in Bangkok, JCIE/Japan’s Momoko Abe discusses the importance of information sharing on innovative responses to aging.

JCIE Managing Director Toshihiro Menju Speaks on Japan’s Foreign Technical Trainee Program

“An organization that supports foreign technical trainees in Japan says it received more than 23,000 complaints in fiscal 2021. This comes amid reports about various problems, such as trainees not being paid or being unjustly dismissed. Japan has a program for trainees from developing countries. The individuals are able to learn about technology and acquire […]

East Asia Insights | Beware the US-Japan Alliance China Gap

Amid the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, Japan finds itself in an increasingly
delicate situation, caught between its security guarantor and its leading economic partner. As a staunch
ally of the United States, Japan is committed to reinforcing the alliance framework to deter unilateral
changes to the status quo and uphold regional stability.

JCIE Publications | New Challenges, New Approaches: Regional Security Cooperation in East Asia

Experts explore new challenges related to nontraditional security threats in East Asia, analyze the capacity of existing regional mechanisms to deal with them, and offer recommendations on the necessary steps to create a more secure region in today’s world.