Sasakawa USA Newsletter December 30, 2021
Included in this issue of the newsletter:
  • Message from Sasakawa USA's Chairman, Satohiro Akimoto

December Activities
  • Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED): First Pre-Departure Session
  • Washington Kenkyu Group: A Discussion with The Hon. Charles Boustany, President of FMC
  • Roundtable Discussion: Dr. Akimoto Joins "Re-examining the CPTPP and America's Trade Priorities" by Hudson Institute
  • U.S.-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative: Mr. Schoff Lectures on a Bilateral "High-Tech Alliance" at Harvard University

Recaps
  • U.S.-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative: Bilateral Dialogue Series, "Alliance Perceptions of Central Bank Digital Currencies"
  • The Alliance Working in America Series (TAWA): TAWA in Dallas, TX

Publications 
  • Japan Political Pulse: Prime Minister Kishida's New Year Challenges (Dr. Akimoto)
  • Wedge: The Biden Administration's Political Instability: Japan Should Actively Engage the U.S. for a Stronger U.S.-Japan Relationship (Dr. Akimoto)

Upcoming Events
  • Policy Briefing: Japan as Relevant as Ever: The Economist Special Report on Reiwa Japan with Mr. Noah Sneider
  • Japan-U.S. Military Program (JUMP): JUMP North Carolina and Seattle
  • Congressional Program on U.S.-Japan Relations and the Indo-Pacific (CPUSJ): Now Accepting Applications
  • JETAA Florida's Second Webinar on WWII Nisei Legacy

Featured Staff
  • Ms. Eliya Harnood
Message from Sasakawa USA's Chairman, Satohiro Akimoto
Photo: (L-R back row) Dr. Akimoto, Mr. Schoff, Ms. Chen, Mr. Canady, Ms. Jordan, and Ms. Takahashi
(L-R front row) Ms. Swarts, Ms. Shoji, Ms. Harnood, Ms. Burke, Ms. Tanaka, and Mr. Miura
Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA (Sasakawa USA) had a positive and productive year in 2021. Despite the many challenges that continue to arise from the COVID-19 crisis, Sasakawa USA was able to carry out meaningful programming. For example, our Policy Briefing Series, our flagship public event program, held 25 online briefings with highly prominent speakers on critically important U.S.-Japan security and foreign policy issues. Commentary & Analysis, our flagship publication series, is moving forward with 9 papers on Europe’s increased strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. In addition, Sasakawa USA launched the U.S.-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative under the direction of Senior Director, James L. Schoff.

I would like to express my gratitude to our friends and supporters, who vigorously joined in and contributed to our activities. Your genuine interest and generous support are essential to our programs. I would like to also express my appreciation to everyone on our team who made our activities possible, from planning to execution. Our team, led by two directors, Misa Imanaka-Miller and Shanti Shoji, and newly joined Senior Director James L. Schoff, were the engine of Sasakawa USA.

Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude to our Advisory Committee on Projects members, Admiral Philip S. Davidson; Doctor Joseph S. Nye, Jr.; Secretary Randall Schriver; Ambassador Kurt Tong; and Ambassador Melanne Verveer for their thoughtful advice and valuable contributions. I am thankful to our program partners such as the East-West Center in Washington, Embassy of Japan, National Association of Japan America Societies (NAJAS), U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), U.S. Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme Alumni Association (USJETAA), and World Affairs Councils of America.

There were several key programs which we did have to postpone, unfortunately. These programs required people to people exchanges in the United States and Japan and were not possible due to COVID-19. For the second year in a row, we had to postpone our Security Forum and the Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED), which involve security and public health experts both in the United States and Japan. We were also forced to reschedule our collaborative program with FMC, the Congressional Study Group visit to Japan, and an iteration of our The Alliance Working in America (TAWA) series that was to be held in partnership with the Portland Japanese Garden in Portland, OR. Sasakawa USA will regroup in 2022 to execute these programs while ensuring the safety and health of everyone involved.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful and healthy new year.
December Activities
Sasakawa USA Emerging Experts Delegation (SEED): First Pre-Departure Session
On December 15, Sasakawa USA hosted the first Pre-Departure session for the newest SEED cohort, featuring U.S. public health professionals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, collaboration on establishing best practices on health has become a focus of international relations and security alliances. Sasakawa USA therefore selected nine public health professionals from the public and private sector to travel to Japan to increase mutual understanding of the handling of COVID-19 and each side’s unique perspectives on pandemic preparedness to allow for strengthened collaboration among the two allies. This year’s participants come from the Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the Milken Institute Center for Public Health, and CNN. Although travel to Japan is currently not possible for foreigners, participants will have the opportunity to gather virtually once a month to learn from Japan experts about various health-related topics in preparation for their departure when travel is safe.
Washington Kenkyu Group: A Discussion with The Hon. Charles Boustany, President of FMC
On December 7, Sasakawa USA Washington Kenkyu Group welcomed The Hon. Charles Boustany, President of the Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC). For this non-attribution virtual event, The Hon. Boustany described the current political landscape of the United States. With a special focus on the functions of Congress and the White House, he made analytical observations, which led to a lively Q&A discussion with the meeting attendees, including Japanese representatives of the media, think tanks, private sector, and government.

Photo: The Hon. Boustany
Roundtable Discussion: Dr. Akimoto Joins "Re-examining the CPTPP and America's Trade Priorities" by Hudson Institute
On December 16, Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, attended a virtual roundtable discussion hosted by Hudson Institute, “Re-examining the CPTPP and America’s Trade Priorities.” He discussed Japan’s leadership role in getting the CPTPP passed three years ago and what kind of benefits the CPTPP has created for Japan. With the other panelists, the discussion touched upon the opportunities the CPTPP has produced, what new member countries look to achieve by joining the CPTPP, and whether the United States will continue to sit out on CPTPP in the future. The video of the public event is available here.

Event Video: "Re-examining the CPTPP and America’s Trade Priorities" by Hudson Institute
U.S.-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative: Mr. Schoff Lectures on a Bilateral "High-Tech Alliance" at Harvard University
On December 6, Sasakawa USA Senior Director James Schoff presented his research about opportunities to improve alliance economic security through closer science and technology cooperation, along with specific challenges associated with such an effort. The virtual public event was organized by Dr. Christina Davis and Dr. Shinju Fujihira of Harvard University’s Program on U.S.-Japan Relations as part of its series on Japan-U.S. cooperation in Digital Governance. It followed Schoff’s participation in a bilateral workshop (also hosted by the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations) focused on U.S.-Japan cybersecurity cooperation. Given the allies’ high-tech strengths, the question is not whether bilateral science collaboration is a shared strategic opportunity, but rather how to adapt it to keep up with new geopolitical realities and the rate of technological change. The video of the public event is available here.

Event video: "High-Tech Alliance: Pursuing Economic Security through Closer U.S.-Japan Science and Technology Collaboration" by Harvard University
Recaps
The U.S.-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative: Bilateral Dialogue Series, "Alliance Perceptions of Central Bank Digital Currencies"
On November 30, Sasakawa USA’s U.S.-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative held a Track 1.5 bilateral dialogue focusing on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). This off-the-record, not-for-attribution event welcomed around 20 American and Japanese experts from central banks, government agencies, think tanks, universities, private banks, and the Embassy of Japan. It featured brief opening remarks from Mr. James Schoff, Senior Director of Sasakawa USA’s U.S.-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative, a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Robert Greene, nonresident scholar of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and subsequent group discussion moderated by Mr. Schoff. Discussion questions included issues related to CBDCs such as how the United States and Japan assess the implementation of CBDCs and whether CBDCs are a necessary component for improving cross-border payments. The recap for the event is here.

Photo: Mr. Schoff and Mr. Greene
The Alliance Working in America Series (TAWA): TAWA in Dallas, TX
On November 30, Sasakawa USA, in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, held the most recent installment of TAWA at the Renaissance Dallas Addison Hotel in Addison, TX. The TAWA-DFW program highlighted the economic impact of Japanese investment in North Texas and the outlook for the future of Japan-Texas relations. The in-person program was open to the public and attended by local business leaders, politicians, economic development leaders, and students. Ms. Shanti Shoji, Director of Programs at Sasakawa USA, moderated the discussion with a panel consisting of Mr. Masahiro “Mark” Ikeno, President and CEO of NEC Corporation America: Mr. Yoichiro Suzuki, Senior Vice President of Corporate Collaboration for NTT DATA Services, and Mr. Yasuhiro Uozumi, Executive Director of Keidanren USA. A more detailed description of the event is available on Sasakawa USA’s website here.

Photo: Ms. Shoji, Mr. Uozumi, and Mr. Suzuki
Publications
Japan Political Pulse: Prime Minister Kishida's New Year Challenges (Dr. Akimoto)
In his latest Japan Political Pulse article, “Prime Minister Kishida’s New Year Challenges,” Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, analyzes the political conditions which have contributed to Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s unusually high public approval ratings three months after taking up the torch from former Prime Minister Suga. He argues, despite high public approval ratings at this point, Prime Minister Kishida will have to face serious challenges, both domestically and overseas, to ensure continuity of his prime ministership by winning the Upper House elections next summer. You can read the article here.

Photo: Prime Minister Kishida provides remarks on 2021 at a press conference on December 28, 2021. (Official Website of the Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet)
Wedge: The Biden Administration's Political Instability: Japan Should Actively Engage the U.S. for a Stronger Japan-U.S. Relationship (Dr. Akimoto)
Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, wrote an article for the current issue of a leading monthly Japanese opinion magazine, Wedge, covering the challenges U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration have faced so far. Dr. Akimoto delves deeply into the cultural, ethical, and racial issues that are dividing the American public and the U.S. Congress. He draws from recent events that have highlighted the challenges, that the Biden administration has faced, including the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the results from the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections. For Japan to support the United States, he analyzes Japan's role as a solid U.S. ally to respond proactively and realistically to both national security and economic security crises threatening stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Wedge is published in Japanese.
Upcoming Events
Policy Briefing: Japan as Relevant as Ever: The Economist Special Report on Reiwa Japan with Mr. Noah Sneider
On January 6, Sasakawa USA will host the virtual event, "Japan as Relevant as Ever: The Economist Special Report on Reiwa Japan." This event will feature Mr. Noah Sneider for a discussion on his recent special report, "Japan as Relevant as Ever," published by The Economist on December 11, 2021. Mr. Sneider will provide his sharp and balanced insights on the current state of Japan, covering topics such as foreign and security policy, the economy, demographic challenges, climate change, and immigration, to present his argument on why Japan is important. The event will be moderated by Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA.

Photo: Mr. Sneider
Japan-U.S. Military Program (JUMP): JUMP North Carolina and Seattle
In January 2022, JUMP will be hosting events in North Carolina and Washington State. On January 27, the JUMP event will be held at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in partnership with the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS), Japan-America Society of North Carolina, and Sasakawa USA. On January 29, there will be a hybrid JUMP event held in Seattle, Washington in partnership with NAJAS, Japan-America Society of the State of Washington, Nisei Veterans Committee, and Sasakawa USA. JUMP connects past and present service members, families, and government civilians who have served in Japan through social networks and grassroots events. JUMP is the only national program to do so, providing a powerful foundation for sustaining the alliance between the United States and Japan.

Photo: JUMP Pensacola 2021
Congressional Program on U.S.-Japan Relations and the Indo-Pacific (CPUSJ): Now Accepting Applications
Applications for the Winter 2022 Congressional Program on U.S.-Japan Relations and the Indo-Pacific are now open. In partnership with the East-West Center in Washington, this program engages Congressional staff in a series of seven, 60-minute interactive discussions, held weekly via Zoom. Certificates of completion will be awarded to participants who attend at least four of the seven planned sessions. Speakers will come from government agencies, think tanks, universities, and other policy institutions. Session topics are set to include: The U.S.-Japan Alliance as the Cornerstone of Indo-Pacific Peace, Security, and Stability; U.S.-Japan Technological Partnership and Competition; Economic Challenges & Areas of Cooperation; U.S.-Japan Frontier Defense and Technology Cooperation; Vaccine Diplomacy; U.S.-Japan Engagement with ASEAN; as well as Great Power Competition. The program will commence on February 7 and conclude on March 1. Please visit the Sasakawa USA website for more details.
JETAA Florida's Second Webinar on WWII Nisei Legacy
Through support from the Sasakawa USA-USJETAA Mini-Grant Program, the JET Alumni Association of Florida will hold a webinar on January 25, 2022, on the social justice legacy of the Japanese Americans (“Nisei”) who served in the U.S. military during WWII. The first webinar in this series, held on December 1, explored the contributions of the Nisei soldiers who served in the highly decorated 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team. The second webinar will discuss how the Nisei’s struggles to overcome prejudice can inform current social justice efforts. Speakers will include Dr. Lynn Heirakuji (President of the Nisei Veterans Legacy), Diane Hirabayashi Carter (Collections Assistant at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens), and Dr. Mitzi Uehara Carter (Assistant Teaching Professor of Anthropology, Florida International University). Attendees can register for the webinar at this link. Additional information will be available on JETAA Florida’s website.
Featured Staff
Ms. Eliya Harnood
Konnichiwa! I am Eliya Harnood, Associate Program Officer, working on the Japan-U.S. Military Program (JUMP). I joined Sasakawa USA this June after earning my Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland. Born in Tokyo to Mongolian parents and raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC, I always felt a strong passion for cultural diplomacy and public service.

In 2019, I was fortunate enough to study at Waseda University to supplement my Japanese studies. Experiencing the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka, outside of the Washington, DC bubble, I learned that my perception of the U.S.-Japan alliance, and the international system, had been skewed by a singular U.S. perspective. This experience inspired me to pursue professional opportunities in the U.S.-Japan field.

At Sasakawa USA, I am excited to showcase my enthusiasm for and therefore contribute to the U.S.-Japan relationship. Working on JUMP, I am able to assist in deepening the understanding of U.S.-Japan relations in local communities across the United States, bringing together current and former members of the U.S. military who have served in Japan to connect and engage.

It has been inspiring to join a team at Sasakawa USA of other dedicated and kind colleagues with the same passion for strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, especially as it is my first job out of university. I feel lucky to be a part of a team that is not only talented and hard-working, but a team that has a tangible synergy pulsing through the office. One of my favorite moments this past year was collectively adorning the office with holiday decor and enjoying a festive Japanese meal together to celebrate this holiday season. We are looking forward to 2022 and the meaningful programs we are planning for all of you.

Rainen mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA
1819 L Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington DC 20026

202.296.6694