Speakers, Presentations and Readings

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Click here to register for the workshop.

This workshop has three presenters. For each, please watch or read the materials in advance of the workshop.

1. Prof. Kazuto Suzuki, University of Tokyo
Japan-U.S. Relations in the Age of Kishida and Biden

He has recorded two lectures which are below. The first is on Japan's political system and the second is on U.S.-Japan relations. During the workshop, Prof. Suzuki will take questions based on these two talks. Please watch them AHEAD of the workshop.

2. Prof. Tom Le, Pomona College
Japanese Conceptions of Security in the 21st Century
Prof. Le will give his presentation live during the workshop. Prior to the workshop, please read these three selections (and raise questions or comment if you like).

• Japan's constitution https://www.cfr.org/japan-constitution/
• Le, Tom, "Multiple Militarisms," from Pacifism and Militarism in the Twenty-First Century, Columbia University Press, 2021.
• Harris, Tobias, "Fumio Kishida’s Principles Are About to Be Put to the Test," Foreign Policy, Oct. 4, 2021.

3. Prof. Amy Borovoy, Princeton University
Japan and the Gender Problem: How the Division of Labor Shapes Japanese Society
Prof. Borovoy will give her presentation live during the workshop.

• Motoko Rich, “A Shrinking Society in Japan,” on The Daily (NYT podcast). May 5, 2021
• Bibliography

Suzuki, lecture 1

 

 

Suzuki, lecture 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Prof. Suzuki highlights the importance of article 9 of Japan's constitution. He notes LDP interest in changing it and opposition party commitments to article 9. The Library of Congress has a booklet devoted to article 9.

The text of article 9:

1. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes. 

 

2. In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Some lesson plans tied to the article:
Foreign Policy Research Institute (2016 examples)
University of Kansas NCTA

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Click here to download a pdf of Prof. Le's presentation. (It has been compressed to 9.5 mb.)

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