COVID-19 and the Future of Doing Business in Asia

The COVID19 pandemic has caused massive disruption and volatility to the global economy. The loss of lives and livelihoods has pushed governments to intervene significantly in response to the outbreak while businesses are adapting to the rapidly changing needs of their people, consumers, and suppliers. As the world contends with the outbreak, countries in Asia have pioneered containment strategies, shaped new protocols, and restarted economic activity. As businesses in the region resume economic activity, Asian companies are in a unique position to define and structure the “new normal.” What will the “new normal” look like? How is COVID19 reshaping the dimensions that define the future of doing business in Asia? Focus countries include the following: (1) China, (2) Japan, (3) Singapore, (4) South Korea, (5) Philippines, (6) Vietnam

Digitalization: Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Business

KAS Japan/Social and Economic Governance Program Asia (SOPAS) in partnership with Woomentum is conducting a research on the impact of digitalization to women entrepreneurship. Empowered women with digital transformation and innovation are key agents in building more stable and resilient communities, reducing poverty and stimulating greater social and digital economic growth. Ministries, private companies and other relevant stakeholders get confronted with challenges and opportunities in response to the changes in digitalization and gender equality. The research hopes to shed light on those opportunities and provide insights to address the set challenges to all stakeholders.

“Design and Democracy” Plenary Panel Discussion

Social and Economic Governance Programme Asia (SOPAS) co-organized panel at ACAS/ACCS2020

A Plenary Panel Discussion on "Design and Democracy" presented at the 10th Asian Conference on Asian Studies (ACAS2020) and the 10th Asian Conference on Cultural Studies (ACCS2020) jointly organized by KAS SOPAS and IAFOR.

Tokyo Conference 2020

Genron NPO event / February. 29th at Nikkei Hall and March 1st at Tokyo Prince Hotel

The Tokyo Conference is the most influential high-level track II dialogue on international challenges and global governance in Japan

US-Japan Relations under Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe

DIJ KAS Roundtable

US-Japan relations form a core element in Asian regional security and a central pillar of the international trade regime. The quality of the relationship has always been shaped by the personalities representing the two countries. Shinzo Abe, Japan’s now longest-serving prime minister, has been keen to establish good personal ties with Donald Trump, whose “America First” policy implied a major shift in the US approach to regional and global issues. This roundtable will discuss the changes that US-Japan relations underwent since the beginning of Trump’s presidency and analyze the regional and global implications.

Social Economic Policies Asia (SOPAS) 2020-2022 Cycle

Inception Workshop and Programme Launch

The Social Economic Policies Asia (SOPAS) is a regional forum that contributes to the debate and reform of economic and governance models in Asia. It brings together a network of policy makers, economists, political analysts and thought leaders across Asia-Pacific to discuss emerging issues, propose policy alternatives and share best practices.

Track 1.5 Japan-Germany Security Dialogue Public Forum

A public forum on the Track 1.5 Japan-Germany Security feature a panel discussion where policy practitioners and experts from both Japan and Germany will speak about security issues in both countries, as well as the regional situations in Europe and Asia.

The EU and Japan

Really getting things done?

The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) were concluded in 2018 and have now entered the implementation phase. What kind of concrete steps have the EU (and its member states) and Japan taken to strengthen cooperation, coordination and synergies in view of both agreements’ ambitious agenda? This 1-day conference accompanied by a public forum/panel addresses these question and pinpoints common areas of interest where EU and Japan cooperation could make a difference. The conference, thus, will besides assessing progress, analyse likely areas for cooperation. The purpose of the conference is to move the process and come up with suggestions for the next steps to take.

日EU関係の新展開 経済連携協定と戦略的パートナーシップ協定

2018年7月、日本とEUは正式に自由貿易/経済連携協定（EPA）及び、EUと日本が経済だけでなく政治、そしてセキュリティにおける連携の規定を目指す、いわゆる日EU戦略的パートナーシップ協定（SPA）を締結した。

"Japan and Southeast Asia - Current Foreign Policy Issues in the Era of Global Change and Challenges"

In Kooperation mit dem Center for Southeast Asia Studies Kyoto University (CSEAS) wird ein internationaler Workshop zu aktuellen außenpolitischen Entwicklungen Japans und Südostasiens organisiert.