The Australia Japan Research Centre and ANU Japan Institute are proud to host the virtual 2021 annual Japan Update conference on Wednesday 8 September, between 10:00am - 3:30pm AEST (9:00am - 2:30pm JST)
Bringing together experts from Australia, Japan and the region, the Update will focus on the impact of COVID-19 on Japanese society and prospects for recovery, governance challenges and science, defence and technology issues.
Event Schedule:
Welcome and introduction (10:00 - 10:10am AEST)
Presented by Professor Helen Sullivan, Dean, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
Keynote speech: Japan and Asia after COVID-19 (10:10 - 10:40am AEST)
Presented by Professor Sawada Yasuyuki, University of Tokyo
Panel: The Impact of COVID-19 on Japanese Society (10:40 - 11:40am AEST)
This panel will explore the effects of the pandemic on equality, gender and ageing issues, and how recovery in Japanese society looks. Topics will include the mental health and suicide effects of COVID-19, the gaps in the social safety net and progress with opening up to immigration.
Panelists
- Professor Yoko Ibuka, Keio University
- Associate Professor Nana Oishi, University of Melbourne
- Professor Sawada Yasuyuki, University of Tokyo
- Chair: Associate Professor Lauren Richardson, Australian National University
Panel: Science, Defence and Technology in Japan (12:30 - 13:30 AEST)
Japan is a global technology leader. This panel reviews new issues in energy, defence and the digital economy. Progress of digitisation in Japan, including its Society 5.0 strategy, new defence issues like artificial intelligence and space, and the energy transition to zero emissions by 2050, including green innovation, will be the focus of discussions.
Panelists
- Associate Professor Jun Mukoyama, Asia-Pacific Initiative
- Ms. Yuki Tatsumi, Stimson Centre
- Associate Professor Llewelyn Hughes, Australian National University
- Chair: Associate Professor Shiro Armstrong, Australian National University
Panel: Governance Challenges (14:00 - 15:00 AEST)
This panel will review new governance issues in Japan, including the economic and political response to COVID-19 in Japan and the new economic security policies for managing a more uncertain external environment.
Panelists
- Professor Keiichiro Kobayashi, Keio University
- Ms. Motoko Rich, The New York Times
- Associate Professor Shiro Armstrong, Australian National University
- Chair: Professor Ippei Fujiwara, Keio University & Australian National University
Closing remarks
Please register here.
