Where business
and government meet

The International Policy Forum is a network for businesspeople, diplomats, and academics in Tokyo, holding regular breakfast and lunch meetings on matters of policy interest to businesses in Japan. All events host speakers from Japan's political and administrative elite, are run in both Japanese and English and on an invitation only basis. 

 

Past Events

2019 House of Councillors Election Special

The next International Policy Forum will be our Election Special 2019 where we’ll share GR Japan’s analysis of the forthcoming House of Councillors elections scheduled for 21 July.

Despite speculation that he would dissolve the House of Representatives to hold joint elections with the House of Councillors, Prime Minister Abe decided to abandon the idea as his administration estimates it currently has a stable level of support, and the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito ruling coalition is confident it will win the election.

Breakfast Meeting with Ken Saito, Former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Sustaining Economic Revitalization in Japan through Free Trade Agreements

GR Japan is pleased to welcome Ken Saito, former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, to our latest International Policy Forum (IPF) breakfast meeting. Mr. Saito will share his views on recent free trade agreement developments and negotiations, and the impact they have on the Japanese economy.

Breakfast Meeting with Seiji Maehara, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

The “All for All” society How to obtain people’s understanding for a society willing to provide support for all

GR Japan is pleased to welcome Seiji Maehara, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to our last IPF breakfast meeting of the year. Mr. Maehara will discuss his policies and ideas in the area of redistribution – particularly how to achieve his idea of the “All for All” society, connecting the economy with the social welfare system, and providing support for all by sharing the burden with all. He will also share his views on the current administration’s policy initiatives.  

Breakfast Meeting with Dr. Sam Potolicchio, Director of Global and Custom Education, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University

The View from Washington DC - The US Midterm Elections and U.S.-Japan Relations -

The November 6 US midterm elections captured remarkable attention, garnering the highest midterm voting rate in more than 100 years.  With the Democratic Party taking control of the House of Representatives, a divided Congress will make it difficult for President Trump to move his legislative priorities forward.  The Democrats have also promised to investigate the Trump Administration’s alleged malfeasance and corruption.  The course of the US government will become even harder to predict.

Breakfast Meeting with Shigefumi Matsuzawa, Leader of the Party of Hope

Hope's Future and Views on the New Abe Administration

On Thursday 18 October, GR Japan will host Shigefumi Matsuzawa, newly appointed leader of the Party of Hope, Member of the House of Councilors and former Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture.  Mr. Matsuzawa will talk about the Party of Hope’s policy initiatives and his views on the Abe Administration, following Shinzo Abe’s re-election as President of the LDP and the ongoing Cabinet reshuffle.

Lunch Meeting with Sanae Takaichi - Former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications

Reducing Potential Risks - Japan’s Cybersecurity and Defence Policies

On 26 June, the International Policy Forum welcomed Sanae Takaichi, former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and Chair of the Cybersecurity Division of the LDP’s Policy Research Council, to share her insights on the topic of reducing potential risks, including in the realms of defence and cybersecurity.  Ms. Takaichi addressed a range of issues, including how the government’s policies are seeking to minimise the cybersecurity risks that people face in their daily lives.

Breakfast Meeting with Yasuhiro Suzuki, Chief Medical & Global Health Officer of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

Japan’s finances and the future of social security

For our November IPF breakfast, we will invite Mr. Yasuhiro Suzuki, who has been newly appointed to the role of Chief Medical & Global Health Officer of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), in which he oversees all administration under the jurisdiction of the Ministry.  Mr. Suzuki will speak about the outlook for social security and next year's concurrent revisions to medical and nursing care compensation. 

2017 General Election Special

Please join GR Japan to discuss Japan’s upcoming House of Representatives election.
 
Prime Minister Abe dissolved the Diet today for a snap election of the House of Representatives, widely expected to take place on 22 October.  Abe’s decision comes just weeks after support for his Cabinet hit its lowest levels, after a summer of controversy and scandal.  He hoped to catch the opposition off guard, gambling that the bounce in support since his Cabinet reshuffle in early August will see him through the election campaign. 
 

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