Keeping Japan on the Map

Keeping Japan on the Map

A one-day conference in celebration of the Sasakawa Lectureship Programme and the breadth of Japanese Studies in the UK today

Friday 18th November 2011 9.00 – 17.00

Birkbeck College, University of London Room B04 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H

The tragic events of 11 March 2011 brought Japan abruptly into international focus as the impact of the earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear problems were played out live on TV screens. Since then, so much of the world has returned to its ordinary business and Japan appears once more to have slipped off the world map.

But what happened in Japan earlier this year and how it has been reported by the media further demonstrated that there is still much that we can learn from Japan and Japan can learn from others. Indeed, the coverage of the disaster itself, as well as programmes and articles relating to Japan that subsequently appeared on UK TV and in the media, have revealed a deep-rooted interest in Japan today.

There are a number of UK universities that have staff conducting significant research on a range of Japan-related subjects. This conference is a celebration of that work. It also provides an opportunity to show-case some of the research being conducted by a number of the Sasakawa Lecturers who were appointed following a programme of staff expansion in Japanese studies funded by a grant from the Nippon Foundation to the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation in 2008.

For further information and booking click here

COP 17 and Beyond: Japan-UK and Global Action for Addressing Climate Change

11 November 2011 from 6.30pm

The Japan Foundation, London
Russell Square House
10-12 Russell Square
London, WC1B 5EH 

From late November to December, delegates from all over the world will meet in COP17 in Durban, South Africa to establish a new framework in order to continue to tackle the issue of climate change. Before the start of this conference, the Japan Foundation will host a special lecture here in London inviting four professionals representing both Japanese and European perspectives – the event will be moderated by Oliver Morton, currently senior editor at The Economist, where he was until recently Energy and Environment Editor.

Prof Mitsutsune Yamaguchi will deliver a presentation entitled ‘In search of an effective and feasible international framework – A balanced approach’ about Japanese policy on climate change issues and the rationale underlying it. Prof. M. Yamaguchi is an environmental economist and Project Professor at the University of Tokyo. He is a member of various Government committees on climate change and has been a lead author for the IPCC 3^rd, 4^thand 5^th assessment reports.

Dr Robert Falkner, Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Associate, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment will discuss ‘What future for international climate policy? Durban and beyond’. The talk will focus on the prospects for a future framework agreement on climate mitigation and the options available for advancing climate policy through multilateral channels.

Dan Dorner, Senior Energy Analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA), will present the key climate change findings from the Agency’s flagship publication, the World Energy Outlook 2011, focusing on the latest data, policy developments and scenario projections for the next 25 years.

Jun Arima, special advisor to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for Global Environmental Affairs and Director-General of JETRO London, will discuss ‘COP17 and beyond – Japan’s view on a fair and effective international framework”’ based on his experience as Japan’s chief negotiator at the COP14, 15 and 16 and the on-going UNFCCC negotiation.

This event is supported by the Embassy of Japan, JETRO London and ANA

This event is free to attend but booking is essential. To reserve a place, please email your name and the title of the event you would like to attend to event@jpf.org.uk.