Japan currently faces some serious challenges of both a short and long term nature. The coronavirus breakout in Wuhan has been a major concern of the whole nation because of its close proximity to and economic relations with China. Japan also has had some serious natural disasters in the recent past and more is in stock: a huge tsunami, for instance, has up to 26% chance of hitting the southern coast of Japan in the next 30 years. The pace of Japan’s population decline seems to have accelerated in the past few years, which is already affecting Japan’s economy and security among others. Japan’s security environment has remained tense with China and other powers in East Asia and beyond. China in particular is becoming increasingly sophisticated in its military capabilities. Although the Japan-US alliance has remained strong, it is not certain that the US would continue to see the alliance as an indispensable element of its national strategy. [see CEAS website event page for rest of abstract]
Mr. Naoyuki Agawa currently teaches American constitutional law and history as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. He joined Doshisha on April 1, 2016 upon leaving Keio University in Tokyo. At Keio, he served as Professor of the Faculty of Policy Management (1999 – 2016), Vice President, International (2009 – 2013) and Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management (2007 – 2009). [see CEAS website event page for rest of speaker bio]