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Japan’s Fledgling Global Voice
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- Speaker:
- Hiroki Sugita (Managing Senior Writer at Kyodo News)
Japan does not have a strong voice on the global stage. It is a member of the Group of Seven and frequently holds a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. However, in the most important discussions in those international arenas, Japan supports or simply follows the directions of the United States, leaving the impression that it has no independent opinions to contribute to global discussions. Japan, and Japanese, appear satisfied but silent.
Hiroki Sugita will analyze the roots of Japan’s (relative) silence and discuss recent developments which demonstrate that many Japanese are stepping up to the challenge, making it easier for Japanese voices to participate in the global conversation.
Speaker:
Hiroki Sugita
Managing Senior Writer at Kyodo News
Hiroki Sugita is currently Managing Senior Writer at Kyodo News. He joined Kyodo in 1980 after graduation from Hitotsubashi University and served as Tehran Bureau Chief (1991-92), New York Correspondent (1993-96), Washington Correspondent (1997-2001), Washington Bureau Chief (2005-09), and Senior Feature Writer and Editorial Writer (2010-13). He frequently interviewed global leaders including Presidents Vladimir Putin (twice) and George W.Bush. His current career also includes Planning Committee Member, Japan National Press Club; Special Fellow at Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University; Visiting Fellow at Institute for Policy and Cultural Studies, Chuo University; and Fellow at Institute for Okinawan Studies, Hosei University.
He authored books on Japan’s nuclear policy, the US presidential election of 2008, and interviewed numerous intellectuals from various countries on the Great East Japan Earthquake.