9/13/18: Japan’s Foreign Policy during an Era of Global Turbulence: Perspectives of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan

Mr. Yukio Edano’s Remarks (in Japanese)

Mr. Yukio Edano’s Remarks (in English)

Thursday, September 13, 2018
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM
State Room – 7th Floor
1957 E St. NW
Washington DC 20052

Since its sudden and energetic entrance in Japanese politics beginning with the October 2017 snap election in Japan’s House of Representatives, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) has become the largest opposition party in Japan. CDP leader Yukio Edano – former Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan among other official positions – formed the party along the principles of progressive economics, civil rights, and pacifism, especially opposition to proposals to revise Article 9 of Japan’s postwar Constitution. As the CDP continues to make an impact in contemporary Japanese politics, what are the implications of its foreign policy perspectives for Japan, the region, and the world?

About the Speaker:

Mr. Yukio Edano is currently Leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), the largest opposition political party in Japan. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1993. Mr. Edano has served in numerous cabinet-level positions in the Japanese government: Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (2011-2012), Minister for Nuclear Incident Economic Countermeasures (2011-2012), Chief Cabinet Secretary (2011), Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs (2011), and Minister of State for Government Revitalization (2010-2011). Other positions held include Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ, later the Democratic Party, DP) (2010), Chairman of the Party’s Research Commission on the Constitution (2004 & 2013), Chair of the Party’s Research Commission on the Constitution (2010), and Head of Working Groups for Review of Government Programs, Government Revitalization Unit (2009). He graduated from the School of Law of Tohoku University, and registered as an Attorney in 1991.

Moderator: Professor Mike Mochizuki holds the Japan-U.S. Relations Chair in Memory of Gaston Sigur at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. Dr. Mochizuki was director of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies from 2001 to 2005. He co-directs the “Memory and Reconciliation in the Asia-Pacific” research and policy project of the Sigur Center. Previously, he was a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He was also Co-Director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Policy at RAND and has taught at the University of Southern California and Yale University.