Monday, March 31, 2014

History unrequited

Abe and Park, March 25, 2014
JAPAN'S SECURITY AND RECONCILIATION WITH ITS ASIAN NEIGHBORS: RECTIFYING THE PAST AND PROMOTING TRUST. 4/1, 11:10am-12:25pm, Washington, DC. Sponsor: Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University. Speakers: Satsuki EDA, Former President of Japan’s House of Councillors (upper house of National Diet), Former Minister of Justice and Minister of the Environment; Yukihisa FUJITA, Member of the House of Councillors, Former Senior Vice-Minister of Finance; Takashi EZAKI, Member of the House of Councillors, Vice-Chair of Organization Committee.

OVERCOMING HISTORY'S HURDLES: RISING ABOVE THE CHALLENGES FACING RELATIONS BETWEEN JAPAN, KOREA, AND CHINA. 4/2, Noon-2:00pm, Washington, DC. Sponsor: Asia Program, Wilson Center. Speakers: Jae-Jung Suh, Fellow, Wilson Center; Tetsuya Toyoda, Fellow, Wilson Center; Daqing Yang, Professor of History, George Washington University.

THE SHADOW OF HISTORY AND SINO-JAPANESE RELATIONS. 4/3, Noon-1:15, Stanford, CA. Sponsor: Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC). Speaker: Ezra Vogel, Henry Ford II Professor of Social Sciences, Emeritus at Harvard University.

THE GHOSTS RETURN: HISTORY, MEMORY AND INTERNATIONAL TENSIONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND ITS NEIGHBOR. 4/8, 4:00pm, New Haven, CT. Sponsor: Council on East Asian Studies, Yale University. Speaker: Tessa Morris-Suzuki, Professor of Japanese History, Australian National University.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Monday in Washington March 31, 2014

THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF TERRITORIAL TAXATION. 3/31, 8:30am-1:15 pm. Cosponsors: AEI and International Tax Policy Forum. Speaker: Jason Furman, Council of Economic Advisers; Alex Brill, AEI; John Samuels, General Electric; Dhammika Dharmapala, University of Illinois; Kevin Markle, University of Waterloo; Alan D. Viard, AEI; Michael Graetz, Columbia University; Sebastien Bradley, Drexel University; Peter Egger, ETH Zurich; Fritz Foley, Harvard University; Rosanne Altshuler, Rutgers University; Alan Auerbach, University of California–Berkeley; Susan Morse, University of Texas at Austin; Paul Oosterhuis, Skadden; Johannes Voget, University of Mannheim; James Hines, University of Michigan; Mihir Desai, Harvard University; Arthur C. Brooks, AEI. 

NPT PROCESS. 3/31, 9:30-11:30am. Sponsors: ACA in cooperation with Physicians for Social Responsibility, Speakers: Ambassador Desra Percaya, Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations (invited); Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova, Senior Research Associate, Center for Nonproliferation Studies; Dr. Ira Helfand, Vice-president, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.

A PIVOTAL YEAR IN AFGHANISTAN: 2014 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE PLANNED DRAWDOWN OF US AND NATO FORCES. 3/31, 10:00-11:30am. Sponsor: Brookings Institution. Speakers: John Allen, Former Commander, NATO International Assistance Force in Afghanistan; Najib Sharifi, Senior Analyst, Afghanistan Analysis and Awareness; Ronald Neumann, Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan.

FOCUS ON THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG POLICY DEBATE. 3/31, 10:00-11:30am. Sponsor: Global Health Policy Center, CSIS. Speakers: Ambassador William R. Brownfield, Assistant Secretary of State, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; J. Stephen Morrison, Senior Vice President and Director, CSIS Global Health Policy Center; Kevin Sabet, former Senior Advisor, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Director of Drug Policy Institute, University of Florida; Michel Kazaktchine and Ruth Dreifuss, members, Global Health Commission. 

DOES AID UNDERMINE ACCOUNTABILITY? EVIDENCE FROM BANGLADESH. 3/31, Noon-1:30pm. Sponsor: Center for Global Development (CGD). Speaker: Raymond Guiteras, Lead Economist, University of Maryland.

CONTESTATION AND ADAPTATION: THE POLITICS OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN CHINA.3/31, 12:30-1:45pm. Sponsor: Sigur Center, George Washington University. Speaker: Dr. Enze Han, Lecturer, Department of Politics and International Studies, SOAS, University of London.

UNFINISHED TRANSITION: ISLAM, PLURALITY AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA. 3/31, 12:30-2:00pm. Sponsor: SAIS, Johns Hopkins University. Speaker: Bob Hefner, Professor of Anthropology, Boston University.

AFGHANISTAN 2014: DISPATCHES FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TRAIL. 3/31, 12:15-1:45pm. Sponsor: New America Foundation (NAF). Speakers: Faiysal AliKhan, Fellow, NAF; Clare Lockhart, Co-Founder and Director, Institute for State Effectiveness; Omar Samad, Senior Fellow, NAF.

THE ETERNAL NAZI. 3/31, 4:00-5:30pm. Sponsor: Foreign Policy Institute (FPI). Speakers: Souad Mekhennet, Author, Journalist, Fellow, FPI; Nicolas Kulish, Author and Journalist, NY Times; Guy Raz, Host, TED Radio Hour, NPR.

AN UNWANTED VISIONARY: GORBACHEV'S UNREALIZED AMBITIONS AND THE SOVIET'S RETREAT FROM ASIA. 3/31, 4:00-5:30pm. Sponsor: History and Public Policy Program, Wilson Center. Speaker: Sergey Radchenko, Reader in International Politics, Aberystwyth University.

GLOBAL HEALTH LAW. 3/31, 5:00-8:00pm. Sponsor: Georgetown University Law Center. Speakers: Author Lawrence Gostin, Director, O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law; Laurie Garrett, Senior Fellow for Global Health, Council on Foreign Relations; Ezekiel Emanuel, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania; Edith Brown Weiss, Professor of International Law, Georgetown Law.

LEADERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: LESSONS LEARNED. 3/31, 6:00-8:00pm. Sponsor: Elliott School, George Washington University. Speaker: Robert Gallucci, President, MacArthur Foundation.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

A Call To Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power

On March 25, former President Jimmy Carter releases his new book,  Call To Action, that focuses on what he says is "the number one challenge in the world today." This is the discrimination and abuse against women.  The book builds on the work of faith leaders and courageous human rights defenders who met last summer at The Carter Center to mobilize faith groups worldwide to commit to advancing women's rights. Religion, they said, should be a force for equality and human dignity not oppression.

In his new book, President Carter argues that people's actions are guided by international agreements as well as their own moral values, most often derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Bible, the Koran, and other texts that proclaim a commitment to justice and mercy, equality of treatment between men and women, and a duty to alleviate suffering. He also asserts it is not possible to address the rights of women, the human and civil rights struggle of our time, without looking at factors that create an acceptance of violence in our society — violence that inevitably affects women disproportionately.

President Carter will be in Washington, DC on March 26th to discuss his book with Sally Quinn, founding editor of OnFaith in the Washington Post and David Ignatius, Washington Post columnist. You will be able to watch the interview on Washington Post Live.

You can find his book signing schedule HERE

Monday in Washington, March 24, 2014

EASING THE BURDEN - REDUCING THE COST OF NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE CAPABILITIES: NEW REPORT BRIEFING. 3/24, 9:00am. Sponsor: Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). Speakers: Keith Robertson, National Reconnaissance Office; Jeff Trauberman, Vice President, Space, Intelligence and Missile Defense, Boeing; David Barnhart, Phoenix Program Manager, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; Frank Slazer, Vice President of Space Systems, AIA.

IRAN THROUGH A EUROPEAN LENS. 3/24, 10:00-1:00am. Sponsor: Atlantic Council. Speaker: Amrietje Schaake, Member, Dutch Democratic Party. Location: Atlantic Council, 1030 15th Street, 12th Floor. Contact:

OBAMA'S TRIP TO REASSURE RIYADH: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE? 3/24, Noon-1:00pm. Sponsor: Middle East Program, Wilson Center: Speaker: David Ottaway, Senior Scholar, Middle East Specialist and Former Washington Post Correspondent.

CHINA'S FOREIGN AID AND THE INTERNATIONAL AID REGIME. 3/24, Noon-1:30PM. Sponsor: Sigur Center, George Washington University. Speaker: Shino Watanabe, Associate Professor, Saitama University, Japan.

A NEW ERA OF FINANCIAL WARFARE: THE EVOLVING ROLE OF ECONOMIC POWER IN NATIONAL SECURITY. 3/24, 12:30-2:00pm. Sponsor: SAIS, Johns Hopkins University. Speakers: Juan Zarate, Senior Advisor, CSIS; John McLaughlin, Professor, SAIS.

A NEW PAGE? THE US AND AFGHANISTAN AFTER KARZAI. 3/24, 2:30-4:00pm. Sponsor: American Enterprise Institute. Speakers: Seth Jones, RAND Corporation; Adam Kinzinger, R-IL; David Sedney, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs.

NORTH KOREA'S HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS - WHAT NEXT AFTER THE UN COMMISSION OF INQUIRY REPORT? 3/24, 3:00-4:45pm. Sponsor: Foreign Policy Initiative and Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. Speakers: Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT); Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ); Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA); Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ); Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY); Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL); Hyeonsoo Lee, North Korean Defector; Melanie Kirkpatrick, Hudson Institute; Roberta Cohen, Brookings Institution; Greg Scarlatoiu, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea; Christopher J. Griffin, Foreign Policy Initiative. 


THE TTIP PERSPECTIVES FROM THE USTR AND THE DELEGATION OF THE EU TO THE UNITED STATES. 3/24, 3:30-6:00pm. Sponsors: American Society of International Law; George Washington University Law School. Speakers: David Weiner, Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative for Europe; Adeline Hinderer Sayers, Counselor for Trade, Delegation of the EU to the US; Steve Charnovitz, Associate Professor, GWU Law School; Vanessa Sciarra, Partner, Holland & Knight.

FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS ROUNDTABLE. 3/24, 4:00-7:00pm, 3/25, 8:30am-3:15pm. Sponsor: Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Speakers: Joseph Firschein, Assistant Director, Federal Reserve Board of Governors; Kevin Barnett, Senior Investigator, Public Health Initiative.

CHALLENGES FACING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY: STOCKPILE STEWARDSHIP AND NUCLEAR MODERNIZATION. 3/24, 4:00-6:00pm. Sponsor: Elliott School, George Washington University. Speaker: Parney Albright, Former Director, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

WHY WE FIGHT: THE POLITICS OF WORLD WAR II. 3/24, 4:00-5:30pm. Sponsor: Wilson Center. Speaker: Professor Nancy Beck Young, University Of Houston. 

MASTERING THE ENDGAME OF WAR. 3/24, 4:30-6:30pm. Sponsor: Foreign Policy Institute, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University. Speaker: Dominic Tierney, Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute, SAIS.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Prime Minister of Japan's Schedule February 24-March 2, 2014

Monday, February 24, 2014

AM

12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
07:36 Depart from private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo
07:48 Arrive at office
07:49 Meet with Deputy Chief of Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu
08:15 End meeting with Mr. Kato
08:49 Depart from office
08:50 Arrive at Diet
08:52 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
08:53 Meet with Minister of State for Disaster Management Furuya Keiji
08:54 Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi Toshimitsu joins
08:58 Lower House Budget Committee commences

PM
12:04 Leave Budget Committee during proceedings
12:07 Enter Cabinet Ministers’ Room
12:08 Meet with Minister of State for Disaster Management Mr. Furuya and Senior Vice Minister of Cabinet Office Nishimura Yasutoshi
12:12 End meeting with Mr. Furuya and Mr. Nishimura
12:13 Leave Cabinet Ministers’ Room
12:14 Depart from Diet
12:15 Arrive at office
12:54 Depart from office
12:56 Arrive at Diet
12:57 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
12:58 Speak with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aso Taro
12:59 Finish speaking with Mr. Aso
01:00 Lower House Budget Committee recommences
05:03 Budget Committee adjourns
05:04 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
05:05 Meet with Japan Reformation Party member Yamada Hiroshi from Lower House Budget Committee Board of Directors
05:06 Enter LDP President’s Room
05:07 Continue meeting with Mr. Yamada
05:23 End meeting with Mr. Yamada
05:28 Leave LDP President’s Room
05:30 Depart from Diet
05:32 Arrive at office
06:15 Meet with France’s Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici
06:34 End meeting with Mr. Moscovici
06:35 Depart from office
06:36 Arrive at official residence

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

AM
12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
08:00 At official residence (no morning visitors)
08:16 Depart from official residence
08:17 Arrive at office
08:23 Cabinet session commences
08:36 Cabinet session ends
08:44 Meet with UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake
09:03 End meeting with Mr. Lake
09:23 Meet with Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka
10:10 End meeting with Mr. Saiki

PM
12:00 Conference between party leaders with New Komeito President Yamaguchi Natsuo
01:07 Conference ends
01:14 Meet with LDP Lower House member Hatoyama Kunio and Mayor Narahara Toshinori of Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture
01:46 End meeting with Mr. Hatoyama and Mr. Narahara
01:47 Meet with journalist Tahara Soichiro
02:15 End meeting with Mr. Tahara
02:19 Meet with MOFA’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Saiki and Director-General of Intelligence and Analysis Service Matsutomi Shigeo
02:53 Mr. Matsutomi leaves
03:05 Mr. Saiki leaves
03:27 Meet with Minister of Defense Onodera Itsunori
03:50 End meeting with Mr. Onodera
03:52 Meet with Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s Pension Bureau Director Katori Teruyuki
04:22 End meeting with Mr. Katori
05:02 Meet with Mayor Nakao Tomoaki of Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Board Chairman of Shimonoseki Fuku Federation [下関ふく連盟] Matsumura Hisashi
05:11 End meeting with Mr. Nakao and Mr. Matsumura
05:13 Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru, Director of National Security Council (NSC) Yachi Shotaro, and Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center Director Shimohira Koji entered Abe’s office
05:23 Mr. Yachi and Mr. Shimohira leave
05:41 Mr. Kitamura leaves
06:26 Depart from office
06:27 Arrive at official residence, dinner with Lower House Budget Committee Chair Nikai Toshihiro, and two Lower House Budget Committee Directors, LDP’s Uesugi Mitsuhiro and New Komeito’s Ishida Noritoshi. Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide also attends
08:13 Everyone leaves

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

AM
12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
08:00 At official residence (no morning visitors)
09:24 Depart from official residence
09:25 Arrive at office
09:49 Meet with Tokyo Prefectural Governor Masuzoe Yoichi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide also attends
10:07 End meeting with Mr. Masuzoe
10:08 Meet with LDP Lower House member Yamamoto Yuji
10:38 End meeting with Mr. Yamamoto
10:39 Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka and Resident Ambassador to South Korea Bessho Koro enter
11:06 Mr. Bessho leaves
11:07 Resident Ambassador to China Kitera Masato joins
11:33 Mr. Saiki and Mr. Kitera leave
11:34 Meet with Resident Ambassador to Paraguay Ueda Yoshihisa
11:37 End meeting with Mr. Ueda
11:39 Depart from office
11:45 Arrive at Imperial Palace, Imperial Court Reception Luncheon for General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates

PM
01:42 Depart from Imperial Palace
01:50 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Meeting Hall, receive treatment in Meeting Hall’s Dental Office
02:23 Depart from Meeting Hall
02:24 Arrive at office
03:09 Meet with Director-General of MOFA’s Foreign Policy Bureau Hiramatsu Kenji
03:56 Meet with Finance Ministry’s Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs Furusawa Mitsuhiro and Finance Ministry’s Senior Deputy Director-General of International Bureau Yamasaki Tatsuo
04:27 Filming for government broadcasting 3-year anniversary of Great East Japan Earthquake video message
06:00 Reception for Prince Mohammad, taking of commemorative photos
06:01 End of photo session
06:02 Summit Conference with Prince Mohammad
06:46 Summit Conference ends
06:49 Signing Ceremony
06:57 Signing Ceremony ends
06:59 Depart from office
07:00 Arrive at official residence, dinner meeting hosted by the Prime Minister
08:13 Bid farewell to Prince Mohammad
08:16 Finish seeing off Prince Mohammad
08:24 Minister in charge of TPP Amari Akira, TPP Chief Negotiator Tsuruoka Koji, and Acting Chief TPP Negotiator Oe Hiroshi enter
08:26 Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr. Suga joins
09:14 Everyone leaves

Thursday, February 27, 2014

AM
12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
07:16 Depart from official residence
07:18 Arrive at office
07:19 Meet with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu
08:09 End meeting with Mr. Kato
08:49 Depart from office
08:50 Arrive at Diet
08:52 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
08:54 Meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aso Taro
08:56 End meeting with Mr. Aso
08:57 Lower House Budget Committee commences

PM
12:02 Leave Budget Committee during proceedings
12:05 Depart from Diet
12:06 Arrive at office
12:55 Depart from office
12:57 Return to Diet
12:58 Reenter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
01:00 Budget Committee recommences
05:02 Budget Committee adjourns
05:03 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
05:05 Depart from Diet
05:07 Arrive at office
05:33 National Security Council (NSC) meeting
06:20 NSC meeting ends
06:21 Meet with Cabinet Secretariat Advisors Hamada Koichi and Honda Etsuro
06:29 End meeting with Mr. Hamada and Mr. Honda
06:30 Meet with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management Yonemura Toshiro
06:45 End meeting with Mr. Yonemura
06:51 Depart from office
06:53 Arrive at official residence, filming for video message
07:09 Depart from official residence
07:11 Arrive at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu in Nagata-cho, Tokyo, dinner at Chinese restaurant Star Hill with the Prime Minister’s personal secretary
08:16 Depart from The Capitol Hotel Tokyu
08:17 Arrive at official residence

Friday, February 28, 2014

AM

12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
06:55 Depart from official residence
06:56 Arrive at office
06:58 Meet with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu
07:45 End meeting with Mr. Kato
07:47 Cabinet Session begins
08:05 Cabinet Session ends
08:17 Depart from office
08:18 Arrive at Diet
08:20 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
08:21 Speak briefly with Minster of Justice Tanigaki Sadakazu, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shimomura Hakubun, and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi Yoshimasa
08:22 Speak briefly with Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ota Akihiro
08:23 Speak briefly with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aso Taro
08:25 Finish speaking with Mr. Aso
08:26 Lower House Budget Committee commences

PM
01:15 Budget Committee adjourns
01:16 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
01:18 Depart from Diet
01:23 Arrive at Japan Press Center Building in Uchisaiwai-cho, Tokyo, attend farewell party for former Special Advisor to Mainichi Shimbun Iwami Takao
01:45 Depart from Japan Press Center Building
01:49 Arrive at office
02:10 Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka, Director-General of MOFA’s Foreign Policy Bureau Hiramatsu Kenji, Director-General of European Affairs Bureau Kozuki Toyohisa, and Director-General of Intelligence and Analysis Service Matsutomi Shigeo enter
02:25 Mr. Kozuki and Mr. Masutomi leave
02:41 Mr. Hiramatsu leaves
02:45 Mr. Saiki leaves
02:46 Meet with Resident Ambassador to China Kitera Masato, attendant to Asia-Pacific Ambassadors’ Meeting
03:03 End meeting with Mr. Kitera
03:12 Meet with Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru
03:42 Presentation of Notice of Appointment for Asia-Pacific Ambassadors’ Meeting and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management Yonemura Toshiro
03:54 Finish presentation
04:21 Depart from office
04:23 Arrive at Diet
04:24 Enter Lower House Meeting Hall
04:26 Meet with Chairman of LDP General Affairs Committee Noda Seiko
04:28 End meeting with Mr. Noda
04:29 Speak briefly with LDP Lower House member Kono Taro
04:30 Speak briefly with Chairman of LDP Election Strategy Committee Kawamura Takeo
04:31 Speak briefly with Minister of Foreign Affairs Kishida Fumio
04:32 Speak briefly with Minister of Justice Mr. Tanigaki, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi Toshimitsu, and Chairman of National Public Safety Commission Furuya Keiji
04:33 Lower House Plenary Session commences
06:57 Plenary Session adjourns
06:58 Leave Lower House Meeting Hall
06:59 At Meeting for majority and minority parties, shares greetings with Lower House members: Ibuki Bunmei, Chairman and Vice Chairman Akamatsu Hirotaka, and Chairman of Steering Committee Aisawa ichiro. Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro and Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide accompanied the Prime Minister
07:18 Meeting ends
07:20 Depart from Diet
07:21 Arrive at office
07:22 Interview open to all media: Prime Minister Abe comments on “feeling toward adopting the draft budget after passing the Lower House,” saying “It will go to the Upper House staring next week. I will try to gauge the level of support for it.”
07:23 Interview ends
07:32 Depart from office
07:33 Arrive at official residence, dinner meeting with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seko Hiroshige, LDP Deputy Secretary-General Ishi Junichi, and Upper House Caucus Acting Chief Secretary Yoshida Hiromi
09:20 Mr. Ishi and Mr. Yoshida leave
09:48 Mr. Seko leaves

Saturday, March 1, 2014

AM

12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
08:00 At official residence (no morning visitors), stay there throughout the morning

PM
02:39 Depart from official residence
02:52 Arrive at Grand Hyatt Tokyo in Roppongi, Tokyo, lobby at NAGOMI Spa and Fitness
06:09 Depart from Grand Hyatt Tokyo
06:34 Arrive at private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo

Sunday, March 2, 2014
Zenshaoan Temple
AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
10:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no morning visitors), stay there throughout the morning

PM
12:46 Depart from private residence
12:59 Arrive at salon HAIR GUEST [ヘアーゲスト, Hea Gesuto] in Shibuya, Tokyo, receive haircut
02:37 Depart from HAIR GUEST
03:02 Arrive at Zenshoan Temple [全生庵] in Yanaka, Tokyo, for Zen mediation
04:16 Depart from Zenshoan Temple
04:49 Arrive at private residence

Seiji Maehara's Assessment of the Abe Administration


Japan's Foreign and Economic Policies: Assessing the Abe Administration
By DPJ Member Seiji Maehara 
March 14, 2014
(ver. 2; 030614; 11:30 pm)

Three years ago yesterday, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck my country, and caused great damage, the effects of which were tripled by the ensuing tsunami and nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Amongst all the outpouring of assistance extended to us from around the world, some of the warmest and most important aid was provided to us by the United States. And in the midst of this unprecedented tragedy, Operation Tomodachi was born and with it, the unparalleled assistance which continues to this day. Again, you have my deepest thanks and gratitude for your friendship.

Today, let me share with you how the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) views the Abe Administration, especially as it relates to its foreign policy and economic agenda.

On the topic of foreign policy, let me start by sharing my thoughts on Japan's relationship with South Korea, China, and the US. Next, I will move on to discuss their economic policy and explain the pros and cons of the current policy and provide you some thoughts on the longer term structural problems Japan needs to tackle. Finally, I would like to touch on what our relationship should be and how we can realize that by deepening our alliance.

On foreign policy, our relationship between South Korea and China remains frozen. It is a pity that we have not seen any summit meetings between Japan and South Korea or China, although more than one year has passed since PM Abe assumed office. South Korea is an important neighbor for us especially because we share fundamental values such as democracy, rule of law and a market economy. Both of us are also close allies to the US, and we must cooperate very closely with each other and with the US. This is especially true should something critical happen in North Korea. Having an untested, inexperienced, 31-year old inherit the leadership position who is trying to consolidate his dictatorial powers causes great concern. We must be prepared in case anything imminently dreadful would occur.

During the DPJ Administration, North Korea sank the South Korean warship, the "Chonan", and shelled the South Korean island of Yonpyondo. In response to these incidents, Japan and the United States immediately supported South Korea and helped to deter further North Korean provocation. Most importantly, we should not forget what China did during this time, which was to support the position of the North Koreans. This case very well illustrates the crucial significance of maintaining a strong trilateral cooperation among Japan, the US and South Korea for the security of the North East Asia region.

The DPJ Administration also placed much value on the relationship with South Korea and addressed some key bilateral issues as follows:

1) We made it very clear that the Takeshima Islands constitute an integral part of Japanese territory;

2) We adhered to two key statements on historical matters: the "Murayama Statement" in which Japan expressed apology for our colonial rule, and the "Kono Statement" in which we addressed the issues related to what is called "Comfort Women";

3) At the same time, key officials in the Administration such as the Prime Minister, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, and the Foreign Minister refrained from visiting the Yasukuni Shrine where class A war criminals are collectively honored; and

4) We also committed to make further efforts towards addressing the "Comfort Women" issue from a humanitarian perspective, while we firmly maintained our position that this issue had already been resolved by the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea.

It is my hope that without further delay, leaders of Japan and South Korea meet one another to re-establish and re-strengthen our relationship, especially from a strategic perspective.

Recently, two of Prime Minister Abe's top aides made statements like these:

Although the US Government said they were disappointed with Prime Minister Abe's visit to Yasukuni Shrine, no one under the Republican Administrations had made such misinterpretation or tried to find fault there. It is rather the Japanese side, which was disappointed by the Americans. The US is getting afraid of saying the right things to China. Americans said they are disappointed because they needed some excuses for China. Why the U.S. does not show more respect to their important ally like Japan.

I don't agree with those people. What I am reminded of here is the words of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that "there are no friend or foe in diplomacy, there is only the interest of states." An alliance is formulated not out of charitable consideration. Parties to the alliance must understand respective national interests and respect them. The US-Japan alliance is, regardless of whatever party is on the ruling side, a crucially important bilateral relationship. Of course, the interests of alliance partners may conflict with each other. But what is most important is keeping our internal conflicts private and between ourselves and not allow others to view our disagreements. Behind the scenes, we might fiercely argue with each other, but still we should still showcase our strong bond to outsiders. We have to understand precisely, which country would benefit from a worsening of the Japan-US relationship.

Next, I would like to touch upon our relationship with China. This relationship is also a strategically important one. Again, I wish that the Japanese leader will meet his Chinese counterpart as soon as possible, just as I wished in the case of the Japan-Korea relationship. That being said, I would like to briefly share with you the historical context of the Senkaku Islands so that both Japan and the US can have a common understanding on this issue vis-à-vis China.

The Senkaku Islands were incorporated into Japanese territory in January 1895 via a cabinet decision, after Japan carefully observed the situation for ten preceding years and confirming that there was no conflicting influence or rule from any other country. There is no doubt that the Senkaku Islands constitute an integral part of Japanese territory. Around 1970, China started to claim the islands belonged to them. Coincidently, China's claims came only after the UN made public that there might be underground resources (such as oil and gas) embedded in the surrounding ocean area. Before this time, even the Communist Party's official gazette, The People's Daily referred to Senkaku as "Senkaku of Okinawa" and the maps the Chinese government published did not include Senkaku.

I recall my first meeting with Secretary Clinton after I assumed the post of foreign minister when she clearly assured me that, "Senkaku is within the application of Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty". This was the first statement of its kind made by the Obama Administration. Whenever I think of this, it renews my respect and appreciation to Secretary Clinton and reminds me of the sincere efforts of Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell to make this happen.

On the Senkaku issue, China claims that:

1) Japan should take back our decision of nationalizing the Senkaku islands;
2) Japan should confirm that there are territorial disputes here, and;
3) Japan and China should jointly develop this area.

However, let me make it very clear that Japan would never ever agree on such claims. The DPJ Administration only acquired ownership of the Senkaku Islands out of the concerns that the quiet control over the islands, (in other words, the status quo) might be undermined by the then Tokyo Governor's statement that the Tokyo regional government might purchase the land and cause unnecessary friction. China's claim that Japan nationalized the Senkaku Islands to reinforce our effective control over the islands has no basis in fact. Japan has and continued to maintain sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands and this was only a transfer of ownership of the islands from a private Japanese owner to the central government. I believe it is important that we persistently work on this issue, while acknowledging that China has a different viewpoint.

In addition, China has also promulgated other problematic issues such as an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) which China unilaterally set in place, advancing an ever increasing military budget, and continuing their reckless behavior in South China Sea where they could impede and threaten the freedom of navigation on the high seas. In concert with the US and other like-minded countries, we need to say what we have to say in a firm and confident manner. We must continue to communicate and have dialogue with China and work with them to promote a peaceful rise. There is a saying that overall agreement matters more and smaller difference matters less. I very much appreciate the broader perspectives this saying includes and with that in mind, I would like to improve and strengthen our relationship with China.

Let me also offer a few words on Japan-US relations. Needless to say, for Japan, the US is the most important partner and ally in the international community. More than that, not only is this alliance important for our bilateral relationship, but it is extremely crucial for the stability and prosperity of the entire Asia Pacific region; sort of a public good. Many people in this region who share our fundamental values have high hopes for the continuation of our strong alliance. Given the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the rise of China, and a certain level of instability in the domestic politics of various areas within Asia, both Japan and the US need to closely cooperate with each other and further deepen our alliance. From this perspective, I would like to offer three of my thoughts here.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Prime Minister of Japan's Schedule February 17-23, 2014

Monday, February 17, 2014

AM

12:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no visitors)
07:16 Depart from private residence
07:28 Arrive at office
07:29 Meet with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu
08:17 End meeting with Mr. Kato
08:47 Depart from office
08:49 Arrive at Diet
08:52 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
08:59 Lower House Budget Committee commences

PM
12:01 Budget Committee recess
12:02 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
12:04 Depart from Diet
12:06 Return to office
12:56 Depart from office
12:57 Return to Diet
12:59 Reenter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
01:00 Lower House Budget Committee recommences
05:01 Budget Committee adjourns
05:02 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
05:03 Enter LDP President’s Room
05:04 LDP Officers’ Meeting
05:28 Meeting ends
05:30 Leave LDP President’s Room
05:32 Depart from Diet
05:34 Return to office
05:44 Meet with Minister in charge of the Abduction Issue Furuya Keiji
05:52 Ends meeting with Mr. Furuya
05:54 Meet with Chairman Ed Royce of House Committee on Foreign Affairs, United States, Mr. Furuya attends
06:34 Ends meeting with ­Mr. Royce
06:35 Meet with Minister in Charge of the Abduction Issue and Minister of State for Disaster Management Mr. Furuya
06:37 Ends meeting with Mr. Furuya
06:38 Depart from office
06:56 Arrive at Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Takakawa, Tokyo, attend and give greeting at Award Ceremony for Seiron Award
07:07 Depart from Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa
07:28 Arrive at French restaurant Hôtel de Mikuni in Wakaba, Tokyo. Dinner with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aso Taro
09:14 Depart from Hôtel de Mikuni
09:27 Arrive at private residence

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

AM

12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
08:00 Depart from private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo
08:10 Arrive at office
08:23 Cabinet Session commences
08:35 Cabinet Session ends
08:36 Meet with Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide
08:41 End meeting with Mr. Suga
09:08 Meet with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi Toshimitsu, Director of the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau Sugawara Ikuro, and Ueda Takayuki of the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy
09:45 End meeting with Mr. Motegi, Mr. Sugawara and Mr. Ueda
09:51 Minister of State for Disaster Management Furuya Keiji and Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Office Kameoka Yoshitami enter
10:19 Mr. Furuya leaves
10:30 Mr. Kameoka leaves
11:04 Meet with former Minister of State for the Postal Service Yashiro Eita
11:28 End meeting with Mr. Yashiro
11:35 Heavy Snowfall Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters meeting
11:57 Meeting end

PM
12:55 Depart from office
12:57 Arrive at Diet
12:58 Enter Lower House Meeting Hall
01:02 Lower House Plenary Session commences
01:18 Meet with LDP Acting Chief Secretary Hosoda Hiroyuki
01:22 End meeting with Mr. Hosoda
01:30 Meet with two LDP Lower House Members Tokai Kisaburo and Endo Toshiaki
01:35 End meeting with Mr. Tokai and Mr. Endo
01:36 Leave the Lower House Plenary Session during proceedings
01:37 Depart from Diet
01:39 Return to office
01:52 Filming a video for use at an event for overseas investors
02:00 Finish filming
02:16 Meet with Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shimomura Hakubun, Deputy Minister of Ministry Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yamanaka Shinichi
02:30 End meeting with Mr. Shimomura and Mr. Yamanaka
03:24 Meet with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka, and Director-General of Intelligence and Analysis Service Matsutomi Shigeo
03:52 End meeting with Mr. Saiki and Mr. Matsutomi
04:10 National Security Council (NSC) Director Yachi Shotaro, Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru, and Director of Defense Intelligence Headquarters Kinomura Kenichi
04:27 Mr. Yachi and Mr. Kinomura leave
04:41 Mr. Kitamura leaves
04:42 Meet Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs Furusawa Mitsuhiro
04:53 End meeting with Mr. Furusawa
05:17 Meet with Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Shindo Yoshitaka, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide, and Minister in charge Economic Revitalization Amari Akira
05:42 End meeting with Mr. Shindo, Mr. Suga and Mr. Amari
05:43 Council for Promoting the Alleviation of the Burden of Futenma Air Station meeting
05:53 Council meeting ends
06:17 Education Rebuilding Implementation Council meeting
06:40 Council meeting ends
06:52 Depart from office
07:00 Arrive at Palace Hotel Tokyo in Marunouchi, Tokyo, meet in “Kikyo” banquet hall with former NHK President Ebisawa Katsuji, Sankei Shimbun President Kiyohara Takehiko, Nihon Keizai Shimbun Editorial Committee Chair Serikawa Yoichi, and Mainichi Shimbun Honored Advisor Kitamura Masato
08:28 Depart from Palace Hotel Tokyo
08:36 Arrive at official residence

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

AM

12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
08:00 At official residence (no morning visitors)
09:29 Depart from official residence
09:30 Arrive at office
10:30 Meet with Cabinet Secretariat Advisor Munakata Norio
10:52 End meeting with Mr. Munakata
11:20 Meet with Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide
11:25 End meeting with Mr. Suga
11:40 Depart from office
11:46 Arrive at Imperial Palace, imperial court lunch reception for Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

PM
01:39 Depart from Imperial Palace
01:44 Arrive at Chiyoda District Government Office, Kudanminami, Tokyo, turn in absentee ballot for Yamaguchi Prefecture’s gubernatorial election
01:51 Depart from Chiyoda District Government Office
02:02 Arrive at office
02:14 Meet with Director of National Security Council Yachi Shotaro, Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru, Director of MOFA’s Foreign Policy Bureau Hiramatsu Kenji, and Director of Defense Policy Bureau of Ministry of Defense Tokushi Hideshi
02:47 End meeting with Mr. Yachi, Mr. Hiramatsu and Mr. Tokushi
03:04 Meet with delegation led by Co-Chair Diana Degette of Congressional Study Group on Japan, US House of Representatives, and US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy attended
03:39 End meeting with Mrs. DeGette and delegation
03:40 Meet with PM Special Advisor Kimura Taro
03:45 End meeting with Mr. Kimura
04:45 Meet with Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Amari Akira and Cabinet Office Vice Minister of Policy Coordination Matsuyama Kenji
05:11 End meeting with Mr. Amari and Mr. Matsuyama
05:13 Ministerial Council on Monthly Economic and Other Issues meeting
05:32 Meeting ends
05:34 Meet with Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Tamura Norihisa
05:35 End meeting with Mr. Tamura
06:02 Reception for Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, take commemorative photo
06:03 Finish reception and photo session
06:05 Japan-Saudi Arabia Summit Meeting with Crown Prince
06:38 Summit Meeting ends
06:41 Signing Ceremony
06:47 Ceremony ends
06:48 Depart from office
06:50 Arrive at official residence, dinner meeting hosted by Prime Minister
08:13 Bid farewell to Crown Prince
08:17 Finish seeing off Crown Prince

Thursday, February 20, 2014

AM

12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
07:21 Depart from official residence
07:22 Arrive at office
07:23 Meet with Deputy Chief of Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu
08:16 End meeting with Mr. Kato
08:50 Depart from office
08:51 Arrive at Diet
08:53 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
08:58 Lower House Budget Committee commences

PM
12:10 Budget Committee recess
12:11 Meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aso Taro
12:12 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
12:13 Depart from Diet
12:14 Arrive at office
12:15 Meet with Koga Hana Musume [古河華むすめ, rough translation to Koga Flower Daughters]
12:19 End meeting with Koga Hana Musume
12:55 Depart from office
12:56 Arrive at Diet
12:58 Reenter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
01:00 Lower House Budget Committee recommences
05:02 Budget Committee adjourns
05:03 Meet with two members of Budget Committee Board of Directors Shiozaki Yasuhisa and Hayashi Moto
05:04 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room, enter LDP President’s Room
05:05 Film video message meant for Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, LDP Lower House member Jimajiri Aiko also attends
05:10 Leave LDP President’s Room
05:12 Depart from Diet
05:14 Arrive at office
05:31 Economic and Fiscal Policy Inquiries meeting
06:25 Meeting ends
06:38 Depart from Diet
06:46 Arrive at Nippon Steel Corporation Housing Finance Kioi Building in Kioicho, Tokyo, dinner meeting with Kioi Kurabu Honored Director of Nippon Steel Corporation Housing Finance Imai Takashi
08:55 Depart from Nippon Steel Corporation Housing Finance Kioi Building
09:10 Arrive at private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo

Friday, February 21, 2014

AM

12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
07:42 Depart from private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo
07:56 Arrive at Diet
08:02 Meeting of related Ministers on TPP
08:18 Meeting ends
08:22 Cabinet Session
08:34 Cabinet Session ends
11:05 Meet with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka
11:39 End meeting with Mr. Saiki

PM
12:04 Lunch meeting with Resident Ambassador of Australia to Japan Bruce Miller, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Sugiyama Shinsuke also attends
01:06 Lunch meeting ends
02:01 Meet with Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (of Japan Agriculture Group) President Banzai Akira
02:16 End meeting with Mr. Banzai
02:39 Meet with Japanese-German Forum’s Japanese Chairman Mogi Yuzaburo and Honored Chairman of Kikkoman Corporation
03:25 End meeting with Mr. Mogi
03:26 Meet with Administrative Vice Minister of Defense Nishi Masanori and Chief of Staff of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Kawano Katsutoshi
03:44 End meeting with Mr. Nishi and Mr. Kawano
04:08 Meet with Member of Indonesian Presidential Advisory Board Ginandjar Kartasasmita
04:23 End meeting with Mr. Kartasasmita
04:26 Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Saiki and Director-General of Intelligence and Analysis Service Matsutomi Shigeo enter
04:42 Mr. Matsutomi leaves
05:04 Mr. Saiki leaves
05:05 Meet with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kishi Nobuo
05:10 End meeting with Mr. Kishi
05:11 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu and Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru
05:16 Mr. Kato leaves
05:45 Mr. Kitamura leaves
06:03 Council on National Strategic Special Zones meeting
06:33 Meeting ends
06:50 Depart from office
06:56 Arrive at Asakasa Excel Hotel Tokyu in Nagata-cho, Tokyo, dinner meeting in Akasaka Zipangu Restaurant with a former head reporter
09:22 Depart from Asakasa Excel Hotel Tokyu
09:37 Arrive at private residence

Saturday, February 22, 2014

AM

12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
08:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no morning visitors)
08:32 Depart from private residence
08:41 Arrive at Keio Hospital through pedestrian entrance in Shinanomachi, Tokyo, for physical examination

PM
02:43 Depart from Keio Hospital
02:58 Arrive at private residence, when asked “What were the results of your physical examination?” Abe answered “There was nothing wrong.”

Sunday, February 23, 2014

AM

12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
10:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no morning visitors), stayed there throughout the morning

PM
05:46 Depart from private residence
05:58 Arrive at restaurant Bistro Shiro in Shibuya, Tokyo, dinner with wife Akie and friends
09:20 Depart from Bistro Shiro
09:34 Return to private residence

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Tokyo Event - March 25th



Symposium
East China Sea Tensions

March 25, 2014
9:30 am to Noon

Tokyo
International House of Japan
5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku

Please join the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation for a discussion of ongoing maritime disputes in the East China Sea and their potential wider implications for China-Japan relations, Northeast Asian security, Asian economic development  and the U.S.-Japan alliance

9:30-10:00am 
 Opening Welcome Remarks & Keynote
David Boling, The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation

Keynote
The Honorable Kurt Tong, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim,
Embassy of the United States of America, Tokyo

10:00am-Noon
Panel
Perspectives on Maritime Tensions

Andrew Erickson, Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University
Ely Ratner, Center for a New American Security
Wallace “Chip” Gregson, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), Banyan Analytics
Mike McDevitt, CNA

On-the-record and open to media



The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation
The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation was created in 1983 to advance Maureen and Mike Mansfield’s life-long efforts to promote understanding and cooperation among the nations and peoples of Asia and the United States. The Foundation sponsors exchanges, dialogues and publications that create networks among U.S. and Asian leaders, explore the underlying issues influencing public policies, and increase awareness about the nations and peoples of Asia.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Monday cancelled,Tuesday On

The Federal Government and all of Washington's think tanks were closed on Monday due to a snow storm. All Monday events are being rescheduled. Here are the interesting one's for Tuesday.

THE MILITARY BALANCE 2014. 3/18, 10:00-11:00am. Sponsor: International institute for Strategic Studies (IISS-US). Speakers: James Hackett, Editor, The Military Balance; Douglas Barrie, Senior Fellow for Military Aerospace, IISS; Samuel Charap, Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia, IISS. 

JAPAN'S "SWING STATE" DIPLOMACY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. 3/18, 10:30am-Noon. Sponsor: Carnegie Endowment. Speakers: Tsutomu Kikuchi, Professor of International Economy of the Asia-Pacific, Aoyama-Gakuin University; Tamotsu Fukuda, Professor, Toyo Eiwa University. Location: Carnegie Endowment, 1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW. Contact: .

FILLING THE SKILLS GAP IN MANUFACTURING: THE UNTAPPED RESOURCE. 3/18, Noon-2:00pm. Sponsor: Aspen Institute. Speakers: Karen A. Fletcher, Vice President, DuPont Engineering and Chief Engineer; Antoinette (Tonie) Leatherberry, Principal, Deloitte Consulting; Former Senator Blanche Lincoln, Founder and Principal, Lincoln Policy Group; Elizabeth Woo, Vice Presdient, Thermo Fisher Scientific Corporation; Session Moderator: Theresa A. Maldonado, Director EEC Division, National Science Foundation.
Large Conference Room.

US EVOLVING STRATEGY IN ASIA AND THE ROLE OF THE US-JAPAN ALLIANCE. 3/18, 2:30-4:30pm. Sponsor: Center for Asian Studies, American University. Speaker: Randall Schriver, President and Chief Executive Officer, Project 2049 Institute. 

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Monday in Washington, March 10, 2014

YOUNG JAPANESE SCHOLARS PROGRAM: NEW VIEWS ON POLITICS AND POLICY FROM TOKYO TO TAIWAN. 3/10, Noon-1:30pm. Sponsor: East-West Center. Speakers: Chihiro Okawa, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Kanagawa University; Madoka Fukuda, Associate Professor of Global Politics, Hosei University.

DISCUSSION ON THE 2014 QDR AND FY2015 DEFENSE BUDGET. 3/10, 1:00-3:00pm. Sponsor: International Security Program, CSIS. Speakers: Christine Wormuth, US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Force Development; Clark Murdock, Senior Advisor, Defense and National Security Group; Maren Leed, Senior Advisor, CSIS; Stephanie Sanok Kostro, Acting Director, Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program, CSIS; Samuel Brannen, Senior Fellow, International Security Program, CSIS.

PROMISING PARTNERSHIPS: EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED POWERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. 3/10, 1:30-2:30pm. Sponsor: German Marshall Fund. Speaker: Peter Wilson, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the UN.

RENOUNCING WAR: A CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL CHALLENGE IN JAPAN. 3/10, 2:00-3:30 pm, Washington, DC. Sponsor: US-Asia Institute. Speaker: Professor Hideyuki Osawa of Keio University.

UKRAINE ON THE BRINK. 3/10, 2:15-4:00pm. Sponsor: Carnegie Endowment. Speakers: Andrew Weiss, Vice President for Studies, Carnegie; Yevgeny Kiselyev, Journalist and Political Analyst, Russian Television.

AFGHAN ELECTIONS AND THE US ROLE BEYOND 2014. 3/10, 2:30-3:30pm. Sponsor: Center for American Progress (CAP). Speakers: Robert Casey, D-PA; Neera Tanden, President, CAP; Caroline Wadhams, Senior Fellow, CAP.

GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY, GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP, AND THE HEALTH AND SECURITY NEXUS. 3/10, 3:00-4:30pm. Sponsor: Stimson Center. Speakers: Bonnie Jenkins, Coordinator, Threat Reduction Programs, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation; Julie Fischer, Researcher, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University.

FOREIGN POLICY BY ANALOGY: US DECISION MAKING AND THE USES OF THE VIETNAM WAR. 3/10, 4:00-5:30pm. Sponsor: History and Public Policy Program, Wilson Center. Speaker: Mark Lawrence, Associate Professor of History, University of Texas.

103rd International Women's Day

The theme of this year's International Women's Day is that “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.” This is also an important policy objective of the Obama Administration. On February 25th, the US Secretary of State John Kerry, US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Catherine M. Russell, British Foreign Secretary William Hague, and UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General Zainab Bangura held an armchair Discussion on Ending and Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Situations (text and video). They emphasized "there’s really no way to adequately describe the depths of depravity and the extraordinary violence of rape as a tool of war, as violence against women as a tool of intimidation, coercion, submission, and power."

The President on March 5th issued a special fact sheet on Combatting Violence against Women to highlight the funding in the President’s FY 2015 Budget to reduce backlog of untested rape kits and assist prosecution of sexual assault cases. The White House emphasized that "Sexual violence is more than just a crime against individuals. It threatens our families, it threatens our communities; ultimately, it threatens the entire country."

Secretary of State Kerry issued both a statement and op ed for International Women's Day (see below). Asian leaders, in contrast, were largely quiet. It was a holiday for women in China. Japan's Cabinet Minister for Gender Equality MORI Masako issued a statement on how Japan wants to make a world where women "shine." South Korea's government was largely silent.


Only Taiwan's President MA Ying-jeou participated in a public event to highlight his country's efforts toward gender equality.


Women Key to Peace and Security
by Secretary of State John Kerry
International Women's Day is more than a moment marked on a calendar. It is a day not just to renew our determination to make the world a more peaceful and prosperous place -- but to recognize that a world where opportunities for women grow, is a world where the possibilities for peace, prosperity, and stability grow even more.

I see it every single day as Secretary of State. Even as the Assad regime's barrel-bombing of Aleppo continues, showing the world a brutal regime's true colors, with every act of courage and perseverance, Syria’s women show the world their true colors, as well. We heard from some of these remarkable women in Montreux just last month.

Their stories spoke to the bravery of countless other Syrian women. One woman from Idlib worked with the Free Syrian Army to ensure that the people of her village could remain in their homes and till their own land. Another woman from Aleppo got restrictions on humanitarian access lifted by offering food to regime soldiers at the checkpoints. If that isn’t courage under fire, I don’t know what is.

It's not just in Syria that women offer us hope for resolution to conflict. Women are vital to our shared goals of prosperity, stability and peace. That’s as true when it comes to ending our battles as it is jumpstarting our economies. The fact is that women bear the greatest burden in war. But their voices are too rarely heard in negotiating peace.

That has to change.

Countries that value and empower women to participate fully in decision-making are more stable, prosperous, and secure. The opposite is also true. When women are excluded from negotiations, the peace that follows is more tenuous. Trust is eroded, and human rights and accountability are often ignored.

In too many countries, treaties are designed by combatants for combatants. It should come as no surprise, then, that more than half of all peace agreements fail within the first 10 years of signature. The inclusion of women in peace building and conflict prevention can reverse that trend.

So how do we get there?

Evidence from around the world has shown that deadly conflicts are more likely to be prevented, and peace best forged and protected, when women are included as equal partners.

That’s why we are working to support women in conflict and post-conflict areas around the world.

In Afghanistan, we are advocating for the inclusion and election of women at all levels of governance. Afghan women today are marching forward in ways unimaginable just 10 years ago. They’re starting companies.

They’re serving as members of parliament. They’re teaching in schools and working as doctors and nurses.

They are the foundation upon which Afghanistan's future is being built.

As the people of Burma work to resolve the conflict that has plagued their nation for decades, the United States is supporting the meaningful participation of women in the peace process and inter-communal peace initiatives.

We know that the security of women is essential to their participation in peace building. That’s why we are working to ensure women get equal access to humanitarian assistance and relief, wherever we work.

The United States is also leading by example. My sister has worked for many years at the United Nations, following in the State Department footsteps of our father many years before I did myself. She's a trailblazer. But she's not alone. It’s no coincidence that some of our top diplomats and peace negotiators are women -- from National Security Advisor Susan Rice, to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, to Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom, to Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman. Today, all but one of the State Department's Regional Assistant Secretaries are women.

We celebrate their accomplishments not just because they are women, but because their work around the world will make all people -- men and women, boys and girls –- more secure.

Peace is not the absence of conflict. It is the presence of every member of society working together to promote stability and prosperity.

No country can succeed unless every citizen is empowered to contribute to its future. And no peace can endure if women are not afforded a central role. So today, we mark the miles women have traveled around the world -- but more importantly we commit to the next miles of the journey.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

SYMPOSIUM TO SAVE THE KONO STATEMENT


SYMPOSIUM TO SAVE THE KONO STATEMENT

DON’T LET ABE DISMANTLE AN APOLOGY

Friday, March 7, 2014

4:00-4:00 pm

Location
House of Representatives Diet Members Building #1 
First Floor International Conference Room 
(Passes will be distributed that day starting at 1:30 pm in the lobby)

Speakers
Japanese-language only
Professor Hayashi can respond in English

Professor Yoshiaki YOSHIMI, Chuo University, Department of History will discuss NHK Chairman Katsuto MOMII’s comments on the Comfort Women

Professor Hirofumi HAYASHI, Kanto Gakuin University, Department of History will discuss new documentation indicating coercion in recruiting and retaining Comfort Women

Ms. Rumiko NISHINO, Co-Representative, Violence Against Women in War Research Action Center, Tokyo will discuss the government’s inquiry into the “verification” of the 
testimony of the 16 Comfort Women

Background

There has been an acceleration of efforts to delegitimize the Kono Statement*. Last fall, the Sankei Shimbun leaked the confidential testimonies of 16 Korean former “Comfort Women” that had been used to support the 1993 Kono Statement. On January 1, 2014, the Sankei followed by reporting that Kono Statement was prepared in concert with the Korean government. Later that month, the new chairman of NHK Katsuto MOMII brushed off the Comfort Women as a common phenomenon among world militaries. 

The Japan Restoration Party (JRP) quickly requested former deputy chief cabinet secretary Nobuo ISHIHARA to testify to the Lower House Budget Affairs Committee regarding the background to the Kono Statement. In his mid-February testimony Ishihara said “An investigation to prove the factual background of the testimony of the former comfort women was never carried out.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide SUGA quickly responded that the Government would create a committee to examine “the verification” of their testimony.

It is clear that the ruling and opposition parties are collaborating with the nation’s public broadcasting system to gut and shelve this one Japanese apology to the women swept up in Imperial Japan’s military Comfort Women system. They want to deny the facts that Imperial Japan’s armed forces and government were involved. They want to discredit the witnesses and ignore the documentation. They are trying to destroy the legitimacy of the Kono Statement and the dignity of the victims. 

In an era that recognizes the scourge of sexual violence against women in conflict, the Government of Japan should be strengthening not rescinding its apology to Imperial Japan’s military sex slaves. Japan should be taking the lead in combating rape, not rationalizing its propagation. Japan should be confronting not only its past, but also its contemporary responsibilities.

Sponsors


VAWWRAC is the successor to "Violence against 
Women in War Network Japan" (VAWW-NET Japan)


issue of "comfort women," August 4, 1993, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Monday, March 3, 2014

Prime Minister of Japan's Schedule February 10-16, 2014

Monday, February 10, 2014

AM

12:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no visitors)
07:12 Depart from private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo
07:25 Arrive at office
07:26 Interview open to all media: When told “Tokyo gubernatorial election Masuzoe Yoichi was elected,” Abe answered, “Good, I want Tokyo, I hope he will make Tokyo shine from the center of the world.”
07:27 Interview end
07:28 Meet with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu
08:41 End meeting with Mr. Kato
08:43 Depart from office
08:45 Arrive at Diet
08:49 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
08:51 Meet with Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi Yoshimasa
08:53 End meeting with Mr. Aso and Mr. Hayashi
08:58 Lower House Budget Committee commences
11:59 Lower House Budget Committee recess, leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room

PM
12:02 Depart from Diet
12:03 Arrive at office
12:55 Depart from office
12:56 Return to Diet
12:58 Reenter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
01:00 Lower House Budget Committee recommences
05:00 Lower House Budget Committee adjourns
05:01 Meet with Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Tamura Norihisa and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi Toshimitsu
05:02 End meeting with Mr. Tamura and Mr. Motegi
05:03 Leave room
05:04 Arrive at LDP President’s Room
05:05 Meet with Mr. Masuzoe
05:11 End meeting with Mr. Masuzoe
05:12 LDP Board of Officers Meeting
05:24 Meeting ends
05:25 Meet with the LDP’s Vice President Komura Masahiko, Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru and Executive Acting Secretary-General Hosoda Hiroyuki
05:27 End meeting with Mr. Komura, Mr. Ishiba and Mr. Hosoda
05:28 Leave room
05:30 Depart from Diet
05:38 Arrive at Imperial Palace, register return to country
05:45 Depart from Imperial Palace
05:56 Arrive at office
05:58 Meet with Director of Japan’s NSC Yachi Shotaro, Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru and Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center Director Shimohira Koji
06:08 End meeting with Mr. Yachi, Mr. Kitamura and Mr. Shimohira
06:10 Receives request from Keidanren’s President Yonekura Hiromasa, President of The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mimura Akira, and Representative Executive Secretary of Japan Association of Corporate Executives Hasegawa Yasuchika
06:19 End meeting with Mr. Yonekura, Mr. Mimura and Mr. Hasegawa
06:29 Meet with Mr. Kitamura
06:47 Meeting end
07:01 Certificate of Appreciation Presentation Ceremony with actor Sugi Ryotaro, Foreign Minister Kishida Fumio attends
07:17 Depart from office
07:18 Arrive at official residence
09:04 Depart from official residence
09:19 Arrive at private residence

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
10:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no morning visitors), stayed there throughout the morning

PM
02:09 Depart from private residence
02:22 Arrive at Grand Hyatt Tokyo in Roppongi, lobby at “NAGOMI Spa and Fitness”
05:38 Depart from Grand Hyatt Tokyo
06:04 Arrive at private residence

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
06:59 Depart from private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo
07:10 Arrive at office
07:11 Meet with Deputy Chief of Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu
07:15 End meeting with Mr. Kato
08:18 Cabinet session commences
08:25 Cabinet session ends
08:46 Depart from office
08:47 Arrive at Diet
08:49 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
08:50 Meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aso Taro
08:51 Speak briefly with minister in charge of special missions Mori Masako
08:52 Continue meeting with Mr. Aso
08:54 End meeting with Mr. Aso
08:58 Lower House Budget Committee commences

PM
12:01 Budget Committee recess, leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
12:04 Depart from Diet
12:05 Return to office
12:55 Depart from office
12:56 Return to Diet
12:58 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
01:00 Lower House Budget Committee recommences
05:01 Budget Committee adjourns
05:02 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
05:04 Depart from Diet
05:05 Return to office
05:09 Meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Kishida Fumio, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka, and Director-General of North American Affairs Bureau Tomita Koji
05:43 End meeting with Mr. Kishida, Mr. Saiki and Mr. Tomita
05:46 Headquarters on the Abduction Issue core meeting
06:01 Meeting end
06:17 Meet with Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide
06:22 End meeting with Mr. Suga
06:34 Depart from office
06:47 Arrive at sushi shop Sushi Yoshitake in Ginza, Tokyo, dinner with Senior Vice Minister of Cabinet Office Akaba Kazuyoshi, New Komeito Lower House member Tomita Shigeyuki, and representative of the New Reformation Party Arai Hiroyuki
08:34 Depart from Sushi Yoshitake
08:41 Arrive at official residence

Thursday, February 13, 2014

AM

12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
07:44 Depart from official residence
07:45 Arrive at office
07:46 Meet with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu
08:10 End meeting with Mr. Kato
08:53 Depart from office
08:54 Arrive at Diet
08:56 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
08:57 Meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aso Taro, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shimomura Hakubun, and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi Yoshimasa
08:59 End meeting with Mr. Aso, Mr. Shimomura, and Mr. Hayashi
09:01 Lower House Budget Committee commences

PM
12:07 Budget Committee recess
12:08 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
12:10 Depart from Diet
12:12 Arrive at office
12:54 Depart from office
12:56 Return to Diet
12:57 Enter Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
12:58 Meet with Mr. Hayashi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide
01:00 Lower House Budget Committee recommences
05:01 Budget Committee adjourns
05:02 Leave Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Room
05:04 Depart from Diet
05:05 Return to office
05:09 Meet with Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr. Suga
05:32 End meeting with Mr. Suga
05:33 National Security Council meeting
06:16 NSC meeting ends
06:21 Depart from office
06:31 Arrive at Daiichi Hotel Tokyo in Shinbashi, Tokyo, attend “Shinseikai” Abe supporters’ club for psychiatrists meeting, in banquet hall “L’etoile”
07:17 Depart from Daiichi Hotel Tokyo
07:24 Arrive at official residence

Friday, February 14, 2014

AM
12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
07:56 Depart from official residence
07:58 Arrive at office
08:02 Headquarters for the Promotion of Social Security Reform meeting
08:12 Meeting ends
08:22 Cabinet session commences
08:35 Cabinet session ends
08:36 Meet with Minister of State for Gender Equality Mori Masako
08:52 End meeting with Mrs. Mori
10:46 Meet with Chairperson Paddy Burke of the Senate of the Republic of Ireland
11:11 End meeting with Mr. Burke

PM

12:01 Meet with Minister in charge of TPP Amari Akira
12:26 End meeting with Mr. Amari
12:56 Depart from office
12:58 Arrive at Diet
12:59 Enter Lower House Plenary Meeting Hall
01:02 Lower House Plenary Session commences
01:03 Speak with LDP Chief Secretary Ishiba Shigeru
01:16 Cease speaking with Mr. Shigeru
01:19 Leave Lower House Plenary Meeting Hall during proceedings
01:21 Depart from Diet
01:22 Arrive at office
02:02 Meet with Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka
02:13 Director-General of MOFA’a European Affairs Bureau Kozuki Toyohisa joins meeting
02:43 Mr. Saiki and Mr. Kozuki leave
03:41 Meet with Airbus Group’s CEO Dr. Thomas Enders
04:00 End meeting with Mr. Enders
04:01 Meet with Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru
04:30 End meeting with Mr. Kitamura
04:31 Meet with Minister of Defense Onodera Itsunori and Vice-Minister of Defense Nishi Masanori
04:58 End meeting with Mr. Onodera and Mr. Nishi
05:12 Council for Science and Technology Policy meeting
05:42 Meeting ends
05:44 Meet with Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shimomura Hakubun
06:04 End meeting with Mr. Shimomura
06:20 Conference with President of the Marshall Islands Christopher Loeak
06:46 Conference ends
06:49 Joint Press Conference with Mr. Loeak
06:59 Press Conference ends
07:01 Arrive at official residence, dinner meeting hosted by Abe Shinzo
08:24 Bids farewell to President Loeak
08:26 Finishes seeing President Loeak off

Saturday, February 15, 2014

AM

12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
08:00 At official residence (no morning visitors), stayed there throughout the morning

PM
02:25 Interview open to all media: In answer to “Competitor Hanyu Yuzuru won a gold medal in men’s figure skating,” Abe said, “I was deeply moved, watching the scene of his winning run on tv with the flag of Japan on his back.”
02:26 Interview end
03:31 Congratulate Hanyu Yuzuru on the phone
03:35 End phone conversation
03:36 Depart from official residence
03:54 Arrive at private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo

Sunday, February 16, 2014

AM

12:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no visitors)
10:00 At private residence (no morning visitors), stayed there throughout the morning

PM
05:31 Depart from private residence
05:49 Arrive at tempura restaurant Rakutei in Akasaka, Tokyo, for dinner with supporters
07:50 Depart from Rakutei
08:05 Return to private residence