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IJS Lecture: Naoyuki Agawa, "Japan-U.S. Relations in the Changing World: North Korea, China, and America First"

Naoyuki Agawa
January 31, 2018
5:00PM - 6:30PM
Page Hall 020 (1810 College Rd)

Date Range
Add to Calendar 2018-01-31 17:00:00 2018-01-31 18:30:00 IJS Lecture: Naoyuki Agawa, "Japan-U.S. Relations in the Changing World: North Korea, China, and America First" The Institute for Japanese Studies presents:Naoyuki Agawa Doshisha University "Japan-U.S. Relations in the Changing World: North Korea, China, and America First"Lecture: 5:00-5:45 pm, followed by Q&AReception: 6:15-7:00 pmFlyer: Abstract: The world seems to be going through many fundamental changes. While they require careful examination and response, they can produce frustration, uneasiness, and uncertainty among peoples and countries of the world.  They may also lead to excessive and emotional reactions and irrational denials. North Korea presents a prime example of these changes wherein Mr. Kim seems to be succeeding in transforming his regime into a country capable of launching an ICBM targeted at Washington.  China’s ascent to a dominant power status is a very big change achieved in a relatively short span of time with far-reaching impact on the world order.  Mr. Xi’s China seems to have reached the point where no country in the world can afford to ignore its immense might.  For example, South Korea, a robust industrial democracy, seems to be under pressure to China’s wish that it refrain from closer security cooperation with the United States, let alone Japan. Mr. Trump’s new presidency is in and of itself a big change for the world.  While nothing is wrong about his America First policy, questions remain whether his means and style can be successful in achieving it.  His decisions to withdraw from TPP, the Paris Accord, the Iran nuclear deal and other international commitments the world has taken for granted may do great harm to the global community as well as weaken the United States, contrary to his intent. My presentation will survey these changes in the world and argue that close Japan-U.S. cooperation in the area of security, economy, trade and investment is the key to better cope with these serious challenges, and to benefit the two countries as well as the whole Indo-Pacific region.Bio: Mr. Naoyuki Agawa teaches American constitutional law and history as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan.  Before he joined Doshisha in 2016, he was with Keio University in Tokyo, where he was Professor of Policy Management (1999–2016), Vice President, International (2009–2013) and Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management (2007–2009).  Mr. Agawa graduated, magna cum laude, from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, in 1977, and from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1984.  Mr. Agawa has also taught at University of Virginia Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, and Tokyo University.Mr. Agawa has practiced law with prominent law firms in Tokyo and in Washington, D.C. He is licensed to practice law in D.C and in New York.  He was also with the legal department of Sony Corporation.  Mr. Agawa served as Minister for Public Affairs in charge of public diplomacy and press relations at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. (2002–2005).  He sits on the board of councilors of the Suntory Foundation, the Nomura Foundation, and the United States-Japan Council.  He serves on various occasions in an advisory role to the government of Japan.  This includes his membership of CULCON, a group that advises the Japanese and U.S. governments on matters related to cultural and educational exchanges.Mr. Agawa’s books include: Understanding America Today through Its Constitution (2017);  A History of Constitutional Amendments and Other Changes in America (2016); American History through the United States Constitution (2004, 2013, and Yomiuri-Yoshino Sakuzo Award in 2005); Manifest Destiny on the Seas? The Birth and Rise of Pax Americana (edited and coauthored, 2013); The Friendship on the Sea: the United States Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, (2001); and The Birth of an American Lawyer (1986).  He is also a co-translator into Japanese of Paul Johnson’s  A History of the Jews (1999, 2006).  He frequently contributes to various journals and newspapers and engages in public speeches at various fora.Free and open to the publicThe IJS Lecture Series is supported by a U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant to The Ohio State University East Asian Studies Center. This lecture event is made possible by support from the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit.  Page Hall 020 (1810 College Rd) East Asian Studies Center easc@osu.edu America/New_York public

The Institute for Japanese Studies presents:

Naoyuki Agawa 
Doshisha University 

"Japan-U.S. Relations in the Changing World: North Korea, China, and America First"

Lecture: 5:00-5:45 pm, followed by Q&A
Reception: 6:15-7:00 pm

Flyer

File


Abstract: The world seems to be going through many fundamental changes. While they require careful examination and response, they can produce frustration, uneasiness, and uncertainty among peoples and countries of the world.  They may also lead to excessive and emotional reactions and irrational denials. 

North Korea presents a prime example of these changes wherein Mr. Kim seems to be succeeding in transforming his regime into a country capable of launching an ICBM targeted at Washington.  China’s ascent to a dominant power status is a very big change achieved in a relatively short span of time with far-reaching impact on the world order.  Mr. Xi’s China seems to have reached the point where no country in the world can afford to ignore its immense might.  For example, South Korea, a robust industrial democracy, seems to be under pressure to China’s wish that it refrain from closer security cooperation with the United States, let alone Japan. Mr. Trump’s new presidency is in and of itself a big change for the world.  While nothing is wrong about his America First policy, questions remain whether his means and style can be successful in achieving it.  His decisions to withdraw from TPP, the Paris Accord, the Iran nuclear deal and other international commitments the world has taken for granted may do great harm to the global community as well as weaken the United States, contrary to his intent. 

My presentation will survey these changes in the world and argue that close Japan-U.S. cooperation in the area of security, economy, trade and investment is the key to better cope with these serious challenges, and to benefit the two countries as well as the whole Indo-Pacific region.

Bio: Mr. Naoyuki Agawa teaches American constitutional law and history as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan.  Before he joined Doshisha in 2016, he was with Keio University in Tokyo, where he was Professor of Policy Management (1999–2016), Vice President, International (2009–2013) and Dean of the Faculty of Policy Management (2007–2009).  Mr. Agawa graduated, magna cum laude, from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, in 1977, and from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1984.  Mr. Agawa has also taught at University of Virginia Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, and Tokyo University.

Mr. Agawa has practiced law with prominent law firms in Tokyo and in Washington, D.C. He is licensed to practice law in D.C and in New York.  He was also with the legal department of Sony Corporation.  Mr. Agawa served as Minister for Public Affairs in charge of public diplomacy and press relations at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. (2002–2005).  He sits on the board of councilors of the Suntory Foundation, the Nomura Foundation, and the United States-Japan Council.  He serves on various occasions in an advisory role to the government of Japan.  This includes his membership of CULCON, a group that advises the Japanese and U.S. governments on matters related to cultural and educational exchanges.

Mr. Agawa’s books include: Understanding America Today through Its Constitution (2017);  A History of Constitutional Amendments and Other Changes in America (2016); American History through the United States Constitution (2004, 2013, and Yomiuri-Yoshino Sakuzo Award in 2005); Manifest Destiny on the Seas? The Birth and Rise of Pax Americana (edited and coauthored, 2013); The Friendship on the Sea: the United States Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, (2001); and The Birth of an American Lawyer (1986).  He is also a co-translator into Japanese of Paul Johnson’s  A History of the Jews (1999, 2006).  He frequently contributes to various journals and newspapers and engages in public speeches at various fora.

Free and open to the public


The IJS Lecture Series is supported by a U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant to The Ohio State University East Asian Studies Center. This lecture event is made possible by support from the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit.