Overview of the International Symposium of the 26th Asia Pacific Forum, Awaji Conference Japan

Program
  • Date:
    Friday, August 1 2025
    10:30～17:00
  • Location:
    Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center
    (1 Awaji-shi, Hyogo, Japan)
  • Theme:
    "Thirty Years Since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Asia-Pacific Region: Conflict, Cooperation, and Inclusion"
  • Details:
    • ○Opening Address
      Minoru Makimura
      (Representative Director, Asia Pacific Forum, Awaji Conference Japan)
      •  
    • ○Introduction of the 24th Asia Pacific Research Prize Winners
      •  
    • ○Commemorative Lectures
      ◆Commemorative Lecture 1
      "The Trump 2.0 Shockwave and the World”
      Speaker:Koji Murata (Professor, Faculty of Law, Doshisha University)
      ◆Commemorative Lecture 2
      "Thirty Years of Economic Engagement between Japan and the Asia-Pacific Region”
      Speaker:Shigeyuki Abe (Advisor, Hyogo Earthquake Memorial 21st Century Research Institute)
       
    • ○Keynote Proposals
      1.“Can We Overcome This Century of Conflict?”
      Speaker:Keiko Yoshioka (Columnist and Editorial Committee Member, The Asahi Shimbun)
       
      2.“Japanese Society and Gender: A Society That Does Not Utilize Women Has No Future”
      Speaker:Chizuko Ueno (Professor Emeritus, the University of Tokyo / Chairperson, Women’s Action Network / Representative Director, Chizuko Ueno Foundation)
       
      3.“Looking Back on the 30 Years of Recovery from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and Preparing for Future Disasters”
      Speaker:Yoshiteru Murosaki (Professor Emeritus, Kobe University)
      •  
    • ○Parallel Sessions
      Group 1：“Confronting the Changing International Order”
      Moderator:Kai Kajitani (Professor, Graduate School of Economic, Kobe University)
       
      Group 2：“Inclusion (Gender)”
      Moderator:Sachiko Kubota (President, Ashiya University (Incorporated Educational Institution Ashiya Gakuen) / Professor Emeritus, Kobe University)
       
      Group 3：“Cooperation in an Earthquake Disaster”
      Moderator:Yutaka Katayama (Professor Emeritus, Kobe University and Kyoto Notre Dame University)
      •  
    • ○Reflecting on 25 Years of the Awaji Conference
      A look back at the 25-year history of the Awaji Conference through a slideshow of commemorative photos.
      •  
    • ○Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to Distinguished Contributors
      ･For Distinguished Service
      Mr. Satoshi Iue (Former Representative Director, served until 2022)
      Iue Memorial Foundation
      Mr. Makoto Iokibe (Former Representative Director, served until 2024)
      Mr. Shigeyuki Abe (Chair of the Awaji Conference Planning and Research Committee)
      Mr. Yutaka Katayama (Chair of the Asia Pacific Research Prize Selection Committee)
       
      ･For Sponsorship
      Suntory Holdings Limited
      SYSMEX CORPORATION
      UCC Japan Co.,Ltd
      WADAKOHSAN CORPORATION
      •  
    • ○Acceptance Remarks
      Mr. Toshimasa Iue
      Ms. Sayaka Yasui
      Mr. Takenao Wada (WADAKOHSAN CORPORATION)
      Mr. Manabu Kurata (SYSMEX CORPORATION)
      •  
    • ○Summary and Acknowledgements
      Shigeyuki Abe（Advisor, Hyogo Earthquake Memorial 21st Century Research Institute）

■Summary and Acknowledgements■

Shigeyuki Abe (Advisor, Hyogo Earthquake Memorial 21st Century Research Institute)

　 This conference, which has now reached its final session, was truly a fitting culmination of the whole series. Its background lay in a rare phone call from Professor Iokibe shortly before his passing, in which he expressed his wish that the research committee itself should take the lead and bring the event to a close in the best possible way. In response to those words, rather than inviting an outside guest speaker, Professor Murata and I, both members of the research committee, each approached the challenges facing the United States from different angles. Professor Murata discussed the difficulties posed by the second Trump administration (“Trump again”), while also finding hope in the political rejuvenation expected after his term. I, on the other hand, used my own charts and figures to carefully unpack, from Trump’s perspective, the reasons behind his fixation on tariffs and eliminating the trade deficit. What we shared through this discussion was a positive message: there is no need to fear the Trump administration excessively.

In the subsequent keynote proposals, we received valuable insights from three speakers. Ms. Yoshioka offered a multifaceted view of China through the lens of Laos. Professor Ueno helped us gain a new understanding of gender issues. Meanwhile, Professor Murosaki reminded us of the challenges of the 30 years since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, in particular the serious present-day decline in volunteerism in Japan and the low level of charitable giving. We deeply took to heart these realities. I sincerely hope that these discussions will serve as a helpful guide in thinking about increasingly complex international affairs and social issues.

The Awaji Conference ends with this final session, but the Asia Pacific Research Prize will continue into the future. Reflecting on the award ceremonies where lively discussions once took place with students and researchers, I have once again felt the desire to contribute to passing on to the next generation Hyogo Prefecture’s longstanding traditions of “multicultural coexistence” and the “Asia-Pacific” perspective. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for many years of support, and I look forward to seeing you all again at next year’s award ceremony, where we can take a new step forward together.


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