Japan Memo

Japan Memo

The International Institute for Strategic Studies

Episodes 56
Avg. Duration 43m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.6 (8)
Since Jul 2021
Latest Episode May 2026

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Publishing Details

Schedule
Monthly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
71%
Hosting
feeds.acast.com

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About This Podcast

The Japan Memo is a monthly podcast series that analyses why Japan matters in today’s regional and global geopolitical landscape. In each episode, Robert Ward of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Japan Chair Programme, will bring in strategists, experts and practitioners from around the world to examine how Japan is using its diplomatic, economic and military tools to achieve its strategic goals, and what lessons it offers to other countries.

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Recent Episodes

S6E4 Japan’s defence-export reform with Miyagawa Makio and Michishita Narushige

May 08, 2026 33m

Robert Ward hosts Ambassador Miyagawa Makio, former senior Japanese diplomat, and Professor Michishita Narushige, Professor of International Security Studies at the National Graduate Institute for…

S6E3 Japan-US Economic Security with Katada Saori and Yamada Satoshi

Apr 15, 2026 41m

Robert Ward hosts Katada Saori, Professor of International Relations and the Director of the Center of International Studies at the University of Southern California, and Yamada Satoshi Visiting…

S6E2 Japan’s Critical Mineral Strategy with Kristin Vekasi and Hatakeyama Kyoko

Mar 12, 2026 40m

Robert Ward hosts Dr Kristin Vekasi, the Mansfield Chair of Japan and Indo-Pacific Affairs at the University of Montana, and Professor Hatakeyama Kyoko, Professor of International Relations at the…

S6E1 Japan’s Foreign and Security Policy in 2026 with Professor Taniguchi Tomohiko

Feb 03, 2026 50m

Robert Ward hosts Professor Taniguchi Tomohiko, Chairman of Nippon Kaigi and Specially Appointed Professor at the University of Tsukuba. They discuss the outlook of Japan’s foreign and security…

S5E11 Japan’s Security and Diplomacy in 2025 with Dr Kristi Govella and Dr Eva Pejsova

Dec 15, 2025 51m

Robert Ward hosts Kristi Govella, senior advisor and Japan chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and Eva Pejsova, Japan chair at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy…

S5E10 Japan-US defence-industrial cooperation with Ogi Hirohito, Ito Ayano, and Tom Corben

Nov 21, 2025 1h 14m

Robert Ward hosts Ogi Hirohito, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics; Ito Ayano, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ITO Strategy Company; and Tom Corben, Research Fellow at the…

S5E9 Japan’s Energy Security with Yamashita Yukari and Stephen Stapczynski

Oct 20, 2025 51m

Robert Ward hosts Yamashita Yukari, Managing Director at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), and Stephen Stapczynski, Asia Energy Team Leader at Bloomberg News, for an in-depth…

S5E8 Japan-US-China Economic Relations with Goto Shihoko and Professor Eto Naoko

Sep 23, 2025 53m

Robert Ward hosts Goto Shihoko, Senior Fellow for Indo-Pacific Affairs at the Mansfield Foundation, and Eto Naoko, Professor at Gakushuin University and Senior Fellow at the Institute of…

S5E7 The 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War: the evolution of Japan’s post-war defence policy

Sep 08, 2025 1h 5m

Robert Ward hosts Dr Chijiwa Yasuaki, Chief, International Conflict Division, National Institute for Defence Studies (NIDS), Ministry of Defence, Dr Jennifer Lind, Associate Professor in the…

S5E6 The 60th anniversary of normalisation of Japan-South Korea diplomatic relations with Professor Sakata Yasuyo, Professor Victor Cha and Professor Jung-Hoon Lee

Jul 18, 2025 1h 11m

Robert Ward hosts Sakata Yasuyo, Professor of International Relations at Kanda University, Victor Cha, President of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Centre for…

S5E5 Key takeaways from the 22nd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue with Professor Jimbo Ken

Jun 06, 2025 32m

In this special edition of Japan Memo Season 5, Robert Ward reports from Singapore on the 22nd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. Joining him is Professor Jimbo Ken, Managing Director of the International…

S5E4 Deepening Japan–UK relations with Professor Hosoya Yuichi, Professor Yee Kuang Heng, and Fenella McGerty

May 20, 2025 49m

Robert Ward hosts Professor Hosoya Yuichi, Professor of International Politics at Keio University, Professor Yee Kuang Heng, Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy and Director of the…

S5E3 Japan’s role in Indo-Pacific minilateralism

Apr 11, 2025 54m

Robert Ward hosts Dr Bart Gaens, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and Japan Chair at the International Centre for Defence and Security, Tatsumi Yuki, Senior…

S5E2 Japan’s challenges amid growing cooperation between Russia and China with Professor Takahara Akio, Dr Elizabeth Wishnick and Dr Catherine Jones

Mar 04, 2025 47m

Robert Ward hosts Professor Takahara Akio, Emeritus Professor of The University of Tokyo, Dr Elizabeth Wishnick, Senior Research Scientist at the Centre for Naval Analyses (CNA) and Dr Catherine…

S5E1 Japan’s economic-security policy with Professor Suzuki Kazuto and Dr Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp

Feb 13, 2025 45m

Robert Ward hosts Professor Suzuki Kazuto, Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, and Dr Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp, Director at Agora Strategy Group, to explore…

S4E11 Japan and the US under a second Trump presidency with Dr Sheila Smith and Dr Jeffrey Hornung

Dec 13, 2024 52m

Robert Ward hosts Dr Sheila Smith, Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and Dr Jeffrey Hornung, the Japan Lead for the RAND National Security Research…

S4E10 Japan and deterrence with Bill Emmott, Murano Masashi, and Dr Baldauff Nanae

Nov 20, 2024 1h 3m

Robert Ward is joined by Bill Emmott, Chairman of the IISS Trustees, Murano Masashi, a senior fellow with Hudson Institute’s Japan Chair, and Dr Baldauff Nanae, Non-Resident Senior Associate Fellow…

S4E9 The security and foreign policy of the Ishiba administration with Professor Axel Berkofsky, Professor Hatakeyama Kyoko and Professor Takenaka Harukata

Oct 17, 2024 53m

Robert Ward hosts Axel Berkofsky, Associate Professor at the University of Pavia, Professor Hatakeyama Kyoko, Professor of International Relations at University of Niigata Prefecture, and Professor…

S4E8 Japan and the Nordic-Baltic states with Dr Matsuda Takuya, Dr Vida Macikenaite and Dr Wrenn Yennie Lindgren

Sep 23, 2024 52m

Robert Ward hosts Dr Matsuda Takuya, Adjunct Lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University, Dr Vida Macikenaite, Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of International Relations of the International…

S4E7 Japan and the Pacific Islands countries with Professor Koga Kei, Shiozawa Hideyuki and Euan Graham

Aug 15, 2024 42m

Robert Ward hosts Professor Koga Kei, Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Shiozawa Hideyuki, Senior Program Officer at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and Euan Graham, Senior…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Japan Memo have?

Japan Memo has published 56 episodes since July 2021.

Is Japan Memo still active?

Japan Memo is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 43m.

How do I contact Japan Memo for sponsorship or guest appearances?

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