From October 16 to 18, 2025, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) held a follow-up event, for the alumni of the Taiwan Young Leaders Program which was conducted from 2018 to 2020. This was the third time the event had been held, and it took place in Japan.

On October 16, the first day, five alumni from Taiwan and three from Japan gathered at GRIPS for the event.  Professor Kunio Shinoda gave a lecture titled “Trump Tariffs and the Reshaping of the International Economic Order: Responses and Challenges for Indo-Pacific Region” followed by a discussion session.  Each participant then shared updates on their current work and interests, recalling memories from the six-month program at GRIPS. During the evening reception, participants including GRIPS faculty, students from Taiwan and other stakeholders had the opportunity to deepen their relationships.

From October 17 to 18, the group visited Kumamoto.  At the Kumamoto Prefectural Government, they listened to a lecture on the concentration of the semiconductor industry and asked a lot of questions because it is currently a hot topic in Taiwan. At the Kumamoto Earthquake Museum KIOKU, they toured the grounds with a guide and deepened understanding of the situation right after the disaster, the recovery process, and the importance of disaster prevention.  These two days in Kumamoto provided a variety of topics, including industrial policy, disaster management, and regional development, making it an insightful and valuable experience.

The series of follow-up events has concluded with this third event.  5-7 years have passed since the alumni completed the six-month training program at GRIPS.  They have been building up their careers and continue to progress.  Their ties through GRIPS are expected to foster enduring friendships and open doors to greater achievements in Japan, Taiwan, and beyond.