From November 15 to 17, 2017, GRIPS conducted a three-day training program for National Security College, Australia National University for the first time. 21 senior officials including Ms.Linda Ruth Ward (GRIPS Alumni, Public Policy Program 2003), a GRIPS alumni, have attended the program with executive staff of NSC.

Program was kicked off with the orientation given by Prof.Kiyotaka Yokomichi, Executive Vice-President of GRIPS and continued with lectures and discussions with experts of national security and international relation issues from industry, government and academia.

At GRIPS, lectures were given by Prof.Akihiko Tanaka (President)on “Japan’s Strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific” , Prof.Narushige Michishita on “Korean Peninsula;History and Outlook” , Dr.Hideaki Watanabe(Visiting researcher) on “Research and Development for Defence of Japan” and Mr.Hideshi Tokuchi(Senior Fellow,GRIPS Alliance) on “Japan’s Defence Policy & its role in the region. Threats and Opportunities”. We also invited Prof.Kenji Umetani of Hosei University to discuss on “Economic Policy Management of Japan”.

With the cooperation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Australian Embassy in Tokyo, participants also had a chance to meet with Mr. Katsunobu Kanehara (Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary, Deputy Secretary-General of National Security Secretariat) and Mr.Shigeru Ushio (Deputy Director General, International Cooperation Burearu, MOFA). The Australian participants could exchange views and opinions on current situation of Indo Pacific and relationship between Japan and Australia with such prominent officials.

The participants also had a chance to meet executives of Japanese private companies which have close business relationship with Australia.

 On the final day of the training program, they had a wrap-up session with Prof.Michishita to review what they had learned and proposed the possible areas of mutual cooperation and issues to be discussed in the future.