On November 24, 2017, GRIPS held a ceremony and a celebratory function to mark the 20^th anniversary of the school’s founding. The festivities saw around 300 participants including people from the fields of politics, industry, ambassadors based in Tokyo, and partner agencies. For faculty members, it was both a joyous occasion and a day for reflection.

At the ceremony that started from 4pm, GRIPS President Akihiko Tanaka talked about the history and achievements of GRIPS over the 20 years since its establishment (or 40 years from the establishment of its former incarnation, the Graduate School of Policy Science at Saitama University). He conveyed the school’s determination to continue to make a steady contribution to the world through first-class policy research and education, and also expressed gratitude to everyone who has supported the school over the years. Afterwards, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Yoshimasa Hayashi (speech read on behalf by Deputy Director-General Yutaka Takimoto) and former Prime Minister (91^st) Yasuo Fukuda gave celebratory speeches.

Greetings from the president

Congratulatory speech by guest of honor: Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Yoshimasa Hayashi (speech read on behalf by Deputy Director-General Yutaka Takimoto)

Congratulatory speech by guest of honor: Former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, 91^st Prime Minister of Japan

In the second half of the ceremony, a panel discussion was held with the title “The Outlook for Policy Research and GRIPS Mission” with President of Toyohashi University of Technology Takashi Onishi, former Prime Minister of South Korea, Han Seung-soo, and Honorary Executive Director at the Tokyo National Museum, Teiichi Sato sitting on the panel with former GRIPS President and President of the Institute of Developing Economies at the Japan External Trade Organization, Takashi Shiraishi, fulfilling the role of moderator.

Panel discussion: “The Outlook for Policy Research and GRIPS Mission”

President Tanaka spoke again at the celebratory function, after which House of Representatives lawmaker, Fukushiro Nukaga, and Governor of the Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda, offered their congratulations. Honorary GRIPS President and the founding president of GRIPS, Toru Yoshimura, recalled anecdotes about the establishment of the school and expressed gratitude to everyone in attendance. The somewhat formal atmosphere of the ceremony gave way to a more relaxed ambiance, and things became even more lively when Honorary President of Kanazawa Gakuin University, Hiroto Ishida, raised his glass and made a toast, after which Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Toshimitsu Motegi and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yasutoshi Nishimura, also arrived to join the proceedings before the curtain came down on a very lively event.

Message from GRIPS President Emeritus, Toru Yoshimura

Having reached a significant milestone in the form of the 20^th anniversary of its establishment, GRIPS will continue to consider what form policy research in Japan should take, conceptualize new dimensions for policy research, and strive to produce leaders who can contribute to problem solving on a global scale.