From mid-February 2026, GRIPS held two rounds of its intensive winter program, “Understanding the Japanese Development Experience.” This program, designed for Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) scholarship fellows, was organized by GRIPS in collaboration with JICA. The participants were students, mainly graduate students, from various universities in Japan. The rich program content included lectures, a study tour, a cultural event, group discussion and presentations. The program is intended to give the participants a broad perspective on the Japanese modernization process, and to encourage them to adopt a multi-faceted approach to engagement with the topics.
The program was held at GRIPS, Tokyo.

There were roughly thirty participants in each round, representing diverse regions, careers and specialties. In the first half of the program, they attended a comprehensive series of lectures on the history of Japanese modernization. 
The core lecturers included:
Professor Andrea Pressello (GRIPS) on Japanese modern history; 
Professor Kaoru Iokibe (the University of Tokyo), Mr. Rintaro Inoue, (Institute of Geoeconomics, International House of Japan) and Adjunct Lecturer Dr. Amiko Nobori (Keio University) on Japanese political history; 
And Professor Tadashi Yokoyama (GRIPS) on Japanese economic history.

Special lectures were delivered by Professor Tetsushi Sonobe and Senior Professor Hitoshi Ieda, both of GRIPS.

For the field trip, the participants visited the National Diet Building, Yokohama Port Museum and Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal, and Urban Renaissance Agency’s Project Site of Densely Built-up Areas Improvement in Nakano Ward.

<The National Diet Building Study Tour>

To deepen their understanding of traditional Japanese culture, participants enjoyed hands-on calligraphy and traditional flower arrangement led by expert instructors.

< Cultural Event: Calligraphy >

< Cultural Event: Flower Arrangement >

In the second half of the week, the participants applied the knowledge gained from lectures and the field trip in small-group discussions, examining Japan’s development experience and drawing lessons applicable to their own countries. On the final day, each group presented its insights and reflected on some of the contemporary challenges Japan continues to face.

The program’s diverse cohort comprised participants from Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania, with backgrounds spanning social sciences, engineering, and other fields. This diversity was reflected in the wide range of opinions and perspectives voiced during group discussions. Although the program lasted only five days long, participants gained an invaluable opportunity to deepen their understanding of Japan from multiple viewpoints—an important takeaway.

We hope that insights gained through this program will inform participants’ future work and strengthen the ties between their home countries and Japan.

< Closing Ceremony >