Founded in 2020, the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology Open Laboratory for Emergence Strategies (ROLES) of the University of Tokyo aims to serve as a university-based thinktank that brings together experts from the academia, government, media, and corporate sectors, encompassing various issues concerning religion, geopolitics, ideology, security, and technology.
As stated in our name, we are an “open laboratory” where experts and scholars can freely interact, exchange, and collaborate on a variety of pressing international issues to stimulate better understanding and ideas through analyses and discussions.
Analyses and insights by ROLES scholars and members are frequently featured in various domestic and international academic and policy-oriented publications, as well as the mass media and online outlets.
In addition, a number of our scholars and members have consulted government and industrial stakeholders.
The projects conducted by ROLES are funded by grants and subsidies from government, foundations, and corporations, but are objective and nonpartisan.
Staff
Chair
Senior Advisor
SAKAMOTO, Kazuya
Professor Emeritus, Osaka University
ROLES Senior Associate Member
ROLES Senior Associate Member
MIYAJIMA, Akio
Senior Advisor of ROLES
Advisor of Division of Religion and Global Security, RCAST of the University of Tokyo
Akio Miyajima is a former diplomat who was Japanese Ambassador to Turkey and Ambassador to Poland.
Born in Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, he graduated from Waseda University's Faculty of Political Science and Economics. He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1981 and served there until October 2024. He holds a M.A. degree in International Relations from Yale University.
Advisor of Division of Religion and Global Security, RCAST of the University of Tokyo
Akio Miyajima is a former diplomat who was Japanese Ambassador to Turkey and Ambassador to Poland.
Born in Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, he graduated from Waseda University's Faculty of Political Science and Economics. He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1981 and served there until October 2024. He holds a M.A. degree in International Relations from Yale University.
He has held a series of posts addressing successive challenges and opportunities of Japan's foreign affairs, including Director of Oceania Division (July 1999 – November 2001), Director of First North America Division (November 2001 - August 2003), Counsellor (August 2003 – January 2005) and Minister of the Embassy of Japan at the Republic of Korea (January 2005 – January 2007), Minister of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations (January 2007 - January 2011), Deputy Director-General of Foreign Policy Bureau and Ambassador in charge of UN Affairs (January 2011 - January 2013), Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Japan in Great Britain (February 2013 - July 2014).
He was Special Advisor to the Governor on International Affairs at Tokyo Metropolitan Government (July 2014 – February 2016) while Tokyo was preparing to host the 2020 Olympic Games.
He was Special Advisor to the Governor on International Affairs at Tokyo Metropolitan Government (July 2014 – February 2016) while Tokyo was preparing to host the 2020 Olympic Games.
After taking up the post of Director-General of International Peace Cooperation Headquarters at the Cabinet Office (February 2016 - August 2017), he became Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkey (August 2017 - October 2020) and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Poland (November 2020 - October 2024) where he was faced with the Russian aggression on Ukraine in February 2022 and met the surprise visit of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Ukraine in March 2023.
He is Advisor of Division of Religion and Global Security of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo. He is concurrently Senior Advisor to RCAST Open Laboratory for Emergence Strategies (ROLES) since July 2025.
[日本語 Japanese]
Executive Officer
Executive Officer, Media Director
Senior Program Coordinator
Project Researcher
KOBAYASHI, Hiroyuki
Project Researcher of RCAST, University of Tokyo
UCHIDA, Shu
Project Researcher of RCAST, University of Tokyo
Ph.D. in International Public Policy (Osaka University)
-Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Geopolitics Initiative, based in the University of Oxford
-Refugee Examination Counsellor, Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice
Specialized in international relations, conflict studies, European & former Soviet studies.
Dr. Shu Uchida Joined the University of Tokyo RCAST as a project researcher after diverse professional experiences in diplomacy and academia, including service as an Attaché at the Embassy of Japan in Georgia; a Short-Term Observer for an OSCE/ODIHR mission; a Visiting Fellow at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University; a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow of the European Union at the Centro de Estudos Sociais, Universidade de Coimbra; and an Assistant Professor at the Organization for Regional and Inter-regional Studies, Waseda University.
online CV is available here
Ph.D. in International Public Policy (Osaka University)
-Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Geopolitics Initiative, based in the University of Oxford
-Refugee Examination Counsellor, Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice
Specialized in international relations, conflict studies, European & former Soviet studies.
Dr. Shu Uchida Joined the University of Tokyo RCAST as a project researcher after diverse professional experiences in diplomacy and academia, including service as an Attaché at the Embassy of Japan in Georgia; a Short-Term Observer for an OSCE/ODIHR mission; a Visiting Fellow at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University; a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow of the European Union at the Centro de Estudos Sociais, Universidade de Coimbra; and an Assistant Professor at the Organization for Regional and Inter-regional Studies, Waseda University.
online CV is available here
Senior Associate Member
KAWASHIMA, Shin
Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Shin Kawashima is the professor of the Department of International Relations, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the University of Tokyo.
His research covers Chinese/Taiwanese diplomatic history and the contemporary international relations in East Asia. His first book, Formation of Chinese Modern Diplomacy (2004) was awarded the Suntory Academic Prize in 2004. He received Foreign Minister’s Award in 2023.
Aside from his academic positions, he is involved in policy think tanks, including Nakasone Peace Institute (NPI) as Executive Director of Research. and JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development as Visiting Fellow. He is Senior Associate Member of ROLES and has been committed to ROLES activities since its establishment in 2020 as a group leader of several research groups on China, Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific.
He earned his Ph.D. in Literature from Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, the University of Tokyo in 2000. He was an associate professor at Hokkaido University (1998-2006) and at the University of Tokyo (2006-2015), and then as professor in 2015.
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Shin Kawashima is the professor of the Department of International Relations, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the University of Tokyo.
His research covers Chinese/Taiwanese diplomatic history and the contemporary international relations in East Asia. His first book, Formation of Chinese Modern Diplomacy (2004) was awarded the Suntory Academic Prize in 2004. He received Foreign Minister’s Award in 2023.
Aside from his academic positions, he is involved in policy think tanks, including Nakasone Peace Institute (NPI) as Executive Director of Research. and JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development as Visiting Fellow. He is Senior Associate Member of ROLES and has been committed to ROLES activities since its establishment in 2020 as a group leader of several research groups on China, Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific.
He earned his Ph.D. in Literature from Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, the University of Tokyo in 2000. He was an associate professor at Hokkaido University (1998-2006) and at the University of Tokyo (2006-2015), and then as professor in 2015.
He was engaged in education and research at Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica (Taipei), Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, Peking University, National Chengchi University (Taipei), and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
He is Visiting Professor at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken) appointed in 2026.
Selected recent publications and commentaries in English
Yuka Tsuchiya Moriguchi, Shin Kawashima, Somei Kobayashi eds., Knowledge Production In Cold War Asia: US Hegemony and Local Agency, Indian University Press, 2025.
Ryosei Kokubun, Yoshihide Soeya, Akio Takahara, Shin Kawashima, Japan–China Relations. in the Modern Era, Routledge, 2017.
Shin Kawashima, “The Evolution of Japanese Perceptions of China since 1945”,
Asia Pacific Review, 2023, 30(2), pp. 148-166.
Shin Kawashima, “War in Ukraine from China’s Perspective: Limited Options for State that Cannot Reject Existing Policies”, Asia Pacific Review, 2022, 29(2), pp. 35–55
Shin Kawashima, “Taiwan and International Relations in the Western Pacific”, in Kitaoka. Shinichi, eds., A Western Pacific Union: Japan’s New Geopolitical Technology, Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture, 2023, p. 372-405.
Shin Kawashima, “Historical Policy of the Xi Jinping Administration: Four Histories and “Ma Project”, Asia Pacific Review, vol.28-2, pp.57-76
Shin Kawashima, “Chinese New Terminology: “World Order” and “International Order”, in. Axel Berkofsky and Giulia Sciorati eds., Mapping China’s Global Future: Playing Ball or Rocking the Boat?, ISPI Report, p.37-49.
Shin Kawashima, “Xi Jinping’s Diplomatic Philosophy and Vision for International Order: Continuity and Change from the Hu Jintao Era”, Asia Pacific Review, Volume 26, 2019, pp. 121-145.
Shin Kawashima’s articles published at Think China (Singapore online media)
https://www.thinkchina.sg/shinkawashima (Shin Kawashima’s page)
Shin Kawashima’s articles published at The Diplomat (Australian online media)
https://thediplomat.com/search?gcse=shin+kawashima (Shin Kawashima’s articles)
Shin Kawashima’s articles published at Discuss Japan (Japanese online media)
https://www.japanpolicyforum.jp/?s=shin+kawashima&submit=Search
(Shin Kawashima’s articles)
Shin Kawashima’s articles published at nippon.com (Japanese online media)
https://www.nippon.com/en/search.html?s=shin%20kawashima
(Shin Kawashima’s articles)
Shin Kawashima’s articles published at East Asian Forum (online media)
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/index.php?s=shin+kawashima
(Shin Kawashima’s articles)
MIYAMOTO, Satoru
Professor, Faculty of Political Science & Economics, Seigakuin University
Visiting Senior Fellow, RCAST of the University of Tokyo
Senior Associate Member, ROLES
Visiting Senior Fellow, RCAST of the University of Tokyo
Senior Associate Member, ROLES
IWASE, Noboru
Energy Analyst
Representative Manager of Friday Forum
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Representative Manager of Friday Forum
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
IKEDA, Akifumi
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), The University of Tokyo
former President, Toyo Eiwa University
ROLES Senior Associate Member
former President, Toyo Eiwa University
ROLES Senior Associate Member
MURATA, Koji
Professor, Faculty of Law Department of Political Science, Doshisha University
Visiting Senior Fellow of RCAST of the University of Tokyo
ROLES Senior Associate Member
He was Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law, Doshisha University (October 2000 – April 2005) and then Professor (April 2005 – present). He served as Dean of the Faculty of Law of Doshisha University (April 2011 – March 2013) and President of Doshisha University (April 2013 – March 2016).
[日本語 Japanese]
Visiting Senior Fellow of RCAST of the University of Tokyo
ROLES Senior Associate Member
He was Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law, Doshisha University (October 2000 – April 2005) and then Professor (April 2005 – present). He served as Dean of the Faculty of Law of Doshisha University (April 2011 – March 2013) and President of Doshisha University (April 2013 – March 2016).
[日本語 Japanese]
SUZUKI, Ayame
Professor, Graduate School of Law and Politics, Rikkyo University
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
SHINODA, Hideaki
Professor, Graduate School of Global Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Director, Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center (HPC)
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, RCAST of the University of Tokyo
ROLES Senior Associate Member
Education:
PhD in International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of London, UK (1998), MA in Political Science, Waseda University, Japan (1993), BA, Waseda University, Japan (1991).
Director, Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center (HPC)
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, RCAST of the University of Tokyo
ROLES Senior Associate Member
Education:
PhD in International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of London, UK (1998), MA in Political Science, Waseda University, Japan (1993), BA, Waseda University, Japan (1991).
Professional Positions:
After working as a part-time teacher at LSE and Keele University, he took a research fellow position at the Institute for Peace Science of Hiroshima University, where he became Associate Professor. Then, he took the current position at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 2013. He has been a visiting scholar at the Lauterpacht Research Centre for International Law, Cambridge University (2000) and at the Center for the Study of Human Rights, Columbia University (2002). He was Visiting Professional at the International Criminal Court (2017).
After working as a part-time teacher at LSE and Keele University, he took a research fellow position at the Institute for Peace Science of Hiroshima University, where he became Associate Professor. Then, he took the current position at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 2013. He has been a visiting scholar at the Lauterpacht Research Centre for International Law, Cambridge University (2000) and at the Center for the Study of Human Rights, Columbia University (2002). He was Visiting Professional at the International Criminal Court (2017).
Publications:
He is the author of many books and articles including Partnership Peace Operations: UN and Regional Organizations in Multiple Layers of International Security (Routledge, 2024). He has received academic awards including Osaragi Jiro Rondan Award of Asahi Newspaper (2003), Suntory Academic Award (2012), Yomiuri Yoshino Sakuzo Award of Yomiuri Newspaper (2017).
He is the author of many books and articles including Partnership Peace Operations: UN and Regional Organizations in Multiple Layers of International Security (Routledge, 2024). He has received academic awards including Osaragi Jiro Rondan Award of Asahi Newspaper (2003), Suntory Academic Award (2012), Yomiuri Yoshino Sakuzo Award of Yomiuri Newspaper (2017).
IMAI, Kohei
Research Fellow, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization
DELAMOTTE, Guibourg
Professor of Political Science at the French Institute of Oriental Studies (Inalco)
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, RCAST of the University of Tokyo
ROLES Senior Associate Member
Areas of Expertise:
Security and International Relations in Asia
Japanese Foreign and Defense Policies
Japanese Internal Politics and Political System
Guibourg was a Visiting Associate Professor at the Tokyo College of the University of Tokyo, from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. Her in-person stay in Tokyo was from July to August 2022 and she gave an intensive lecture course at the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) of the University of Tokyo in early August.
Guibourg was Visiting Fellow of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo during her visit to Tokyo and participated in research activities and education at the Division of Religion and Global Security of RCAST and in particular ROLES (RCAST Open Laboratory for Emergence Strategies).
Since 2023, as a Full Professor at Inalco, she is concurrently Visiting Senior Research Fellow of RCAST and Associate Research Fellow of Tokyo College.
Her latest books are:
Le Japon, un leader discret - Eyrolles, 2023.
La Democratie au Japon, singuliere et universelle - ENS Ed. 2022.
The Abe Legacy. How Japan has been shaped by Abe Shinzo (coed. J. Brown, R. Dujarric) - Lexington, 2021.
Geopolitique et geoeconomie du monde contemporain. Puissance et conflits (coed. C. Tellenne) - La Decouverte, 2021.
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, RCAST of the University of Tokyo
ROLES Senior Associate Member
Areas of Expertise:
Security and International Relations in Asia
Japanese Foreign and Defense Policies
Japanese Internal Politics and Political System
Guibourg was a Visiting Associate Professor at the Tokyo College of the University of Tokyo, from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. Her in-person stay in Tokyo was from July to August 2022 and she gave an intensive lecture course at the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) of the University of Tokyo in early August.
Guibourg was Visiting Fellow of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo during her visit to Tokyo and participated in research activities and education at the Division of Religion and Global Security of RCAST and in particular ROLES (RCAST Open Laboratory for Emergence Strategies).
Since 2023, as a Full Professor at Inalco, she is concurrently Visiting Senior Research Fellow of RCAST and Associate Research Fellow of Tokyo College.
Her latest books are:
Le Japon, un leader discret - Eyrolles, 2023.
La Democratie au Japon, singuliere et universelle - ENS Ed. 2022.
The Abe Legacy. How Japan has been shaped by Abe Shinzo (coed. J. Brown, R. Dujarric) - Lexington, 2021.
Geopolitique et geoeconomie du monde contemporain. Puissance et conflits (coed. C. Tellenne) - La Decouverte, 2021.
IWAMA, Yoko
Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies GRIPS)
Senior Associte Member of ROLES
Yoko Iwama is Professor of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). She is also the director of Security and Strategy Program (SSP) at GRIPS.
Senior Associte Member of ROLES
Yoko Iwama is Professor of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). She is also the director of Security and Strategy Program (SSP) at GRIPS.
Born in Kobe in year 1964, she graduated from Kyoto University in 1986 and earned her PhD in Law at the University. She was a student at the Free University of Berlin between 1989-1991.
Having served as Special Assistant of the Japanese Embassy in Germany (1998–2000), she joined GRIPS in 2000 and was appointed Professor in 2009. She is single with two children. Her specialty is international security and European diplomatic history centering on NATO, Germany, and nuclear strategy including nuclear sharing. She has served on numerous government committees and is a regular contributor to major newspapers.
Her publications include John Baylis and Yoko Iwama (eds.) Joining the Non-Proliferation Treaty: Deterrence, Non-Proliferation and the American Alliance, (Routledge 2018); Pascal Lottaz and Yoko Iwama (eds.) Neutral Europe and the Creation of the Nonproliferation Regime:1958-1968 (Routledge, 2024); Yoko Iwama (ed.) The Realities of Nuclear Sharing: NATO’s Experience and Japan (Shinzansha, 2023 in Japanese). She received the 2022 Inoki
Masamichi Prize of Japan Society for Security Studies for her book, The 1968 Global Nuclear Order and West Germany (Yuhikaku, 2021 in Japanese).
INAMI, Masahiko
Professor at RCAST of the University of Tokyo
Masahiko Inami is Professor of Information and Somatics at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo. He organized and directed the JIZAI Body project in ERATO that is funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Dr. Inami was appointed as professor at the Department of Information Physics and Computing, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology of the University of Tokyo in 2015, after working at the University of Electro-Communications and Keio University 2008-2015. Dr. Inami took up his current position as professor at the RCAST of the University of Tokyo in 2016.
His interests include body editing technology called "JIZAI", the Augmented Human, and entertainment engineering. He has received several awards, including TIME Magazine’s “Coolest Invention of the Year” award and the Young Scientist Award from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT).
He is also the co-representative of the Superhuman Sports Society, a director of the Information Processing Society of Japan, a director of the Virtual Reality Society of Japan, and a member of the Science Council of Japan. His latest book is called “Theory of JIZAI Body" (Springer, 2024).
He is concurrently teaching as Professor at Ochanomizu University since 2023 and has been Guest Professor at the Graduate School of Media Design of Keio University since 2015.
He is a senior associate member of the ROLES project in Research Group on Advanced Science/Technology and Security."
Masahiko Inami is Professor of Information and Somatics at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo. He organized and directed the JIZAI Body project in ERATO that is funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Dr. Inami was appointed as professor at the Department of Information Physics and Computing, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology of the University of Tokyo in 2015, after working at the University of Electro-Communications and Keio University 2008-2015. Dr. Inami took up his current position as professor at the RCAST of the University of Tokyo in 2016.
His interests include body editing technology called "JIZAI", the Augmented Human, and entertainment engineering. He has received several awards, including TIME Magazine’s “Coolest Invention of the Year” award and the Young Scientist Award from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT).
He is also the co-representative of the Superhuman Sports Society, a director of the Information Processing Society of Japan, a director of the Virtual Reality Society of Japan, and a member of the Science Council of Japan. His latest book is called “Theory of JIZAI Body" (Springer, 2024).
He is concurrently teaching as Professor at Ochanomizu University since 2023 and has been Guest Professor at the Graduate School of Media Design of Keio University since 2015.
He is a senior associate member of the ROLES project in Research Group on Advanced Science/Technology and Security."
MONNAI, Yasuaki
Associate Professor of RCAST of the University of Tokyo
Yasuaki Monnai is an associate professor of Information and Somatics at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo, Japan. He received the B.E. degree in mathematical engineering and information physics and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in information physics and computing from the University of Tokyo in 2008, 2010, and 2013, respectively. From 2010 to 2011, he was a Visiting Scholar with the University of Kassel, Germany, and with the Philipps University of Marburg, Germany, in 2012. From 2015 to 2021, he was an Assistant Professor and Associate Professor with the Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, Keio University, Japan. In 2021, he joined RCAST where he was selected as the University’s Excellent Young Researcher that year. He received the Young Scientists' Award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in 2023 and the Best Teaching Award of the Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, for Academic Year 2024. His research interest includes exploring wireless systems for interfacing humans and machines using terahertz waves and ultrasound.
Yasuaki Monnai is an associate professor of Information and Somatics at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo, Japan. He received the B.E. degree in mathematical engineering and information physics and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in information physics and computing from the University of Tokyo in 2008, 2010, and 2013, respectively. From 2010 to 2011, he was a Visiting Scholar with the University of Kassel, Germany, and with the Philipps University of Marburg, Germany, in 2012. From 2015 to 2021, he was an Assistant Professor and Associate Professor with the Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, Keio University, Japan. In 2021, he joined RCAST where he was selected as the University’s Excellent Young Researcher that year. He received the Young Scientists' Award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in 2023 and the Best Teaching Award of the Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, for Academic Year 2024. His research interest includes exploring wireless systems for interfacing humans and machines using terahertz waves and ultrasound.
Seyed Ali Alavi
Assistant Professor of SOAS, University of London
Co-Chair of the Centre for Iranian Studies of SOAS
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Dr Seyed Ali Alavi is currently Assistant Professor of the College of Humanities of the SOAS, University of London and Co-Chair of the Centre for Iranian Studies of SOAS. He has devoted himsdelf to the rigorous exploration of Middle East Studies and Global Foreign Policy Analysis.
Dr Seyed Ali leads the MA Iranian Studies programme, a distinguished course of study uniquely available through the School of Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics at SOAS.
He is also teaching modules of a wide variety of topics at SOAS, such as Remapping Area Studies in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, alongside other courses on Iran: History, Culture, and Politics, Palestine Studies, and Decolonising Otherness.
For details, please see his biography, profile and published works on the SOAS website.
[日本語 Japanese]
Co-Chair of the Centre for Iranian Studies of SOAS
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Dr Seyed Ali Alavi is currently Assistant Professor of the College of Humanities of the SOAS, University of London and Co-Chair of the Centre for Iranian Studies of SOAS. He has devoted himsdelf to the rigorous exploration of Middle East Studies and Global Foreign Policy Analysis.
Dr Seyed Ali leads the MA Iranian Studies programme, a distinguished course of study uniquely available through the School of Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics at SOAS.
He is also teaching modules of a wide variety of topics at SOAS, such as Remapping Area Studies in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, alongside other courses on Iran: History, Culture, and Politics, Palestine Studies, and Decolonising Otherness.
For details, please see his biography, profile and published works on the SOAS website.
[日本語 Japanese]
Satoshi Maeda
Senior Director at Kitamura Economic Security (KES)
Advisor to Cyber Defense Lab
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo. Joined the Defense Agency (now the Ministry of Defense) in 1983. For approximately 40 years thereafter, he was involved in the formulation of national security policy at various ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Defense, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the National Police Agency. He has held positions such as First Secretary for Security Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in the United States, Counselor at the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency, Director of the Administrative Coordination Division of the Ministry of Defense, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Defense. From August 2018, he served as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (concurrently) Deputy Director-General of the National Security Secretariat (concurrently) Director-General of the National Cyber Security Center. In 2021, he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Qatar and retired in December 2024.
[日本語 Japanese]
Advisor to Cyber Defense Lab
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo. Joined the Defense Agency (now the Ministry of Defense) in 1983. For approximately 40 years thereafter, he was involved in the formulation of national security policy at various ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Defense, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the National Police Agency. He has held positions such as First Secretary for Security Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in the United States, Counselor at the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency, Director of the Administrative Coordination Division of the Ministry of Defense, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Defense. From August 2018, he served as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (concurrently) Deputy Director-General of the National Security Secretariat (concurrently) Director-General of the National Cyber Security Center. In 2021, he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Qatar and retired in December 2024.
[日本語 Japanese]
Mohammed Soliman
Director at McLarty Associates
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Mohammed Soliman is a director at McLarty Associates and a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. A trained engineer, Mr. Soliman works on strategic and policy issues at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, finance, and energy in emerging markets. He is the author of West Asia: A New American Grand Strategy in the Middle East (Polity Press, 2026). Soliman also serves as a non-resident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a visiting fellow with the National Security Program at Third Way. On X: @thisissoliman
[日本語 Japanese]
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute
Senior Associate Member of ROLES
Mohammed Soliman is a director at McLarty Associates and a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. A trained engineer, Mr. Soliman works on strategic and policy issues at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, finance, and energy in emerging markets. He is the author of West Asia: A New American Grand Strategy in the Middle East (Polity Press, 2026). Soliman also serves as a non-resident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a visiting fellow with the National Security Program at Third Way. On X: @thisissoliman
[日本語 Japanese]
Associate Member
KOBAYASHI, Amane
Associate Professor of Musashino University Faculty of Data Science
Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Mediation Support
Amane KOBAYASHI, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Musashino University in its Faculty of Data Science and concurrently a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Mediation Support.
He was Senior Researcher at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ). His expertise includes the politics and security of the Middle East and North Africa with a special focus on Libya, as well as regional energy geopolitics. From 2021 to 2023, He served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Libya. He has previously held research positions at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Keio University. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Media and Governance from Keio University, Japan.
[日本語 Japanese]
Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Mediation Support
Amane KOBAYASHI, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Musashino University in its Faculty of Data Science and concurrently a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Mediation Support.
He was Senior Researcher at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ). His expertise includes the politics and security of the Middle East and North Africa with a special focus on Libya, as well as regional energy geopolitics. From 2021 to 2023, He served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Libya. He has previously held research positions at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Keio University. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Media and Governance from Keio University, Japan.
[日本語 Japanese]
TAKAHASHI, Masahide
Guest Research Fellow, Institute of Islamic Area Studies, Sophia University
Associate Member of ROLES
After working for MOFA and JICA as analyst, Mr. Takahashi took up the post of Senior Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute of Japan (MEIJ). Currently he works for a private energy corporation occasionally stationed in the Gulf.
【日本語 Japanese】
Associate Member of ROLES
After working for MOFA and JICA as analyst, Mr. Takahashi took up the post of Senior Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute of Japan (MEIJ). Currently he works for a private energy corporation occasionally stationed in the Gulf.
【日本語 Japanese】
SHIGENOI, Koki
Associate Member of ROLES
Associated Researcher of RCAST, The University of Tokyo
Visiting Researcher, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, The University of Tokyo
Visiting Research Fellow, Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG)
Areas of Expertise:
Associated Researcher of RCAST, The University of Tokyo
Visiting Researcher, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, The University of Tokyo
Visiting Research Fellow, Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG)
Areas of Expertise:
International Politics
Islamic Political Thought
Economic Security
Prior to join UTokyo III-GSII, Koki Shigenoi held several research position include Al Jazeera Centre for Studies (2018-19), College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (2018-19), Intelligence and Analysis Services at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (2019-20), Asia-Pacific Department at Konrad Adenauer Foundation (2020-21), National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) (2022-23), Graduate School of Public Policy at The University of Tokyo (UTokyo GraSPP) (2023-24).
Edited Volume
· Japan's Role for Southeast Asia Amidst the Great Power Competition: and its Implication to the EU-Japan Partnership. Hanoi: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, 2022.
Publication
· “Evaluating the effect of military intervention on rebel governance in terms of disaggregated human security.” (with Wakako Maekawa) Small Wars & Insurgencies 33/6 (2022): 1059-1084.
· “Strangeness and Strangers: An Annotated Translation and Introduction to Shāṭibī’s Iʿtiṣām.” [in Japanese] (with Nozomi Tajima) Journal of Global Studies 11 (2020): 339-372.
· “Strangeness and Strangers: A Translation and Introduction of a Hadīth Commentary on ‘Blessed Are the Strangers’ from Ibn Qayyim's Madārij al-Sālikīn.” [in Japanese] Journal of Global Studies 10 (2019): 191-225.
· “Strangeness and Strangers: Translation and Bibliographical Introduction on the Hadith Commentary Essay from “Majmūʿah al-Fatāwā” on “Blessed Are the Strangers” by Ibn Taymīyah.” [in Japanese] Journal of Global Studies 8 (2017): 177-204.
MISC.
· “The New Geopolitics of the Middle East (Part 3 & 4) : Shifts in Regional Dynamics 2001-2023.” [in Japanese] Foresight. February 16, 2025.
· “The New Geopolitics of the Middle East (Part 1 & 2) : Syrian Revolution and Geopolitical Setback for Russia and Iran.” [in Japanese] Foresight. December 28, 2024.
· “Small Yard, High Fence.” The Berlin Pulse 2023/2024. pp. 16-17.
· “Economic Zeitenwende? Lessons from Japan’s Economic Security Policy.” 49 security. December 2022.
· “Japan’s Chinese lesson: diversifying only production is not enough.” (with Aya Adachi) Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS). November 2022.
· “Beyond Indo-Pacific, Toward Great Power Competition: German Indo-Pacific Engagement Under the New Government.” (with Kikyo Taguchi) Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. March 2022.
· “The Geo-economics of US-China Relations: What Does it Mean for ASEAN?” (with David Merkle) Diplomatic Briefing 4. February 2022. pp. 24-28.
Takuya Murakami
President/Senior Fellow of the Institute for Middle East Strategic Studies
ROLES Associate Member
He is a desciplined analyst on Gulf and Middle Eastern international affairs and security in the region.
After working as analyst in several governmental and private corporations including Research Fellow of the Middle East Institute of Japan (MEIJ) and Senior Research Analyst at Mitsubishi Corporation in Dubai. He established his own firm, the Institute for Middle East Strategic Studies which provides information analysis on the geopolitical situation in the Middle East to government agencies and corporations.
[日本語 Japanese]
ROLES Associate Member
He is a desciplined analyst on Gulf and Middle Eastern international affairs and security in the region.
After working as analyst in several governmental and private corporations including Research Fellow of the Middle East Institute of Japan (MEIJ) and Senior Research Analyst at Mitsubishi Corporation in Dubai. He established his own firm, the Institute for Middle East Strategic Studies which provides information analysis on the geopolitical situation in the Middle East to government agencies and corporations.
[日本語 Japanese]
TOYODA, Kohei
Associate Member of ROLES
Associated Researcher of RCAST, University of Tokyo
Working Group 2 on Middle Eastern and Islamic Alternatives
Associated Researcher of RCAST, University of Tokyo
Working Group 2 on Middle Eastern and Islamic Alternatives
Working Group 5 on Indo-Pacific Transport Security (Assistant Coordinator)
Sub-Working Group 2 on Tabletop Exercises (Assistant Coordinator)
Twitter: @toyodadesuyo
Twitter: @toyodadesuyo
Administrative Assistant
Other Contents
