Japan’s Choices in the Era of Inter-Regime Competition

The RCAST Open Laboratory for Emergence Strategies is independently conducting the research project on "Japan’s Choices in the Era of Inter-Regime Competition: Policy Proposals and Information Sharing based on Long-term Scenario Planning in Search for the Proactive Role in the Emergence of the New International Order” which is supported by the research grants for diplomacy and security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan starting from the fiscal year 2020.

Today, our world has entered an era of significant change, notably with the rise of authoritarian states like China and Russia, changes within the existing order centered on the United States and the European states, ideological and geopolitical challenges in the Middle East, as well as developments in new and emerging technologies. The Project purports to serve as a platform to work with experts to provide analysis and policy recommendations to promote Japan’s involvement in forming the new international order.

Working groups

Working Group 1 on China and the Challenge of Authoritarian Regimes

With the rise of China and growing influence of Russia, authoritarian states are strengthening their presence, raising concerns over the impact on the international order. This working group aims to examine the ideological background and the characteristics of the regimes, as well as their relations with regional states.

Working Group 2 on Middle Eastern and Islamic Alternatives

The circumstances in the Middle East and the Islamic world has become growingly complex with: the spread of extremism such as the “Islamic State,” tribal, regional, and ethnic conflicts; restructuring of the regional order led by Iran and Turkey; as well as the axis centering on Israel and Saudi Arabia. This working group aims to assess the new order in the Middle East and the Islamic world.

Working Group 3 on the US and Destabilization of the Established Order

The “Trump phenomena” in the United States, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, as well as the rise of anti-liberal forces within the European Union are pointing to changes in the international order. This working group aims to examine the ideological underpinnings and divisions within the developed states, and their impact on alliances.

Working Group 4 on the Emerging Issues in Security Studies

The security environment is significantly changing due to the rise of new and emerging technologies such as information communication technologies and artificial intelligence. In addition, there is a growing need to examine the new security issues relating to information and knowledge that go beyond the conventional forms of traditional security concerning war and peace, and non-traditional security issues such as climate change and infectious diseases. This working group aims to look at the new trends and their impact on current security.

Working Group 5 on Indo-Pacific Transport Security

The Indo-Pacific security environment is experiencing new uncertainties due to geopolitical conflicts, military modernization, crime and terrorism, natural disasters, and pandemics. Such issues not only threaten the security of states and their citizens, but also domestic and international transportation that is vital to trade, supply-chains, and exchange. This study group aims to analyze the impact of regional security risks in the Indo-Pacific on the transport sector, as well as specific transport security issues in the region.

Sub-Working Group 1 on Satellite Imagery Analysis Project

This subgroup within the “Working Group 4 on the Emerging Issues in Security Studies” aims to conduct assessments of the international security developments through high-resolution satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies.

Publications
Yu KOIZUMI, "How Much More Can Russia Fight? Satellite Image Analysis of Spare Storage Equipment in the Eastern Military District of the
Russian Armed Forces," ROLES INSIGHTS, No.6 (2022).

Sub-Working Group 2 on Tabletop Exercises

This subgroup within the “Working Group 5 on Indo-Pacific Transport Security” aims to better understand the Indo-Pacific security developments and their implications through tabletop exercises (TTX).

Sub-Working Group 3 on Japan-U.S. Security Treaty History

This subgroup within the "Working Group 3 on the US and Destabilization of the Established Order" aims to deepen the understanding of the history of the Japan-US alliance by collecting and organizing important documents related to the Japan-US Security Treaty and publishing them in the form of an online database.

Photo: President Dwight Eisenhower and Japanese Prime Minister Kishi engage in small talk during their farewell meeting at the White House, June 21, 1957. (AP/aflo)

Activity records

2023.03.31 (Fri.)

News

Publications and Reports

[Publication] ROLES Review Vol.3

2023.03.30 (Thu.)

News

Announcements

ROLES pamphlet released

2022.11.26 (Sat.)

News

Announcements

Lecturer Yu Koizumi receives the 8th Inoki Masamichi Award

2022.11.11 (Fri.)

News

Events

Prof. Satoshi Ikeuchi spoke at a symposium hosted by the TOBB University of Economics and Technology

2022.11.04 (Fri.)

News

Publications and Reports

[Publication] ROLES Review Vol.2

2022.10.31 (Mon.)

News

Publications and Reports

ROLES publishes policy recommendations for the revision of the National Security Strategy

2022.10.28 (Fri.)

News

Events

Yu Koizumi receives the 18th Nakasone Yasuhiro Award of Excellence

2022.10.25 (Tue.)

News

Events

"Japan's Global Strategy and the Middle East"

2022.07.28 (Thu.)

News

Events

[International Collaboration] Conclusion of MOU with Pacific Forum International

2021.12.16 (Thu.)

News

Videos / Podcasts

ROLES Talk Episode 005: Japan-US Alliance: Prospects and Issues

2021.12.10 (Fri.)

Event

Lecture

Special Lecture on the International Relations and Alliances of the Indo-Pacific

2021.11.22 (Mon.)

News

Announcements

[Publication] ROLES INSIGHTS No.004: “New Infrastructures on Matua Island: Enhancements in Russia’s Anti-Access in the Pacific?” by Yu Koizumi

2021.11.16 (Tue.)

News

Announcements

[Publication] ROLES INSIGHTS No.003: “The ‘Historical Resolution’ and the Xi Jinping Leadership” by Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi

2021.10.25 (Mon.)

News

Announcements

[Publication] ROLES INSIGHTS No.002: “Enhancing Civil Aviation Security: The Time is Now” by Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi

2021.10.18 (Mon.)

News

Announcements

[Publication] ROLES INSIGHTS No.001: “Understanding Military Modernization: It’s All about Effects” by Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi

Members

Satoshi IKEUCHI

Professor

Satoshi Ikeuchi is Professor of the Division of Religion and Global Security at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo. He is the founding head of the RCAST Open Laboratory for Emergence Strategies (ROLES).

For the year 2022-2023, he is Senior Visiting Scholar in Residence at the Moshe Dayan Center (MDC) for Middle Eastern and African Studies of Tel Aviv University.

He is a scholar on Islamic political thought and the Middle East politics. As a leading public intellectual in Japan, he has been vigorously publishing on the Middle East and Islamic affairs.

His first publication based on his doctoral studies, Gendai Arabu-no Shakai Shiso: Shumatsuron-to Isramu-shugi (Contemporary Arab Social Thought: Eschatology and Islamism), was published in 2002 and earned Osaragi Jiro Prize for Critical Works. He also earned Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities in 2009 for his book Islamu Sekai-no Ronjikata (Methods of Discussing Islam).

His book on the Islamic State Isulamu Koku no Shogeki (The Impact of the Islamic State) published in January 2015 was a nation-wide best seller in Japan and awarded Mainichi Publishing Cultural Prize. His recent publication includes Saikusu Piko Kyotei: Hyakunen no Jubaku (Sykes-Picot Agreement: One Hundred Years of Obsession) in 2016 and Shiiaha to Sunniha (Shite and Sunnite) in 2018 both published from Shinchosha. He is the recipient of the 12th Nakasone Yasuhiro Prize in 2016 for his academic works and social engagements.

His collection of literary essays and book reviews Shomotsu not Unmei (The Fate of Books) published in 2006 and earned Mainichi Book Review Award for the year.

He was a visiting professor at the Alexandria University 2007-2008, Japan Scholar chair visiting scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in 2009 and Visiting Fellow at the Clare Hall, University of Cambridge in 2010.

He specializes in Middle East politics and Arab-Islamic Thought, particularly on global Jihadism and its implications for international security.

Nozomi KANO

Co-operative Research Fellow

JHOU Jyun-Yu

Alumni- Former Project Researcher

Assitant Professer at the National Chengchi University of Taiwan
Project Researcher of RCAST of the University of Tokyo (October 2020-June 2021)

Kazuya SAKAMOTO

Professor Emeritus, Osaka University

Publications

2023.03.29 (Wed.)

Commentary

ROLES INSIGHTS No.2023-01: "A Principled Approach to MDA in the Indo-Pacific"

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