Yukio Okamoto Outlines Japan's New Position and Role in East Asia
Mr. Yukio Okamoto, former advisor to two Japanese Prime Ministers
and President of Okamoto Associates, gave a presentation at
the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs.
On March 2, Mr. Yukio Okamoto, a former Special Advisor to two Prime Ministers of Japan and the President of Okamoto Associates and a Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow at MIT, gave a presentation entitled “Japan’s New Position and Its Role in East Asia” at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs. Mr. Okamoto described various aspects of contemporary Japan, including the reconstruction efforts after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. He also described Japan’s relations with its neighbours in Asia, in terms of both security and history.
From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Okamoto was a Special Advisor to Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. From 2001 to 2004, he was again a Special Advisor to Prime Minister Jun-ichiro Koizumi, also serving as the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Foreign Relations. He is currently a visiting professor of international relations at Ritsumeikan University. He sits on the Board of several Japanese multinational companies.
Mr. Okamoto's presentation was a part of the ongoing JAPAN NOW Lecture Series held jointly by the Consulate-General of Japan and the Asian Institute of the Munk School of Global Affairs.
Dr. Stephen Toope, Director of the Munk School, chaired the event
The audience listens attentively.
Mr. Okamoto (centre) relaxes before his presentation with (clockwise from his left):
his wife, Mrs. Kyoko Okamoto; Chair of the University of Toronto's Department of Political Science,
Dr. Louis Pauly; Mr. Yasunori Nakayama, Consul-General of Japan in Toronto; and Dr. Toope.
