International Symposium on "Navigating Uncharted Waters: Japan and a New Era in the Arctic"
- Japanese
- English
Outline
The National Ocean Policy Secretariat of the Cabinet Office will host an international symposium entitled "Navigating Uncharted Waters: Japan and a New Era in the Arctic" on Friday, March 13th, 2026.
| Date and Time | Friday, March 13th, 2026, 10:00am-5:50pm（Doors Open: 9:30am）(Japan Standard Time) |
| Format | Onsite and Online(Zoom) |
| Venue | Mita Kaigisho (2-1-8 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo) |
| Capacity | 100 (Onsite)
*Due to the limited number of seats available at the venue, we may ask you to join online even if you wish to attend onsite. Please note that we will inform you whether on-site participation is possible after the application deadline on March 4. We appreciate your understanding. |
| Language | Japanese and English (simultaneous interpretation available) |
| Theme | ·Theme 1: "Geopolitics, Security, Governance: The Great Game in the New Era Arctic?"
·Theme 2: "New Arctic Geo-Economics and Japan" ·Theme 3: "Japan and a Frontier Economy in the Arctic" |
| Fees | Free (Registration required) |
| Registration | Please fill out the Registration Form below.
Registration Form Deadline: Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 <To the press> If you would like to cover this symposium on the day, please contact the secretariat by Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, at the following email address: jp_cons_arctic_conference@pwc.com |
Program
| Time | Agenda and Speakers |
|---|---|
| 10:00-10:10 | Opening Session |
| 10:10-10:20 | Speech①
Ian G. MCKAY, Ambassador of Canada to Japan |
| 10:20-10:30 | Speech②
TBC |
| 10:30-10:40 | Speech③
Kristin IGLUM, Ambassador of Norway to Japan |
| 10:40-10:55 | Keynote Speech
SUNAMI Atsushi, President, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation |
| 10:55-11:10 | Speech by Expert
ENOMOTO Hiroyuki, Vice Director-General, National Institute of Polar Research/Senior Fellow, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation |
| 11:25-12:45 | Panel
Theme 1: "Geopolitics, Security, Governance: The Great Game in the New Era Arctic?" <Facilitator> TANAKA Takayuki, Editorial Writer & Senior Staff Writer, Nikkei Inc. <Speakers> ·KOIZUMI Yu, Associate Professor of the Research Center for the Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo ·ISHIHARA Takahiro, Adjunct Lecturer, JMSDF Command & Staff College/Ret Captain (N) ·KIMURA Hajime, Researcher, Institute of Arctic Climate and Environment Research (IACE), JAMSTEC |
| 12:45-13:55 | Lunch Break |
| 13:55-14:10 | Presentation
Beyond the sea ice: Arctic Research Vessel (ARV) Mirai II and International collaboration KIKUCHI Takashi, Director of Institute of Arctic Climate and Environment research (IACE), Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), JAMSTEC |
| 14:15-15:35 | Panel
Theme 2: "New Arctic Geo-Economics and Japan" <Facilitator> DEI Ryota, Senior Staff Writer, Jiji Press <Speakers> ·KOHDA Satoru, Senior Fellow, Deloitte Tohmatsu Strategy Institute ·HARADA Daisuke, Director General, Department of Research and Analysis, JOGMEC ·ARIMURA Ryosuke, General Manager, Marine & Aviation Department, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. |
| 15:50-16:05 | Presentation
Collaborative research with Inuit on the ecology of marine mammals in Greenland OGAWA Monica, Project Assistant Professor, Arctic Environment Research Center, National Institute of Polar Research |
| 16:10-17:40 | Panel
Theme 3: "Japan and a Frontier Economy in the Arctic" <Facilitator> OTSUKA Natsuhiko, Senior Fellow, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation/ Director, The Okhotsk Sea Ice Museum of Hokkaido <Speakers> ·Timothy Argetsinger, Executive Political Advisor to Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami ·Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Executive Director of Arctic Economic Council ·ISHII Yurika, Professor, Faculty of Law, Sophia University ·TONAMI Aki, Associate Professor in International Relations and Economics, Institute of Business Sciences, University of Tsukuba |
| 17:40-17:50 | Closing Session
FUNAMOTO Hiroshi, Director-General, National Ocean Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office |
*Please note that the program and speakers are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.
Exhibitor Booth
The following booths are planned to be exhibited at the on-site venue.
| Exhibitor | Title |
|---|---|
| National Institute of Polar Research | Arctic Challenge for Sustainability III – Toward the Creation of Integrated Knowledge of the Arctic – |
| Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. | Beyond the Sea Ice: Construction and Operational Preparation of the Arctic Research Vessel "Mirai II" |
| Japan Marine United Corporation（JMU） | JMU Advanced Icebreaker Technology |
Contact
Secretariat of the International Symposium "Navigating Uncharted Waters: Japan and a New Era in the Arctic" (PwC Consulting LLC (Japan))
·Email address: jp_cons_arctic_conference@pwc.com