International Symposium on "Navigating Uncharted Waters: Japan and a New Era in the Arctic"

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
10:10-10:30	Speech
10:30-10:45	Keynote Speech SUNAMI Atsushi, President, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
10:45-11:00	Speech by Expert ENOMOTO Hiroyuki, Vice Director-General, National Institute of Polar Research/Senior Fellow, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
11:15-12:45	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> ·Kristin IGLUM, Ambassador of Norway to Japan ·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
13:55-14:05	Presentation on "Mirai II" KIKUCHI Takashi, Director of Institute of Arctic Climate and Environment research (IACE), Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), JAMSTEC
14:10-15:40	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. *Additional presenter to be announced
15:55-16:05	Presentation on the research outcomes 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> ·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 *Additional presenter to be announced
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.

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