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On June 17, 2024, Sankei Shimbun published an article about an event co-hosted by the Institute for Global Governance Research titled, "Hong Kong Has Not Lost: Speech by Activist Wanted Under Security Law at Japan Hong Kong Democracy Summit." This article covers the "Japan Hong Kong Democracy Summit," held at Hitotsubashi University, which discussed the current situation and future of Hong Kong. Former House of Representatives member Shiori Kanno and Professor Tomoko Ako from the University of Tokyo also gave speeches. Democracy activist Finn Lau, wanted by Hong Kong authorities for alleged violations of the National Security Law, pointed out that although freedom of speech has been lost in Hong Kong, the citizens' struggle has led to a growing movement to avoid excessive dependence on China in various countries. He also revealed plans to link Hong Kong-related organizations to demand democratization within a larger framework.

On May 17, 2024, the program "True Freedom: The Core of Japan's Strength" featuring Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law was released on the official PIVOT channel. The program delves into the mechanisms of influence operations by countries like China, which are becoming increasingly serious in international politics, and the strategies to counteract them. Professor Ichihara began by citing the spread of disinformation about the release of treated water from Fukushima. She explained how the attention economy model has expanded influence with the rise of the social media. She highlighted the importance of not only fostering trust through international cooperation but also sharing research on fact-checking and trends in information warfare to combat the spread of false information. She stressed that when engaging with information on social media daily, it's essential to verify information from multiple sources for media literacy. However, methods such as the firehose of falsehood and information laundering make it extremely challenging to discern true information.

On May 16, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, "Gaza Attacks Prompt Student Rally at the University of Tokyo: 'Listen to the Anti-War Pleas'" was published. The article discusses the spread of student movements protesting the Israeli military's attacks on the Gaza Strip in the Palestinian territories, initially in the United States and now also at universities in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Professor Ichihara commented that such demonstrations have occurred in Japan before. She recalled being impressed by a demonstration she witnessed in Shinjuku, where young people addressed the audience in both Japanese and English, demonstrating considerable courage.

On May 7, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, "‘I'm sorry for living’: Depressed after Seminar, 22-year-old Graduate Student Takes Own Life" was published. This article concerns Amane, a 23-year-old graduate student who committed suicide due to depression. Professor Ichihara stated that the signs of students’ distress appear in a subtle manner, and recognizing them requires a certain level of mental capacity of the faculty members. However, given the current state of universities, this is very challenging. She emphasized that universities should value students as an investment in the future. To achieve this, the burden on university faculty needs to be reduced to some extent. Professor Ichihara pointed out the importance of discussing the role and structure of universities as a society.

On May 7, 2024, the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation released a video titled "Establishing Facts," featuring Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law as a panelist. The video discusses the importance of fact-checking, the methods involved, and the mechanisms behind disinformation. Professor Ichihara explained authoritarian disinformation and narratives, addressing future challenges as well. First, she succinctly described the mechanisms behind the spread of disinformation regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. She stated that the objectives of disinformation spread by authoritarian actors include destabilizing and polarizing Japan, and driving a wedge between Japan and its security partners. While efforts to combat disinformation by the government and private sector are ongoing, they remain insufficient. Professor Ichihara emphasized that moving forward, not only cross-disciplinary research but also international cooperation will be necessary.

On May 2, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, "Conflict Intensifies Over 'Russian Law': Former Soviet Republic Georgia Sees Daily Protests" was published. This article discusses the escalating conflict in Georgia, a former Soviet republic, over a bill regulating organizations receiving foreign funding. Professor Ichihara pointed out that the ruling party, Georgian Dream, is increasingly aligning itself with pro-Russian and pro-Chinese tendencies. She further commented that, given the escalating threats against opposition parties within Georgia in recent years, the passage of this bill could worsen the situation and have significant implications for the liberal international order.

On April 22, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, "Fleeing Oppression: Myanmar Filmmaker's Self-Documentary Reveals Devastation" was pubished. This article features an interview with Mr. Ko Paw, a prominent Myanmar director and actor, who created the documentary film "Path to Dawn." This film depicts his life in hiding as he is chased after by the Myanmar military. Professor Ichihara noted that, compared to Ukraine or Gaza, there is limited on-the-ground reporting about Myanmar. She praised the film for its immersive depiction of the country's dire circumstances, emphasizing that the director's self-documentation while in hiding helps to widely publicize the current situation in Myanmar.

On April 22, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, "India's Transformation Under Modi: The Prime Minister's Vision of Strong Leadership" was published. The article is based on an interview with Professor Masaki Kondo, Senior Associate Professor at the International Christian University, who is an expert on India's economic situation, on how India's economy has transformed after two terms and ten years of the Modi administration. Professor Ichihara commented that freedom of speech in India has been severely curtailed under the Modi administration. She noted that human rights NGOs researching government policies have been subjected to dubious accusations, leading to their closure. She remarked that under such circumstances, it has become nearly impossible to hold conferences on human rights and democracy in India.

On April 3, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law was published in the Asia Democracy Chronicles article, “In Constant Search for Support.” This article is about the situation of Hong Kong democracy activists outside of mainland China, such as in Tokyo, Japan, following the announcement of Hong Kong's National Security Law. Professor Ichihara noted that the strategy chosen by Hong Kong activists is the “suitable style of communication” in Japan. Regarding Japan's official position on Hong Kong, Professor Ichihara emphasized that Japan stands out from the rest of Asia and that the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong poses a diplomatic challenge to the Japanese government.

The Nordic Talk program, “Democracy and Dictatorship in a Digital World,” where Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law participated was released on April 3, 2024. This program focuses on how digital tools can be utilized to defend peace and democracy. It discusses the challenges and opportunities that the state of digital media presents for democratic societies, as well as the future of global democracy in the digital age. Professor Ichihara stated that she believes digital technology is a liberating technology because it empowers individuals with significant influence on an international scale. However, she also pointed out that ordinary people face issues, such as filter bubbles, and that many countries suffer from the impact of disinformation from other nations. She discussed the importance of digital literacy, the need to strengthen fact-checking, and the necessity to think about ways to create counter-narratives.