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On April 25, 2025, Professor Nobumasa Akiyama (Graduate School of Law) was featured in an interview article published by Nihon Keizai Shimbun, titled “Could Japan Become a Nuclear Power? The Trump Administration Challenges a Taboo.” The article explores the growing uncertainty surrounding extended deterrence under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, as President Trump expresses dissatisfaction with the burden of defending allies like Japan. In this context, the piece examines whether Japan might realistically consider nuclear armament. Professor Akiyama argues that even if Japan were to possess nuclear weapons, it would not serve the national interest unless a credible theory of victory against China could be established. He emphasizes that rather than pursuing nuclear options, Japan should focus on ensuring the stable and effective functioning of the U.S.–Japan alliance under all circumstances.

On April 18, 2025, Professor Maiko Ichihara of Hitotsubashi University’s Graduate School of Law appeared on the YouTube program “Border Angels Ep. 9: Insights into Myanmar”. In the video, Professor Ichihara discussed the current state of Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement, the military regime’s rule, and the country’s future prospects. She pointed out that while the military remains powerful with support from China and Russia, civil society still possesses the valuable asset of past democratic experience. At the same time, she noted that long-standing interethnic distrust has deepened social divisions, creating vulnerabilities that facilitate the spread of disinformation. Therefore, she emphasized that presenting a shared vision for the future—through economic development and education—is key to social integration. Furthermore, she argued that Japan should support civil society rather than the military, assisting democratization through information dissemination and strengthening institutional foundations.

On April 11, 2025, a common on the Asahi Shimbun article,“Proposed ¥50,000 Cash Handout Surfaces — Moriyama Persuades Prime Minister, Saying ‘Consumption Tax Cut Would Split the LDP.’” by Professor Maiko Ichihara（Graduate School of Law）was published.The article reports that in response to rising prices and U.S. tariff measures, the Japanese government and ruling coalition are moving toward a plan to provide a uniform cash handout of ¥50,000 to all citizens. Professor Ichihara pointed out that under the Trump administration, price instability is likely to persist, and therefore, policies must be designed with a long-term perspective rather than relying solely on short-term measures. She criticized the proposed blanket cash handout as an unsustainable policy, describing it as a fiscally irresponsible practice driven by electoral motives.

On April 4, 2025, a comment on the Asahi Shimbun article “Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 3,145 — One Week After Disaster, Military Leader Attends International Summit.” by Professor Maiko Ichihara（Graduate School of Law）was published. The article reports that, despite the rising number of casualties from the earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the country’s military, attended the BIMSTEC summit—a meeting of leaders from countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal aimed at promoting regional economic cooperation. Professor Ichihara noted that Min Aung Hlaing’s participation in the summit reflects an effort by the military, which has yet to fully control the entire country, to bolster its international legitimacy. From the standpoint of political neutrality, she emphasized that support should be provided through international organizations rather than directly to the military.

On April 3, 2025, a comment on the Asahi Shimbun article “Mutual Tariffs far exceed expectations—Trump calls it a ‘Declaration of economic independence’” by Professor Maiko Ichihara (Graduate School of Law) was published. The article outlines U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly announced “mutual tariff” policy, unveiled on April 2, analyzes the shift in his positioning of tariffs, which has grown even harder-line than during his first administration. Professor Ichihara questioned the long-term viability of maintaining a cooperative negotiating posture toward Trump and emphasized the need to reshape the negotiation framework itself by moving away from bilateral talks, which Trump prefers, and toward multilateral negotiations.

On September 11, 2024, a comment by Professor Maiko Ichihara (Graduate School of Law) on the Asahi shimbun article “Harris Leads Debate Amid Mutual Criticism — Policy Unclear, Support Remains Uncertain” was published. The article reported on the first debate between the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (at the time) and former President Donald Trump (at the time), following Harris’s announcement of her candidacy in the 2024 presidential election. Professor Ichihara noted the contrast between the two candidates, observing that while Trump appeared unprepared and on the defensive, Harris projected composure and approachability—an impression that could influence voters. She also pointed out that the debate conveyed an exaggerated sense of societal confusion caused by rampant misinformation and conspiracy theories, suggesting that this may have led viewers to feel the need for a president who can effectively address such issues.

On April 28, 2025, a side event on the “International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP)” was held, with Professor Nobumasa Akiyama（Graduate School of Law）, a member of IGEP, participating in the event. The event introduced IGEP’s recommendations for the 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, titled “Stepping Back from the Nuclear Precipice: Urgent Actions in Pursuit of a World Without Nuclear Weapons.” Professor Akiyama served as the moderator for the panel discussion. The discussion addressed the growing risks of nuclear war amid geopolitical tensions and rapid technological advancement. Participants exchanged views on the core principles of the recommendations, including adherence to the UN Charter and international humanitarian law, fostering a culture of international dialogue and cooperation, and rejecting nuclear deterrence as the ultimate form of security. The panel also explored concrete actions that could be taken in preparation for the 2026 Review Conference. Professor Akiyama emphasized that these principles should serve as a starting point and that the recommendations are intended to provide a platform for deeper, interactive discussions toward nuclear disarmament.

On September 7, 2024, a comment by Professor Maiko Ichihara (Graduate School of Law) on the Asahi shimbun article, “One Year After Johnny & Associates Admitted Sexual Abuse: A UN Working Group Member Reflects on the Challenges.” was published. The article reports on an interview with Pichamon Yeophantong, a member of the UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Business and Human Rights, who was involved in investigating the sexual abuse scandal surrounding the former Johnny & Associates talent agency (now SMILE-UP.). Professor Ichihara pointed out that Japan’s deeply rooted culture of conformity may discourage individuals from voicing dissenting opinions, even when such voices are necessary to protect the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups. She added that if society were to normalize speaking and acting according to one’s own convictions, support for victims of human rights violations could become more widespread.

On April 14, 2025, Hannig Núñez Sasha, a doctoral candidate at the Graduate School of Law, appeared on an episode of the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) podcast, Chile’s Cross-Strait Relations and its Dependence on China (GTI Insights, Season 6, Episode 2). In this episode, he discussed Chile’s dependence on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the mining sector and how this dependence relates to Chile’s position on cross-Strait relations. Hannig Núñez pointed out that Chilean politicians have been taking increasingly pro-Beijing stances on Taiwan. She also noted that while some Chilean organizations, such as CAD, are working to raise awareness of PRC propaganda in Spanish, the Taiwanese government has struggled to establish a strong presence in Chilean society and counter the narratives of the Chinese Communist Party.

On August 27, 2024, a comment by Professor Maiko Ichihara (Graduate School of Law) on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Words Reduced to Consumption: Liberals’ Reliance on ‘Justice’ and the Loss of Individuality — Tomoyuki Hoshino.” was published. The article features writer Tomoyuki Hoshino’s reflections on the current state of public discourse, based on his 2013 essay “Japan as a Religious State,” previously published in the Asahi Shimbun. Mr. Hoshino argues that social divisions have deepened, and that language is no longer used as a tool for dialogue but rather consumed within echo chambers of shared values, often weaponized to attack those with differing views. Professor Ichihara commented that instead of tailoring one’s opinions to meet others’ expectations, it may be more constructive to adjust the message to the audience and what one wishes to convey. She suggested that this approach could foster more authentic and meaningful communication.