Other Publications
The NPT’s breaks apart again: How to rebuild trust in intense situations- Nobumasa Akiyama, Professor at the Graduate School of Law in Hitotsubashi University [in Japanese]
AbstractOn August 26, 2022, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference came to a close without reaching a consensus on the final document. Professor Nobumasa Akiyama, who oversaw the conference process as an advisor to the Japanese delegation, discussed "confidence building" and "crisis management," which will be key issues at future NPT Review Conferences. After describing the points of this year’s NPT Review Conference, Professor Akiyama shared his views on how to encourage countries to work together to address common issues at future conferences.
Russia’s Nuclear Threat, China’s Speaking Power: Anomalies in the NPT Conference, Professor Akiyama Explains [in Japanese]
AbstractProfessor Nobumasa Akiyama attended the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference held from August 21 to August 26 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and explained the issues that were brought up. Through his experience of attending the NPT Review Conference since 2000, Professor Akiyama described the key points of the conference and explained the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the conference and what the participating countries discussed.
The Resurgence of the American Laobr Union Movement? What It Means Legally to Win an Election, and the Long Way Beyond That [in Japanese]
AbstractThe coronavirus pandemic and the recent price hikes have stimulated union movements in the United States, and labor unions have won representative elections at two renowned companies, Starbucks and Amazon. Using the cases of these two companies as examples, Professor Nakakubo discusses the significance and structure of representative elections from a legal perspective. This article introduces the uniquely American legal system of exclusive bargaining based on majority rule, and then explains the process of union organizing activities, filing for an election, election campaings, and determining the results by cast ballots under this system. In addition, it points out that even when a union wins the election and collective bargaining begins, it may lose its bargaining representative status if a collective agreement is not concluded within a year, and that there is a long way before a union's presence takes root. Although the legal reform is unlikely to be realized and the difficult conditions for unions will continue, Professor Nakakubo suggests that there are signs that the changing times are causing unions to be reevaluated and the future will be interesting to watch.
Hybridization of the Japanese and Korean film industries as seen in “Baby Broker” [in Japanese]
AbstractThe recent hit, ”Baby Broker,” which won two awards at the Film de Cannes held in May, was a Korean film produced by a Japanese director. Under the direction of Hirokazu Koreeda, a renowned Japanese film director, eminent Korean actors and actresses such as Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Bae Doo-na, and IU came together to create a movie that has been highly praised both by the Korean and Japanese communities as well as the global society. In this article, Professor Kwon Yongseok highlights the significance of a Japanese director shooting a movie in Korea considering the past and current relationship between the Japanese and Korean governments. Furthermore, he discusses the teamwork of Koreeda and Song in making this film as well as Koreeda’s decision in including one of South Korea’s most popular singers, IU. Professor Kwon indicates that these factors could lead to a new phase for both the Japanese and Korean film industries in which the entertainment industry could help to overcome the tensions in diplomatic affairs.
From a Discussion Panel Member: The Use of Legitimacy to Shake Up the Order [in Japanese]
AbstractProfessor Maiko Ichihara points out that Russia attempts to violate the international order by using the highly legitimate norm of religion in its aggression against Ukraine.
Proactive Diplomacy is Needed for the Formation of International Order [in Japanese]
AbstractProfessor Maiko Ichihara discusses the implications that foreign affairs have on the Upper House elections on July 10. While diplomacy is not a top election agenda normally, she explains how this election is particularly different, along with the diplomatic stance presented by each party.
The TPNW Conference Closes, Challenges to Overcome Political Agendas [in Japanese]
AbstractProfessor Akiyama shares his thoughts on the TPNW convention held in Vienna which ended on June 23. He indicates the significance of the number of countries that participated and the importance of how these countries displayed the will to ban nuclear weapons. However, he also points out the challenges of the meeting’s outcomes and Japan’s role in nuclear disarmament.
The U.S.-Russia Arms Control Regime Ended by the Russo-Ukrainian War: The Implications of Nuclear Intimidation for Deterrence Against China (Part 2) [in Japanese]
AbstractAs the strategic goals of the status quo state(the United States), the revisionist state (China), and the declining state (Russia) are different, it is not easy to establish an arms control system among the three. In addition, the development of hypersonic glide vehicles and other developments have blurred the boundaries between nuclear and non-nuclear assets. As the institutional design of the Cold War era finally comes to a true end, how should Japan get involved in the search for a new system?
The U.S.-Russia Arms Control Regime Ended by the Russo-Ukrainian War: The Implications of Nuclear Intimidation for Deterrence Against China (Part 1) [in Japanese]
AbstractThe nuclear threats made by Russia have transformed nuclear weapons into weapons that can be "used" in regional-level combat. The United States will have no choice but to establish new regulations with Russia and China. However, the premise of order itself, on which the U.S.-Russian arms control system has been based since the Cold War, has broken down.
EU Taxonomy: Commission’s Complementary Climate Delegated Act [in Japanese]
AbstractThe article explains the Complementary Climate Delegated Act published by the European Commission, which includes nuclear and gas energy in the economic activities under the EU taxonomy.