International Terrorism and Japan

Abstract

In late January this year, the news that two Japanese hostages were killed by ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) sent a shock wave all over Japan.  This was not the first time that Japanese citizens were killed by international terrorists, but the length of time that Japanese general public were exposed to the unfolding event (12 days) sets this apart from the other incidences.  Some argue that this would mark a turning point for Japan's approach against political terrorism abroad. In the statement following confirmation of the killings, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated “We will never forgive the terrorists.  We will collaborate with the world community to make them pay the price.”  The Japanese public also started to pay more attention to the issue of international terrorism.  In the latest survey on defense issues and SDF (Self Defense Forces) conducted by the Japanese Cabinet, 42.6% of the respondents answered that they are concerned about activities by international terrorists, up from 30.3% three years ago.  We ask experts in the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies to discuss the future of international terrorism and Japan’s responses.

Speaker Bios

Martha Crenshaw - Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institue for International Studies; Professor, by courtesy, of Political Science at Stanford University

Takeo Hoshi - Henri H. and Tomoye Takahashi Senior Fellow in Japanese Studies at FSI; Professor, by courtesy, of Finance, Graduate School of Business and Director, Japan Program, Shorenstein APARC at Stanford University

Daniel Sneider - Associate Director for Research, Shorenstein APARC at Stanford University

Nobuhiro Watanabe - Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco