Japan Program at Stanford APARC

In the Spotlight

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to the media in front of a board displaying the names of LDP candidates on general election day on February 08, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.

What Takaichi's Historic Election Win Means for Japan

APARC and Japan Program Director Kiyoteru Tsutsui analyzes what the stunning election results mean for Takichi's mandate and Japan's domestic policy, its relations with China and the United States, and the future of its democracy.

Watch Now: APARC Briefing

Poster for the documentary "Atomic Echoes."

Mar 2. Film Screening and Discussion: Atomic Echoes

Join us for a screening of the PBS documentary, "Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories from World War II," which explores the lasting trauma of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, and a discussion with producers Karen Tanabe and Victoria Kelly.

Portrait of Jun Akabane. Flyer for the seminar "Japan's Economic Security and the Semiconductor Industry."

Mar. 4: Japan's Economic Security & the Semiconductor Industry

Visiting Scholar Jun Akabane examines the history of Japan's semiconductor industry, the background behind its recent emphasis on economic security, and the validity of its ongoing semiconductor industry revitalization strategy.

Featured Video: Rahm Emanuel on Crisis in America, U.S.-Japan Alliance

Politician and diplomat Rahm Emanuel joins Kiyoteru Tsutsui for a wide-ranging APARC Briefing conversation on the rupture in American politics and society and the stakes for U.S. partners, squandered alliances in the Indo-Pacific, and lessons from Japan.

Who We Are

The Japan Program at Stanford’s Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center cultivates multidisciplinary research and education on contemporary Japanese affairs. Through collaboration with experts from academia, government, business, and civil society, we engage in policy-relevant dialogue and scholarship to promote a comprehensive understanding of the internal and external political, economic, and social factors that influence the progress and development of Japan and its role within the Asia-Pacific region and on the world’s stage.

About Us