SPIRIT

Strategic Peace and International Affairs Research Institute, Tokai University

Program

2020

The 2nd meeting (March 1, 2021)

The Security of Japan in the Post-Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Visiting Professor Takuya SHIMODAIRA

Outline

Dr. and Prof. Takuya SHIMODAIRA, the Graduate School of Project Design, gave a talk on the theme, “the Security of Japan in the Post-Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic” as a research seminar of our institute on March 1, 2021.  Stressing that the security environment surrounding Japan has become more threatening to Japan due to China’s military build-up, Dr. Shimodaira discussed how American foreign and security policy had changed since Joseph Biden beat Donald Trump in the presidential election and inaugurated as the President of the US in November 2020.  He also talked on what actions XI Jinping regime, which had become more aggressive than ever, would take against Taiwan.  Finally suggesting how Japan should be prepared for these changes, he exchanged views with many participants in the seminar.

Science & Technology (Cyber Weapon, AI Weapon) and International Relations

Associate Professor Hiroyuki FUJIMAKI

Outline

The 2nd videoconference meeting using Zoom was held on March 1, 2021.
Associate Professor Hiroyuki Fujimaki gave a lecture on “Science & Technology (Cyber Weapon, AI Weapon) and International Relations”

The 1st Meeting (February 19, 2021)

UK Diplomacy with the USSR over Falklands War

Associate Professor Ryuta WADA(Lecturer of International Studies, Tokai University)

Commentator: Professor Naoki KAMIMURA (Nanzan University)

Outline

On the very first research conference conducted at SPRIT, Prof. Ryuta Wada (Lecturer, Tokai University), a researcher of institute, conducted a scholarly presentation on USSR intentions on Falklands War broken between the UK and Argentine in 1982. Prof. Wada examined why the UK concluded that it was unlikely that the USSR would strengthen her influence on South Atlantic in the face of Falklands War. He explained that FCO (UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office) analysed a possible Soviet’s intervention on South Atlantic region where the USSR regarded as sphere of West’s (mostly U.S.) influence. Prof. Wada discussed conclusions of FCO that whilst USSR face economic insecurity, she was forced to deal with Afghanistan and Poland. In this context, the USSR could neither afford to, nor was willing to approach to Argentine. However, the longer war lasted, the more likely that USSR would intervene on the region, to discredit British prestige. Prof. Uemura discussed implications towards Anglo-American relations, whilst he pointed out that there was a more room to anylyse Soviet’s intentions. There were more questions and comments about Russian geo-political aspects from audiences.

The significance and roles of Five Power Staff Agency (FPSA): A View from alliance formation theories

Professor Tatsuya NISHIDA

Commentator Professor Naoki KAMIMURA (Nanzan University)

Outline

Dr. and Prof. Tatsuya NISHIDA of our university, gave a presentation on “The significance and roles of Five Power Staff Agency (FPSA): A View from alliance formation theories” on February 19, 2021.  This presentation, investigating why France, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia were willing to develop FPSA for the defense of the Southeast Asia during the early period of the Cold War while the United States (US) were not so much willing to do so, attempted to study factors contributing the formation of the US alliance system n the Asia-Pacific.  Inviting Dr. and Prof. Naoki KAMIMURA of Nanzan University, this seminar also discussed how FPSA has relevance to the first Indochina War and the Vietnam War.

Research Seminar "Thinking about Human Security-The Role of University Education in Cyber Security"

December 11,2020
School of Information and Telecommunication Engineering and SPIRIT a research seminar
https://www.u-tokai.ac.jp/ud-information-and-telecommunication-engineering/news/710/

outline

School of Information and Telecommunication Engineering and the Strategic Peace and International Affairs Research Institute (SPIRIT) co-hosted an online research seminar “Thinking about Human Security: The Role of University Education in Cyber Security” on December 11. SPIRIT has conducted research on cyber security, public health, and human mobility, with the philosophy of human security. In response to the recent diversification of crimes and cyber terrorism using IoT devices, we have held seminars and symposiums on a regular basis. At the same time, School of Information and Telecommunication Engineering is considering the development of cyber security human resources. We accordingly delivered lectures and panel discussions in the large lecture room on the Takanawa Campus. Chancellor Kiyoshi YAMADA of our university gave a greeting, saying, “The new corona disaster has caused an unexpected adversity. In the so-called world with corona and after corona, I have to think about how the university should and can respond to changes in the educational environment. I hope that today’s seminar will be an opportunity of deepening discussions with you on this issue. “
Ikuo MISUMI Guest Professor of School of Information and Telecommunication Engineering, delivered the keynote speech. Guest Professor MISUMI had worked for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now called the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) in the security trade management and year 2000 computer problem. He also had engaged in crisis management and especially in cyber security as the Vice Director of the Cabinet Cyber Security Center until 2020 since 2005. He has been engaged in the government’s cyber security policy for a long time, serving as the director of the center, the deputy director of the Cabinet Office, and the deputy director of cyber security and computerization of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. In the lecture, he discussed the contents of the Cyber Security Basic Law, which was enacted ahead of other developed countries. In addition to explaining in detail the organizations and systems involved in cyber security within the government, he touched on the outline of the cyber security strategy adopted by the Cabinet in July 2018, and also stressed the importance of engineers who support the management of the company and mentioned about the conflict between the United States and China. While explaining a wide range of issues such as the current status of relevant legislation, he said, “We must develop cyber security human resources who have non-technical elements such as management, economy, and politics so that we can respond as an organization to the expanding outer edge of cyber security, such as crisis management, risk management, geopolitics, politics, law and etc. To that end, we need to develop higher education that is both literary and interdisciplinary.”
In the following panel discussion,, Professor MISUMI, Chancellor YAMADA, Yoshimasa SUENOBU, the Director of SPIRIT, and Hiroyuki FUJIMAKI, Associate Professor of School of Political Science and Economics were on stage. Professor and Dean Kazuhiko HAMAMOTO of School of Information and Telecommunication Engineering moderated the discussion on the theme of “Cybersecurity Initiatives at Tokai University”. Professor FUJIMAKI first explained the current status and background of cooperation between Moscow State University and SPIRIT in the area of cyber security. Professor SUENOBU pointed out the importance of raising public awareness in the cyber security and human resource development in the field of academic education. In addition, Chancellor YAMADA, touching on the history of exchanges with Russia at this university, explained the background of the establishment of SPIRIT and the current state of research in the field of cyber security. He emphasized his point by saying “In the future, we must consider ways to make the best use of our knowledge, which is not available in other universities in Japan, to educational activities for the society.” Furthermore, Professor MISUMI said, “The need for education in cybersecurity is high, and the educational quality of Tokyo Campus will improve through a large-scale reorganization of Tokai University, which is now under consideration for implementation in 2022.” Director SUENOBU concluded the session by saying, “Next year, the government’s digital agency will start, and the digital society will continue to advance. We can develop new human resources by combining the education of natural science, humanity and social science. Taking this opportunity of this seminar, we would like to further enhance the education of our university by fostering human resources who can respond to the new era.”

SPIRIT

Strategic Peace and International Affairs Reserch Institute,Tokai University