NGRT Report (1) "Constitution of Japan" Speaker: Mr. Yoshihisa Komori

NGRT (Next Generation's Roundtable in Tokyo) is an opportunity for young Japanese and Americans to meet each other discussing issues of their interest in English and to help their networking.  Members have a monthly meeting at the Roppongi Hills Club on 51st floor.  See more detail

NGRTは日米両国の若者が、六本木ヒルズクラブにて月に一回の英語ディスカッションをするプログラムです。毎回異なるテーマでゲストスピーカーを招き、ディスカッションや討論を楽しみます。詳細はこちら

The 1st meeting of NGRT was held on October 15th, 2019 at Roppongi Hills, starting off with a keynote address by Mr. Yoshihisa Komori, Sankei Shimbun’s associate correspondent in Washington D.C. and a special professor at Reitaku University.  

2019年10月15日に次世代ラウンドテーブル（NGRT）3期の初回ミーティングが六本木ヒルズクラブで開催された。今回は産経新聞ワシントン駐在客員特派員であり麗澤大学特別教授の古森義久氏にお越し頂いた。

＊＊＊　Speaker　＊＊＊

Mr. Yoshihisa Komori
Yoshihisa Komori is Sankei Shimbun’s special correspondent in Washington, D.C. and a special professor at Reitaku University. Mr. Komori began his career as a reporter with the Mainichi Shimbun and served as its Saigon bureau chief and Washington correspondent. Subsequently he joined the Sankei Shimbun, for which he served as bureau chief in London, Washington, and Beijing. He is a recipient of the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association Award, the Japan National Press Club Award for International Reporting, and the U.P.I. Vaughn Prize for International Reporting. Mr Komori is also the author of more than forty books. His past academic experience includes an affiliation with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as a Senior Associate and Akita International University as a visiting professor.

＊＊＊Theme & Discussion Points＊＊＊

Theme：Constitution of Japan　－U.S. and Japan Relationsー　（日本国憲法と日米関係について）

Discussion Point
１．What will be the relations between Constitutional reform and Japan-US alliance? (憲法改正と日米同盟の関係はどうなるか）

２．Does the US have any role in Constitutional reform of Japan?（アメリカは日本国憲法改正においてどのような役割を持っているか）

Mr. Komori placed an emphasis on the current Japan-US relations among the constitutional reform of Japan, giving explanations on the　significance/purpose of the constitutional reform, subsequent consequences and United States’ altering expectations towards Japan. Following his speech, participants discussed two questions addressed: ‘What will be the relations between Constitutional reform and the Japan-US alliance?’ and ‘Does the United States have any role in Constitutional reform of Japan?’ Participants examined the issue from various perspectives, for instance economic, political or educational aspects. It was a fruitful session as participants were able to recognize the divergence in Japan and the United States’ perception and the substantial yet intricate impact the constitutional reform has on not only the relationship between Japan and the United States but on the world.

基調講演では憲法第9条改正に関する日米関係の在り方、米国の視点から見た憲法改正が持つ意義や日本に対する期待などについて概説頂いた。また「憲法改正と日米同盟の相互関係はどうあるべきか」、「米国は日本の憲法改正に携わるべきか」の2点はテーマとして取り上げられ、各テーブルで日米関係の今後について経済面、政治面、教育面など多角的な視点から討議された。各国の理想と現状の乖離、憲法改正が日米同盟の枠組みを越えて及ぼす影響力など新たな気付きの多いセッションとなった。

＊＊＊Comments from Participants＊＊＊

"This topic is a valuable public topic which is not being openly, educationally discussed. Regardless of the choice being made or not, the discussion is valuable." (このトピックは普段公の場や教育の場で語られないお題だ。だからこそ意見に関わらず話し合うことに意味があると思う。）

"Constitutional reform will change the security situation in East Asia among Japan, China and Korea. This change potentially will change the US security policy towards Asia. "　（憲法改正は東アジア日中韓の安全保障を大きく揺るがすであろう。それは将来的にアメリカのアジアに対する安全保障の方針を変えることにもなるだろうと思う。）

"It was a quite difficult theme, but it was a good chance to discuss and hear some opinions from U.S. side."　（難しいテーマだったが、アメリカ人側の意見を聞くことができたのは良い経験だった。）

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