CECHAP organizes the International Conference “Japan: Present and Future”
On Monday, October 13, 2025, the International Conference “Japan: Present and Future. Economy, Politics, and International Relations” was held, organized by the Center for Studies on China and Asia-Pacific (CECHAP) of Universidad del Pacifico.
The event featured keynote lectures by Dr. Yusuke Murakami, Professor at Kyoto University; Dr. Saori Katada, Professor at the University of Southern California (USC); and Dr. Tatsuya Shimizu, Professor at Doshisha University.
Among the attendees were students, professors, members of the Peruvian diplomatic service, representatives from Japanese foundations and associations, as well as members of the Embassy of Japan in Peru.
The conference was inaugurated with welcome remarks from Dr. Marta Chavez, Rector of Universidad del Pacifico, followed by a message from His Excellency Mr. Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Ambassador of Japan to Peru.
Each speaker delivered a high-level academic presentation on the relations between Japan and Latin America, with particular emphasis on the bilateral relationship with Peru.
Dr. Murakami presented the lecture “Japanese Foreign Policy toward Latin America in the 21st Century,” in which he examined the evolution of Japan’s foreign policy in the postwar period, its relations with Latin America from the 1970s to the present, and the main challenges ahead.
Dr. Katada, in her lecture “Japan–US Relations and Their Implications for Latin America,” analyzed U.S. trade policy and its impact on Japan and Latin America, highlighting the tariff measures implemented during the Trump administration, global governance, and the reconfiguration of the economic order under the America First approach.
Meanwhile, Dr. Shimizu delivered the presentation “Economy and Trade between Japan and Peru,” in which he examined the historical evolution of bilateral trade between the two countries, export and import levels, investments, and future economic prospects.
Comments on the presentations were provided by Dr. Antonio Cusato, Country Economist for Peru at the World Bank and Professor at Universidad del Pacifico, and Dr. Nifta Lau, CECHAP researcher and UP professor. Both emphasized the quality and relevance of the lectures, underlining their importance for the Peruvian context and highlighting aspects such as economic growth, cooperation opportunities, and the role of the Japanese diaspora as a bridge between the two nations. They also encouraged the audience to engage with questions and reflections, fostering academic dialogue and collective learning.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Cynthia Sanborn, Director of CECHAP, who reaffirmed the Center’s commitment to promoting spaces for academic exchange that strengthen the understanding of contemporary Japan and its relationship with Peru and Latin America.
This activity organized by CECHAP underscores its commitment to promoting an academic and collaborative environment for dialogue, where diverse perspectives converge around a country as significant to Peru as Japan.
