This symposium considers Japan's contemporary relationship with the Middle East. While natural gas and petroleum are especially important in Japan after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the relationship between Japan and the Middle East is multi-dimensional. The papers presented will explore political, diplomatic, cultural and economic dimensions.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Thursday | November 19, 2015 |7:00 - 8:30 PM
Henderson Room, 2nd floor, Michigan League, 911 E. University Ave.

“Japan and the Middle East: Mutual Affiliation, Advantage & Alienation”
Koichiro Tanaka, Managing Director & President, JIME Institute of Energy Economics Japan

SYMPOSIUM
Friday | November 20, 2015
1:00 - 5:00 PM
1636 School of Social Work Bldg., 1080 S. University Ave.

This symposium will feature a talk by each scheduled presenter. Following presentations, the moderator will open the floor for a round table discussion with the presenters and Q & A with the audience.

Moderator: Koichiro Tanaka

Speakers:
“Japan, Yemen, and the Indian Ocean: A Historical Overview”
Kazuhiro Arai, Keio University

“Japan’s Policy toward the Middle East since 2001: From Koizumi to Abe”
Keiko Sakai, Chiba University

“Turmoil of Iraqi Politics and its Impact on Iraqi-Japanese Relations”
Dai Yamao, Kyushu University

Both events are FREE and open to the public.

This event is funded in part by a Title VI NRC grant from the U.S. Department of Education.