SPF World Views

Global Strategic Trends to 2055｜Richard Johnson, Defence Futures, U.K. Ministry of Defence

What will the strategic landscape look like 30 years from now? This question drives the creation of Global Strategic Trends (GST), a flagship report series that explores long-term outlooks and highlights potential challenges that could shape the decades ahead.

In this conversation, Mr. Richard Johnson from the Defence Futures team of the U.K. Ministry of Defence joins SPF Senior Research Fellow Ippeita Nishida to discuss what’s new in the latest edition of the GST report series, and how governments and partners worldwide are using these insights to test assumptions and rethink strategies for an uncertain future.

You can read the full transcript of this episode on the SPF website.

This conversation was recorded in February 2025.

Show Notes:

・Learn more about the Global Strategic Trends series, including an online edition of GST 7.
・Watch a video version of this interview on SPF's YouTube channel.

Japan and the Third Pole｜Dr. Santosh Kumar Rauniyar, Research Fellow, Ocean Policy Research Institute, SPF

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Santosh Kumar Rauniyar, research fellow for the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. He's been spearheading the projects at the foundation focusing on the Third Pole – a vast region also known as the Hindu Kush Himalaya, which contains the highest mountains in the world and the largest quantity of ice outside of the polar regions.

While melting ice caused by climate change is a shared issue among all polar regions, nearly 2 billion people depend on the water supplied from the Third Pole. In other words, the catastrophic melting of ice and the consequences for water sources in the Third Pole directly impact about one fifth of the global population.

In this episode, Santosh san outlines the unique challenges facing the Third Pole region. We also talk about how the Ocean Policy Research Institute is working to bring together stakeholders at international gatherings, like the Inter-Polar Conference and COP30, to share findings and work toward collaborative solutions.

You can read the full transcript of this episode on the SPF website.

Takaichi, Trump, and the Future of Japan-U.S. Ties｜ Tsuneo "Nabe" Watanabe, SPF Senior Fellow

Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, just one week after taking office, has faced her first major diplomatic test – a summit meeting in Japan with U.S. President Donald Trump during his closely watched Asia tour. In this episode, SPF Senior Fellow Tsuneo "Nabe" Watanabe breaks down the outcomes of their meeting and discusses the economic and security implications for the Japan-U.S. relationship.

You can read the full transcript of this episode on the SPF website.

Japan’s Capacity Building Initiatives for UN Peace Operations｜Mr. Atul Khare, UN Under-Secretary General for Operational Support

In this episode of SPF World Views, we're sharing a special rebroadcast of the keynote speech given by Atul Khare, UN Under-Secretary General for Operational Support, at a recent event at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. In his remarks, he reflects on the 10th anniversary of the UN Triangular Partnership Programme, discusses Japan's contributions to these efforts, and looks to the future of peacekeeping in a rapidly changing world.

You can read the full transcript of this episode on the SPF website.

Supporting Social Enterprises in the Philippines｜Prof. Carlo Sagun, President and CEO, Bayan Family of Foundations

Our guest today is Professor Carlo Sagun, President and CEO of Bayan Family of Foundations (BFF) in the Philippines. In this conversation, we take a deep dive into what exactly it means to add the word “social” to “enterprise," "entrepreneur," and "entrepreneurship.” We also discuss how these social enterprises — or what he calls a heart with a business — can support sustainable development in the Philippines, and the potential to use the lessons learned across the region.

You can read the full transcript of this episode on the SPF website.

Global Crisis in 2025 and Beyond｜Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group

In this episode of SPF World Views, Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group, and SPF Senior Research Fellow Ippeita Nishida dive into the current state of global crises around the world and their impact on Japan. Their discussion covers the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and Trump 2.0, the implications for the Global South, and more.

You can read the full transcript of this episode on the SPF website.

The Second Trump Presidency: Views from Japan (NHK World rebroadcast)｜Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae and SPF President Atsushi Sunami

In this episode of SPF World Views, we're excited to share a rebroadcast of a special program aired on NHK World earlier in January called “The Second Trump Presidency: Views from Japan.” In this program, I had the opportunity to speak with Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae, president of the Japan Institute of International Affairs and Japan's former ambassador to the United States, and Dr. Atsushi Sunami, president of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

You can read the full transcript of this episode on the SPF website and watch the original video on SPF's YouTube channel.

Japan and the U.S. Presidential Election｜Nobukatsu Kanehara, Executive Director, Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Our guest today is Nobukatsu Kanehara, Executive Director of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Kanehara san has decades of experience in Japanese government, serving in a variety of positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and later in the Cabinet of Japan, including as Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from 2012 to 2019. In our conversation, we discuss how Japan is watching the U.S. presidential election, and how the country might approach a potential Trump or Harris administration. This interview was recorded on October 23, two weeks out from election day in the U.S. and just prior to the Japanese general election, which was held on October 27.

You can read the full transcript of this episode on the SPF website.