SPF World Views

Japan and the Future of Peace Mediation Support｜Akiko Horiba, Director, Center for Mediation Support

While global attention tends to focus on large-scale wars in places like Ukraine and Gaza, many other violent conflicts, often rooted in unresolved struggles over self-determination, continue largely out of sight.
 
On this episode of SPF World Views, we explore what it takes to pursue peace in this global moment. Our guest, Dr. Akiko Horiba, Director of SPF's Center for Mediation Support, draws on decades of field experience to discuss the concept of peace mediation support, Japan's potential role, and why lasting peace depends on addressing the root causes of conflict.
 
This conversation is especially timely, with the April 1 launch of SPF’s Center for Mediation Support, which aims to strengthen Japan’s efforts to support peace processes across Asia and beyond. At a time when military approaches dominate, this conversation offers a grounded perspective on the continued importance of dialogue, trust building, and inclusive engagement. 

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

This interview was recorded on February 26, 2026.

Show Notes:

To learn more about the Center for Mediation Support, visit the center's page on the SPF website.

The Blue Economy in African Nations: Views from Japan (NHK World rebroadcast)｜SPF President Atsushi Sunami

This is part two of our special rebroadcast of NHK World programs looking at the concept of the blue economy. In part one, we explored Japan’s perspective. For part two, we turn our attention to countries in Africa.

TICAD9, an international conference held in August 2025, brought African nations and the Japanese government together for high‑level dialogue. One major focus was the blue economy, an approach that promotes economic growth and job creation through the sustainable use of marine resources.

This theme is especially relevant for countries in Africa. Marine resources and fisheries could play a major role in boosting food security, nutrition, jobs, and local industries. But there are also mounting threats from overfishing, illegal operations, habitat loss, and climate change.

For part two of our rebroadcast series, we’re sharing excerpts from “The Blue Economy in African Nations.” In the studio, SPF President Atsushi Sunami discusses how Japan, as a fellow maritime nation, can partner with countries in Africa to build a more resilient future through the blue economy.

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

Blue Economy in the Ocean Super Year 2025: Views from Japan (NHK World rebroadcast)｜SPF President Atsushi Sunami

Around the world, our ocean is under immense pressure from climate change and plastic pollution to the depletion of critical resources. Against this backdrop, the “blue economy” has emerged as a key concept for addressing these challenges by bringing together economic growth and long‑term sustainability.

With this episode of SPF World Views, we're kicking off a special two‑part series featuring highlights from our Views from Japan special programs, which originally broadcast on NHK World last year.

In the first program, “Blue Economy in the Ocean Super Year 2025,” SPF President Atsushi Sunami explores Japan’s unique approach to the blue economy based on reports from across the country.

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

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.