About us

President's Greeting

The Japan Forum on International Relations, Inc. (JFIR or The Forum) was established originally to study international affairs and to advocate policy recommendations on the basis of such studies from the standpoint of private, non-profit and independent thinktank. Eighteen years ago when there was an atmosphere in Japan which made people think that public issues like foreign policy had better been entrusted in the hand of the rulers - as a matter of fact, almost all of the non-profit policy-oriented thinktanks in Japan at the time were Government-affiliated - the inauguration of the Forum reminded people of the departure of a ship setting sail against a head wind.

However, as I retrospect on the course of the Eighteen years of the Forum since its establishment, the Forum has undertaken many study programs on problems like foreign policy alternatives for Japan and/or resolution of global issues confronting mankind, and has published a number of policy recommendations on the basis of such studies as undertaken.

Particularly, the policy recommendations announced respectively by the Policy Council and the Emergency Policy Council of the Forum have been produced by them independently and have played an important role in the formation of public opinion and government's policy in Japan, also at the same time, emitting Japan's voice to the outside world. The word "independently" was used because the Forum chose the topic by itself and financed the program for itself. The reason why it was possible for a non-profit organization like JFIR is explained by the fact that the Forum adopts a membership system and is supported by its corporate and individual members.

I am also delighted to mention the birth in 2004 of the Council on East Asian Community (CEAC), the establishment of which was proposed by the Forum. Today, CEAC is active as an all-Japan intellectual platform and represents Japan in the Network of East Asian Think-tanks (NEAT). Before closing my remarks, I would like to extend my gratitude to the friends and members of the Forum for their continued support and assistance to our Forum.

 

September 2005
ITO Kenichi
President