One of the important pillars of JFIR’s activities has been to formulate policy recommendations since its foundation in 1987. From the time in the midst of the Cold War until recently, it had been relatively easy to consolidate the worldview and diplomatic strategy within JFIR. During this period, two “Councils” established within JFIR played a pivotal role for this activity. One is for the policy recommendations in the long-term perspective and the other is for those in the short-term and immediate perspective. The former is the “Policy Council” and the latter is the “Emergency Policy Council.” Since 1988, the “Policy Council” has publicly announced 35 sets of policy recommendations all of which were presented to the Prime Minister of Japan. The latest outcome is the 37th Policy Recommendations on “Positive Pacifism and Japan’s Course of Action,” announced on August 5, 2014.
　However, with the advancement of the post-Cold War era in which a world of multi-polarity and/or non-polarity has evolved, there was a growing demand for multi-dimensional approaches in the analysis of the global and/or regional affairs. Under the circumstances, in addition to the activities of “Policy Council” and the “Emergency Policy Council,” JFIR has encouraged its “Research Programs” to devise policy recommendations of their own accord. One notable outcome of this sort is “U.S.-Japan Joint Policy Report: Grand Design of the U.S.-Japan Alliance at a New Stage,” published in 2015 by the members of the JFIR’s research program under the same title.
　Meanwhile, it should be noted that JFIR takes no institutional position on issues of foreign policy, though its members and other related experts are encouraged to propose alternatives on matters of foreign policy. The responsibility for the contents is solely with those who sign them.

Presenting the 20th PolicyRecommendations
on "Towards Collective Human Security:
A New Internationalism and Japan"
to Prime Minister KOIZUMI in July 2001

Opinion Ad of The 37th Policy Recommendations
"Positive Pacifism and Japan's Course of Action"

The Policy Recommendations, which had been under deliberation for more than half a year at JFIR Policy Council, were signed by 72 of its members and submitted to Prime Minister ABE Shinzo on August 5. In view of the importance of the topic raised by the Recommendations, we decided to run a full-page opinion advertisement in the August 6 issue of the national edition of The Sankei Simbun, The Asahi Shimbun, The Mainichi Shimbun, as you can see below.

(Opinion Ad)

< Policy Recommendations
 in English >

< Policy Recommendations
 in Japanese >

Back Number

As a policy-oriented think tank, the Forum established at its inception the Policy Council with the objective of making recommendations on matters of foreign policy from the long- and medium-term perspective. But, the Forum soon recognized the need for making recommendations from the short-term and more immediate perspective in order to cope with the rapidly changing situation both at home and abroad in a more timely and effective manner. For this purpose, another council entrusted with issuing emergency policy recommendations was set up on June 4, 1992. This council, under the name of the Emergency Policy Council, has already made a number of important emergency appeals:

(6) Exchange of Views on "Senkaku Boat Collision Incident" (October 6, 2010)

The Emergency Policy Council with its enlarged membership conducted an exchange of views on "Senkaku Boat Collision Incident" on October 6, 2010, attended by 36 members, including ITO Kenichi, President/Chairman of the Policy Council of JFIR and TAKUBO Tadae, Chairman of Emergency Policy Council of JFIR. The participating members joined in free discussions on the two main topics of "How to view China's moves" and "How to evaluate the response of the Kan Administration." At the Council, a booklet containing 38 articles related to this issue, which were posted on the BBS of JFIR (Hyakkaseiho) and those of its two sister organization GFJ (Gironhyakushutu) and CEAC (Hyakkasomei) was distributed as reference material.

(5) "Japan Should not Jeopardize its Fundamental Position in Her Negotiations with Russia on the Northern Territories." (April 30, 2009)

92 individuals representing various fields of Japan signed this Appeal, which was released by the Emergency Policy Council at the national and foreign press conference held on April 30, 2009. Upon circulation by the Jiji Press, it was reported on May 1 by Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, Nihonkeizai Shimbun, Hokkaido Shimbun, and the Japan Times. On May 11, the major four newspapers also carried the full text of the Emergency Appeal with the complete list of the names of its signatories.

(4) Exchange of Views on the "Perception of History" Problem. (March 22, 2007)

The Emergency Policy Council with its enlarged membership conducted an exchange of views on the so-called issue of "Perception of History". The sensitivity of this issue was heightened by such events as visits to the Yasukuni shrine by Cabinet members. No conclusion or appeal resulted from the deliberations on this problem.

(3) "We Support the Position and Action of the United States in the Iraqi Crisis" (February 20, 2003)

The Emergency Appeal signed by 39 persons was made in response to the critical situation arising from the supposed possession of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq. It has received a significant response from the media. Several newspapers such as Yomiuri Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, and the Japan Times reported it in detail, and "Sekaishuho" (World Weekly) carried the full text of the Appeal with its signatures.

For more details, please visit the following URL: https://www.jfir.or.jp/e/pr/em_pr_3.htm

(2) "Emergency Appeal on Japan's Foreign Policy Toward Russia" (June 29, 2001)

The Emergency Policy Council, highly concerned about Japan's inconsistent and fluctuating foreign policy toward Russia, established a committee "Thinking About Japan's Foreign Policy Toward Russia" (chaired by Ichiro Suetsugu) on April 20, 2001. With a joint signature of 10 members, the committee launched the "Emergency Policy Appeal on Japan's Foreign Policy Toward Russia": Japan should cease to stick to the position demanding return of two islands first and thereafter continuation of negotiations on the remaining two islands, but should instead resolve the issue of attribution of the Northern Territories on the basis of the Tokyo Declaration of 1993.

(1) "Let's Decide to Make a Move toward Tariffication on Rice" (February 5, 1993)

113 members signed this Appeal and it was carried by four major newspapers. The Appeal apparently had a significant impact on the decision making process of the government of Japan for opening the Japanese rice market.