Objectives

In today’s world, people’s attention is focused not only around the ways and means to cope with the globalization, but also the rise of new states including People’s Republic of China and the geopolitical evolution both inside and outside the former Soviet Union. Under these circumstances, in addition to traditional dialogue partners in Asia-Pacific region, it has become increasingly important for Japan to establish new channels of dialogue both in the first and the second tracks with countries which she has yet to hold regular meetings with, such as member countries of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (Russia, Turkey, Balarus, etc.). On the basis of such understanding, The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ) aims to promote the exchange of views on commonly shared interests and issues in the field ranging from politics and security to economy, trade, finance, society and culture, and to help business leaders, Diet members and opinion leaders both in Japan and in their counterpart countries to discuss about the formulation of new orders in global and regional arenas.

History

The 1982 Versailles Summit was widely seen as having exposed rifts within the Western alliance. Accordingly, there were expressed concerns that the summit meetings were becoming more and more stylized rituals and that Western solidarity was at risk. Within this context, it was realized that to revitalize the summit meetings there must be free and unfettered exchanges of private-sector views to be transmitted directly to the heads of the participating states. Accordingly, Japanese former Foreign Minister OKITA Saburo, U.S. Trade Representative William BROCK, E.C. Commission Vice President Etienne DAVINGNON, and Canadian Trade Minister Edward LUMLEY, as representatives of the private-sector in their respective countries, took the initiative in founding The Quadrangular Forum in Washington in September 1982. Since then, the end of the Cold War and the altered nature of the economic summits themselves had made it necessary for The Quadrangular Forum to metamorphose into The Global Forum established by the American and Japanese components of The Quadrangular Forum at the World Convention in Washington in October 1991. In line with its objectives as stated above, The Global Forum was intended as a facilitator of global consensus on the many post-Cold War issues facing the international community and reached out to open its discussions not only to participants from the quadrangular countries but also to participants from other parts of the world. Over the years, the gravity of The Global Forum's activities gradually shifted from its American component (housed in The Center for Strategic and International Studies) to its Japanese component (housed in The Japan Forum on International Relations), and, after the American component ceased to be operative, the Board of Trustees of the Japanese component resolved, on February 7, 1996, that it would thereafter act as an independent body for organizing bilateral dialogues with Japan as a hub for all countries in the world, and amended its by-laws accordingly. At the same time, The Global Forum's Japanese component was reorganized into The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ) in line with the principle that the organization be self-governing, self-financing, and independent of any other organization.

The Global Forum Washington Convention October 17-19, 1991

The Japan-Black Sea Area Dialogue February 20-21, 2013

Organization

The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ) is a private, non-profit, non-partisan, and independent membership organization in Japan to engage in and promote international exchanges on policy-oriented matters of bilateral, regional and global implications. While the secretariat is housed in The Japan Forum on International Relations, GFJ itself is independent of any other organizations, including The Japan Forum on International Relations. Originally established as the Japanese component of The Quadrangular Forum at the initiative of HATTORI Ichiro, OKITA Saburo, TAKEYAMA Yasuo, TOYODA Shoichiro in 1982, GFJ is currently headed by ITO kenichi as Chairman, WATANABE Mayu as President and TAKAHATA Yohei as Vice President. The membership is composed of 8 Business Members including the two Governors, ISHIKAWA Hiroshi and HANDA Haruhisa, 9 Political Members including the three Governors, FUNADA Hajime, SUEMATSU Yoshinori and SUZUKI Keisuke and 42 Academic Members including the three Governors, ITO Go, ENDO Mitsugi and HIROSE Yoko.

Activities

Since the start of The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ) in 1982, GFJ has shifted its focus from the exchanges with the Quadrangular countries for the purpose of contributing to the Western Summit, to those with neighboring countries in the Asia-Pacific region including US, China, Korea, ASEAN countries, India and Australia European countries, Wider Black Sea Area , for the purposes of deepening mutual understanding and contributing to the formation of international order. GFJ has been active in collaboration with international exchange organizations in those countries in organizing policy-oriented intellectual exchanges called “Dialogue.” In order to secure a substantial number of Japanese participants in the “Dialogue”, GFJ in principle holds these “Dialogues” in Tokyo. A listing of topics of "Dialogues" and its overseas co-sponsors in past years given below.

Year	Month	Topic	Co-sponsors
2019
	December	The Dialogue with the World	The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR) Western Sydney University
	August	Japan- East Asia Dialogue	East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore (EAI) The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Indonesia Meiji Institute of Global Affairs (MIGA) The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
	July	The Japan-China Dialogue	Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
	February	The Japan-U.S. Dialogue	Carnegie Endowment for International Peace The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
	January	The Japan - Indo-Pacific Dialogue	Meiji Institute of Global Affairs (MIGA) Meiji Organization for International Collaboration Pathfinder Foundation "Routledge Studies on Think Asia" The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
2018
	December	The JAPAN-RUSSIA Dialogue	The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
	July	The Dialogue with the World	The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
	July	Strategic Dialogue with Central Asia	The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
	March	The Japan-U.S. Dialogue	Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP)
	February	The Dialogue with the World	The French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS)
2017
	August	“Central Asia + Japan” Dialogue	the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
	June	The Japan-ASEAN Dialogue	The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University (VNU-USSH) The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
	March	The Japan-U.S. Dialogue	Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University (INSS) The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
	February	The Japan-China Dialogue	Shanghai International Studies University Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Fudan University The Council on East Asian Community(CEAC)
2016
	December	International Symposium “After the July 12 PCA (Permanent Court of Arbitration) Verdict: The Future of Maritime Asia”	Meiji Institute of International Policy Studies (MIIPS) Meiji Institute for Global Affairs (MIGA)
	November	The Dialogue with the World	The Institute of World Policy (IWP) The Atlantic Council's Brent Scowcroft Center (BSC)
	September	Japan-China-ROK Dialogue	The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS)
	July	Japan-Asia Pacific Dialogue	Meiji Institute for Global Affairs (MIGA) / Meiji Institute of International Policy Studies (MIIPS) Western Sydney University
	March	The Japan-U.S. Dialogue	Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University (INSS) The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR)
2015	December	Japan-East Asia Dialogue	East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore(EAI) International Relations Department, University of Indonesia
	September	The Japan-China Dialogue	China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR)
	July	The Second Japan-GUAM Dialogue	GUAM-Organization for Democracy and Economic Developmen
	March	Central Asia + Japan Symposium	the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Graduate Program on Human Security The University of Tokyo, The Japan Times
	March	The Japan-U.S. Dialogue “Alliance in a New Defense Guideline Era”	Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University（INSS)
	February	Japan-East Asia Dialogue “What Should We Do toward Reliable International Relations in Asia?”	School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University the Albert Del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies(ADR-ISIS) The Japan Forum on International Relations
2014	December	Japan-Asia Pacific Dialogue "The Asia-Pacific in Global Power Transition: How Many Great Powers?"	Meiji University, University of Western Sydney and The Japan Forum on International Relations
	May	The Japan-China Dialogue “Prospect of Japan‐China Relationship in the Changing World”	Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)
	March	The Japan-U.S. Dialogue “The Japan-U.S. Alliance in Changing International and Domestic Environments”	Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University (INSS)
	January	The Japan-China Dialogue "Toward Building Confidence Between Japan and China in 'New Domains'"	The Japan Forum on International Relations
2013	October	The Dialogue with the World "Toward the Making of Shared Values in Foreign Policy"	Washington College International Studies Program
	May	The Japan-GUAM Dialogue "Future Prospect of the Japan-GUAM Partnership for Democracy and Economic Development"	GUAM-Organization for Democracy and Economic Development
	February	The Japan-Black Sea Area Dialogue "How to Develop Japan and Black Sea Area Cooperation"	Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
	January	The Japan-China Dialogue "Toward a Future-Oriented Japan-China Relationship"	School of Environment, World Resources Institute, College of Public Administration, Zhejiang University
2012	September	Japan-U.S. Dialogue "Japan-U.S. Alliance at a New Stage: Toward a Provider of International Public Goods"	Institute of National Strategic Studies (INSS)
	March	The Japan-ASEAN Dialogue "The Future of ASEAN Integration and Japan's Role"	ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies
	March	The Dialogue with the World "The Rise of Emerging Countries and the Future of Global Governance"	Fudan University, Nanyang Technological University
	February	The Japan-U.S.-China Dialogue "The Asia-Pacific Region in Transition and the Japan-U.S.-China Relations"	the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, China Association of Asia-Pacific Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Science
2011	October	The Japan-China Dialogue "The Japan-China Relations at Crossroads"	China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR)
	July	Emergency Dialogue "The Great East Japan Earthquake and Regional Cooperation on Disaster Management"	National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
	February	The Japan-East Asia Dialogue "East Asia in Transition and New Perspectives on Regional Cooperation"	The International Studies Department, Vietnam National University
	February	The Japan-U.S. Dialogue "The Japan-U.S. Relations in the Era of Smart Power"	The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
2010	September	The Japan-India Dialogue "East Asian Regional Architectures and Japan-India Relations"	The Federation of India Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FICCI)
	May	Japan-U.S. Dialogue "Promoting Japan-U.S. Cooperation in Non-Traditional Security: the Case of Counter Piracy"	National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)
	February	The Japan-China Dialogue Convened to Discuss "Promoting Japan-China Cooperation on Environmental Issues of the 21st Century: In Pursuit of Recycling Society"	School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, China
	January	The Third Japan-BLACK SEA Area Dialogue "Prospects of Changing Black Sea Area and Role of Japan"	Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)
2009	September	The 8th Japan-ASEAN Dialogue "Japan-ASEAN Cooperation amid the Financial and Economic Crisis"	ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS)
	June	The Japan-China Dialogue "Prospect of Japan-China Relationship in the Changing World"	China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR)
	April	The Second Japan-US Dialogue "US-Japan Relations Under the New Obama Administration"	National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP)
2008	September	The Seventh Japan-ASEAN Dialogue "Prospect of Japan-ASEAN Partnership after the Second Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation"	ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS)
	July	The Japan-China Dialogue "Japan-China Relations, Making a New Stage"	The China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR)
	June	Japan-East Asia Dialogue "Cooperation in Environment and Energy"	The Council on East Asian Community (CEAC), The East Asian Institute of National University of Singapore(EAI)
	January	The Second Japan-US-Asia Dialogue "An East Asian Community and the US"	The Council on East Asian Community (CEAC), The Pacific Forum CSIS
2007	November	The Second Japan-Black Sea Area Dialogue "Japan and Black Sea Area in the Rapidly Changing"	Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Japan, University of Shizuoka
	July	The Sixth Japan-ASEAN Dialogue "Challenges Facing Japan and ASEAN in the New Era"	ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS), The Japan Forum on International Relations(JFIR)
	June	Japan-US Dialogue "US-Japan Alliance in the 21st Century"	National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) The Japan Forum on International Relations(JFIR)
	January	The Japan-China Dialogue "The Japan-China Relationship and Energy and Environmental Issues"	The China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), The Energy Research Institute, and the National Development and Reform Commission (ERI), The Japan Forum on International Relations(JFIR)
2006	September	The Fifth Japan-ASEAN Dialogue "Prospect for Japan-ASEAN Strategic Partnership after the First East Asia Summit"	The Japan Forum on International Relations(JFIR) ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS)
	June	The Japan-US-Asia Dialogue "An East Asian Community and the United States"	The Pacific Forum CSIS
	February	The 4th Japan-Taiwan Dialogue "Review and Perspective of the Japan-Taiwan Relationship"	The Taiwan International Studies Association (TISA)
2005	November	The Japan-wider Black Sea Area Dialogue "Peace and Prosperity of the Wider Black Sea Area and Japan's Role"	University of Shizuoka, The Black Sea University Foundation, The International Center for Black Sea Studies
	June	The 4th Japan-ASEAN Dialogue "The Prospect for East Asian Community and Regional Cooperation"	ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS)
	April	Japan-Korea Dialogue "Future Prospect of East Asian Community and Japan-Korea Relationship"	The Council on East Asian Community (CEAC) Presidential Committee on Northeast Asian Cooperation Initiative (PCNEACI)
2004	November	The Japan-U.S. Korea Dialogue "Future of Korean Peninsula and Japan-U.S.-Korea Security Cooperation"	The Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis, The Fletcher School, Tufts University (US), Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies (Korea)
	September	The Fourth Japan-China Dialogue "Future Prospect of East Asian Community and Japan-China Relationship"	China Association for International Friendly Contact (China)
	July	The Third Japan-ASEAN Dialogue "A Roadmap towards East Asian Community"	ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS)
2003	October	The 3rd Japan-Taiwan Dialogue "New Situation in Asia-Pacific region and Japan-Taiwan Cooperation"	Foundation on International & Cross-Strait Studies
	April	The Fourth Japan-U.S. Dialogue "Entrepreneurship in Asia"	The Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs (US)
	January	The 2nd Japan - ASEAN Dialogue "Cooperation for Peace and Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region"	ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS)
2002	November	The Second Japan-Korea Dialogue "Japan and Korea: Working Together for The Future of Asia"	The Seoul Forum on International Affairs (Korea)
	September	The First Japan-Australia Dialogue "Japan and Australia: Perspectives on Cooperation in Asia and Pacific"	Australian Consortium (Australia)
	May	The Third Japan-China Dialogue "Japan-China Relationship in the World"	China Association for International Friendly Contact (China)
	February	Japan - ASEAN Dialogue "Japan and ASEAN: Cooperation for Peace and Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region"	ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS)
2001	July	The Second Japan-Taiwan Dialogue "The Role of Japan and Taiwan in the Asia-Pacific Region in the 21st Century"	Chinese Eurasian Education Foundation (Taiwan)
	May	The Third Japan-U.S. Dialogue "U.S.-Japan Security Relations under the New U.S. Administration"	The Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs (US)
2000	December	The First Japan-Korea Dialogue "Japan and Korea: Building Foundations for a New Partnership"	The Seoul Forum on International Affairs (Korea)
	July	The Second Japan-China Dialogue "Asia in the New Century and Japan-China Relations"	China Association for International Friendly Contact (China)
	May	The Seventh Japan-Europe Dialogue "EU’s Options and Its Implications for Japan"	The Royal Institute of International Affairs (UK)
1999	November	Japan-Taiwan Dialogue "The Role of Taiwan in the 21st Century"	Chinese Eurasian Education Foundation (Taiwan)
	July	The Japan-Europe Dialogue "Impact of NATO-EU Enlargement on entral-Eastern Europe"	National School of Political Studies and Public Administration (Romania)
	May	The Japan-US Dialogue "Rule of Law and Its Acceptance in Asia"	The Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs (US)
1998	November	"Emerging Global Order in the 21st Century: Political and Economic"	Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy of Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
	September	The Third Japan-China Dialogue "Japan and China for Asian Stability"	China Association for International Friendly Contact (China)
	May	The Japan-Europe Dialogue "Future of Europe: Its Implications for Asia, Particularly Japan"	Centre for European Policy Studies (Belgium)
1997	November	Asia Pacific Agenda in the Changing World: Trade and Security	The Asia Foundation (US)
	September	The Japan-US Dialogue "Perspectives on the China-Taiwan-Hong Kong Triangle Relationship"	The Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs (US)
	May	The Japan-Europe Dialogue "State and Nation in the Changing World	Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (Germany)
1996	November	The Changing Balance of Power in Asia	Chicago Council on Foreign Relations (US)
	October	The Japan-India Dialogue "The Perspective of Japan-India Cooperation in the 21st Century	The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (India)
	May	The Japan-Europe Dialogue "Europe and Japan Facing the Challenges of Global Issues	Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael' (Netherlands)