Author: Cüneyt Aksoy Japan and Türkiye, seemingly very distant countries geographically, share a deeply rooted history of cultural, economic, and diplomatic relations that have advanced over the years. Although Turkish-Japanese relations have been through many phases throughout different periods and both nations’ various political iterations, it carries a friendly sentimentality reinforced with historic rescues, solidarity,…
Author: Gerhard van Niekerk On the 14th of August 2023, Stellenbosch University Japan Centre (SUJC) co-hosted with SU’s Division for Research Development (DRD), an information session on research collaboration and funding opportunities with Japan. The event hosted experts and officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and…
Author: Inge Odendaal The launch of ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool, has been a watershed moment.[1] In just two months after its release in November 2022, it attracted over 100 million users, propelling generative AI into the mainstream and expanding accessibility.[2] This impact extends to Japan, where its influence on society has been…
Author: Jacques Quass de Vos South African and Japanese cities are hardly comparable unless we want to play a game of “spot-the-difference.” Firstly, its populations are vastly different: urban South Africa is comprised of a plethora of races and cultures – each one proportionally significant – as opposed to the generally homogenous population of Japan.…
Author: Jacques Quass de Vos New Bank of Japan (BoJ) governor, Kazuo Ueda, might have his hands full after accepting what may be the most difficult task in contemporary central banking. Being the first academic instated as BoJ governor since the post-war era, it has been said that Ueda could lack necessary support from constituencies…
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Japan’s New Security Policy
Author: Cüneyt Aksoy In December 2022, Japan unveiled a new National Security Strategy (NSS) [1] together with three additional defence-related documents, namely the National Defence Strategy, Defence Buildup Programme, and the new Guidelines on Maritime Security, that lays out its security strategy and defence priorities for forthcoming years.[2] The new National Security Strategy is only…
In this interview, Scarlett Cornelissen, SUJC director, engages in a discussion with ‘Japan Up Close,’ the online magazine of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The discussion focuses on the longstanding diplomatic ties between Japan and African states, and Japan’s development cooperation with Africa. There is also discussion of the implications of these relations and the…
Author: Jacques Quass de Vos The third wave of coffee washed over Japan like a rich, aromatic tsunami. Along with it came a new kind of cultural space. Not the kind of place where you would merely buy a cup of coffee to flip open your Mac and ask for the Wi-Fi password; no, Japanese…
Author: Jacques Quass de Vos It is no secret that Japan has the highest debt-to-GDP ratio globally, clocking in at 258.2% according to the April 2023 World Economic Outlook[1]. Sources: Data from International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook, 2023). Japan’s General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP). Graph by Jacques Quass de Vos. Since the…
Author: Inge Odendaal The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the global travel industry, leading to the implementation of stringent border controls and travel restrictions worldwide. Japan, like many other countries, took measures to contain the virus, resulting in significant disruptions to its tourism sector. These measures had far-reaching consequences, including a sharp decline…