Author: Gerhard van Niekerk There is a widely circulated quip of unknown origin in the field of macroeconomics that generalises the world economy as follows: “Throughout history there have been only four kinds of economies in the world: advanced, developing, Japan, and Argentina.”[1] Japan is one of the only economies where wages and the prices…
Category: Featured Stories
Author: Hannelie Booyens A fascinating perspective on the media landscape came to light during a recent lecture by a Japanese media expert at Stellenbosch University (SU). The third JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Chair Lecture was hosted by Stellenbosch University Japan Centre (SUJC) on 9 July 2024 and featured an insightful contribution by Dr Hayashi…
Author: Gerhard van Niekerk This is the second edition to a four-part series that discusses Japan’s fascinating evolution as a great power in East Asia. This series will lay out the key themes in Japan’s foreign policy evolution from the Meiji Restoration, and the birth of modern Imperial Japan, to Japan’s contemporary pacifist role in…
Author: Inge Odendaal In 2023, Prime Minister Kishida’s cabinet, along with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Council for Future Studies, unveiled an ambitious plan to boost student mobility.[1] This plan aims to increase the number of Japanese students studying overseas while also attracting international students to Japan, hoping…
Author: Gerhard van Niekerk This is the first edition of a four-part series that discusses Japan’s fascinating evolution as a great power in East Asia. This series will lay out the key themes in Japan’s foreign policy evolution from the Meiji Restoration, and the birth of modern Imperial Japan, to Japan’s contemporary pacifist role in…
Author: Cüneyt Aksoy On 10 April 2024, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made an official state visit to the United States (US). Ahead of the visit and the summit meeting with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Kishida, in an interview, said that the geopolitical tensions have pushed the world to a “historical turning point”.[1]…
Author: Inge Odendaal This August, the 6th South Africa-Japan University (SAJU) Forum, hosted by Stellenbosch University, promises to be another milestone in the academic relations between the two countries. Building on the success of past gatherings, this year’s forum tackles the theme of “Fostering Sustainable Partnerships in Research, Innovation and Impact.” SAJU 6 aims to…
Author: Gerhard van Niekerk This article draws on research presented at a Research Forum on Japanese Industry and Development in Africa, organised by Stellenbosch University Japan Centre and made possible by support by the Toshiba International Foundation. The virtual forum, held on the 26th and 29th of January 2024, focused on the role of Japanese…
Author: Inge Odendaal Stellenbosch University Japan Centre kickstarted 2024 with its first research forum titled “Japanese Industry and Development in Africa.” In January, the SUJC, with the support of a grant from the Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO), hosted this forum which focused on addressing the understudied topic of the influence of Japanese businesses on African…
Author: Inge Odendaal Artificial intelligence (AI) reach is widespread, affecting many sectors across public and private spheres, both positively and negatively. Through the Hiroshima AI Process, G7 members have recognized the real-life implications of both AI and generative AI’s immense potential.[1] It can drive innovation, upskill workers, stimulate entrepreneurship, and improve healthcare outcomes and system…