19th Japanese-German Forum

November 11–13, 2010
Berlin

The 19th Japanese–German Forum was held on November 11–13, 2010, bringing 34 participants from both countries together in Berlin to discuss current trends within Japan and Germany and possible avenues for close bilateral cooperation. On Thursday, November 11, Governing mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit held a reception to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Japanese–German Center Berlin, the forum’s German secretariat.

The next day, the forum opened with a keynote address by German State Secretary Wolf–Ruthart Born, who spoke about the close relationship between Japan and Germany and their shared global responsibility as advanced, developed nations. During the forum’s sessions, shared domestic challenges for both countries were discussed in-depth, including shifting political climates, as well as continuing economic hurdles such as the large national debts faced by both countries. Additionally, there was a session devoted to examining each country’s response to the rapid growth of China as a major player on the international stage.

The sessions concluded with an in-depth discussion about the importance of fostering and developing the next generation of leaders in both countries who will be equipped to address the increasingly complex international challenges of the future.

November 11

Reception by the Governing Mayor KLAUS WOWEREIT on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the JDZB and the meeting of the Japanese-German Forum

Dinner hosted by State Secretary Dr. WOLF-RUTHART BORN, Foreign Office

November 12

Keynote Speech: Germany and Japan—Partners with Shared Values in Global Responsibility
State Secretary Dr. WOLF-RUTHART BORN

Session I: Political Situation and Challenges for Domestic Governance in Germany and Japan
NORIYUKI WAKISAKA, Editorial Writer, Asahi Shimbun
ECKART von KLAEDEN, MdB, Minister of State to the Federal Chancellor

Session II: Balancing Economic Growth and National Debt
HIDETO KAKINOKI, Editor in Chief, The Nikkei Weekly 
RALPH BRÜGELMANN, Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln

November 13

Session III: Responding to a Rising China
HITOSHI TANAKA, Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange; Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
MARTIN BRUDERMUELLER, Member of the Board, BASF SE 

Session IV: Educating Future Leaders
TAIZO YAKUSHIJI, Research Counsellor, Institute for International Policy Studies (IIPS)
FRANK MASTIAUX, CEO, E.ON Climate and Renewables

GERMAN PARTICIPANTS

CHAIRMAN

BERNHARD SCHEUBLE

Chairman of the Foundation Council, Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB)

PARTICIPANTS

FRIEDERIKE BOSSE

Secretary General, Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB)

MARTIN BRUDERMÜLLER

Member of the Board, BASF

RALPH BRÜGELMANN

Senior Economist, Cologne Institute for Economic Research

FLORIAN COULMAS

Director, German Institute for Japanese Studies

GESINE FOLJANTY–JOST

Vice–President for Research and Junior Scientists, Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg, Halle

MARTIN JÄGER

Head of Global External Affairs and Public Policy, Daimler AG

ECKART VON KLAEDEN

MdB., Minister for State Federal Chancellery

STEFAN LIEBICH

MP (Die Linke)

FRANK MASTIAUX

CEO, E.ON Climate and Renewables

HANNS MAULL

Professor, Trier University; Adviser, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)

MATTHIAS NASS

Deputy Chief Editor, DIE ZEIT

CYRILL NUNN

Director General, Asia Policy, Foreign Office

FRITHJOF SCHMIDT

MdB (Bündis 90/Die Grünen), MP (Bündis 90/Die Grünen)

JOACHIM SPATZ

MdB (FDP), MP (FDP)

VOLKER STANZEL

German Ambassador-Designate to Japan

GÜNTER STOCK

President, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Science

JAPANESE PARTICIPANTS

CHAIRMAN

YUZABURO MOGI

Chairman and CEO, Kikkoman Corporation

PARTICIPANTS

KEIKO CHINO

Columnist, Sankei Shimbun

NOBUO INABA

Director and Corporate Executive Vice President, Ricoh Co. Ltd.

HIDETO KAKINOKI

Editor in Chief, Nikkei Weekly

MINORU KIUCHI

Member, House of Representatives (Group for Upholding the Interest and Life of the Nation)

KANEICHI MAEHARA

Vice Chairman and President, Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)

SHIMPEI MATSUSHITA

Member, House of Councillors (Liberal Democratic Party: LDP)

HAJIME SASAKI

Executive Advisor, NEC Corporation

TAKAHIRO SHINYO

Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany

TSUYOSHI TAKAHASHI

Special Advisor to the President, Japan Foundation

TOSHIYUKI TAKANO

Senior Advisor, ITOCHU Corporation; Former Japanese Ambassador to Germany

HITOSHI TANAKA

Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE); Chairman of the Institute, Institute for International Strategy (IIS), Japan Research Institute, Ltd.; Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs

NORIYUKI WAKISAKA

Editorial Writer, Asahi Shimbun

TAIZO YAKUSHIJI

Research Counsellor, Institute for International Policy Studies (IIPS)

TADASHI YAMAMOTO

President, JCIE