Komori & Takita on the Key Political Tests of 2026【EN】

Rintaro Nishimura on Iran War and Tokyo's Dilemma【EN】

The Asia Group's Senior Associate discusses how the Middle East conflict is affecting Japan and reverberating through domestic politics. Tokyo Outpost is JAPAN Forward's new interview series, delivering sharp conversations with global thinkers, strategists, and experts. Recorded on location in Tokyo, each episode offers a front-row seat to the key debates and decisions shaping our world today.

Governor Koike on Tokyo's Startup Push and Global Future【EN】

Tokyo is trying to reposition itself as a global hub for innovation, investment, and next-generation industry. Governor Yuriko Koike discusses how initiatives such as SusHi Tech Tokyo and Tokyo Innovation Base fit into that strategy, and why she believes the capital can compete for talent, startups, and international business. Tokyo Outpost is JAPAN Forward's new interview series, delivering sharp conversations with global thinkers, strategists, and experts. Recorded on location in Tokyo, each episode offers a front-row seat to the key debates and decisions shaping our world today.

Dr. Satoru Nagao on Bangladesh’s Election and Regional Power Balance

In a wide-ranging interview, Hudson Institute's Dr. Satoru Nagao discusses Bangladesh's general election, South Asia's strategic calculus, and Japan after the lower house election. Tokyo Outpost is JAPAN Forward's new interview series, delivering sharp conversations with global thinkers, strategists, and experts. Recorded on location in Tokyo, each episode offers a front-row seat to the key debates and decisions shaping our world today.

Komori & Takita on the Key Political Tests of 2026【EN】

As Japan looks ahead to 2026, key political and policy questions remain unresolved—from coalition stability to the pace of institutional reform. In this year-end edition of Tokyo Outpost, Sankei Shimbun journalists Yoshihisa Komori and Makiko Takita offer their outlook for the year ahead, assessing the prospects of the Takaichi administration, the strengths and vulnerabilities of the LDP–Ishin coalition, and which reforms—constitutional, security, or intelligence—are most likely to see real movement in 2026. Tokyo Outpost is JAPAN Forward's new interview series, delivering sharp conversations with global thinkers, strategists, and experts. Recorded on location in Tokyo, each episode offers a front-row seat to the key debates and decisions shaping our world today.

Dr. William Chou on the Next Phase of the Japan–US Alliance【EN】

Japan faces a shifting global landscape — from trade realignment to new security challenges. Dr William Chou, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute, discusses how Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's leadership could reshape Japan's economic-security agenda and the future of the US–Japan alliance. Tokyo Outpost is JAPAN Forward's new interview series, delivering sharp conversations with global thinkers, strategists, and experts. Recorded on location in Tokyo, each episode offers a front-row seat to the key debates and decisions shaping our world today.