Enabling Professional Growth & Fostering Grassroots Connections
with World-class Expertise
YOKOSUKA COUNCIL ON ASIA-PACIFIC STUDIES
Join Us
YCAPS wants you!
We are a rapidly growing group taking aim at big
issues impacting the Asia-Pacific Region
If you'd like to join an event just RSVP and turn up. You can also sign up to our mailing list. If you aren't sure and want more information, then drop us a line. We bring together a diverse group of individuals with different backgrounds and experiences to help us explore common challenges. Our members include students, young professionals, leaders at the top of their careers and retired experts. Our programs are designed to help everyone develop while building bridges between Yokosuka's thought communities.
Upcoming Events
YCAPS Events Connect Audience Members with Each Other and World-Class Expertise
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)17 May 2022 – 10:00 (Japan)In this introductory session, Mr. Bruce Hamana will introduce Chanoyu - The Japanese way of tea ceremony. Within this introduction, Mr. Hamana will give us a glimpse into the wide range of elements that make up the study of Chanoyu including the importance of architecture, gardening, kaiseki cuisine, ceramics and other crafts, sweets making, Zen and many other topics related to the chaji or “formal tea gathering”.
For more information please see the event page. Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
YCAPS In-person Seminar23 May 2022 - 1730-2000The US-Japan Alliance uses coordination mechanisms to manage force operations while the US military and SDF remain completely under national command. This is unlike the US-ROK Alliance and NATO which feature unified commands. Recent Japanese defense reforms and an increasingly troubling security environment have led some to advocate for such a unified command structure. Dr. John Hemmings will lay out the prospect, pros and cons of such a development.
For more information please see the event page.
Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour (via Zoom)24 May 2022– 09:00 (Singapore/Manila), 10:00 (Tokyo)In January 2022, the United States Department of State released a Limits in the Seas study on the PRC’s maritime claims in the South China Sea. The Department’s Limits in the Seas studies are a longstanding legal and technical series that examine national maritime claims and boundaries and assess their consistency with international law. This most recent study, the 150th in the Limits in the Seas series, concludes that the PRC asserts unlawful maritime claims in most of the South China Sea, including an unlawful historic rights claim. Robert Harris and Nathan Nagy, key individuals involved in the development of the report will explain its basic findings and what it means for the region. Professor Jay Batongbacal will offer his comments before we open the conversation to audience questions and discussion points.
For more information please see the event page. Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)26 May 2022 – 19:00 (Japan)In this session, Captain Keizo Kitagawa will give an introductory presentation on Commodore Matthew C. Perry and his US Navy expedition to Japan. This seminar will also address the impact of Perry's "Black Ships" on 19th century Japan, the conclusion of Japans' era of isolation and the subsequent Meiji Restoration and transition into a modern state.
For more information please see the event page. Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue (via Zoom)27 May 2022 – 10:00 (Japan)YCAP's Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue will host Dr. Charles Edel, Charles Edel is the inaugural Australia Chair and a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies to participate in a discussion moderated by Stephen NAGY, YCAP’s Director of Policy Studies to develop a better understanding of Australia’s relationship with the U.S. and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
For more information please see the event page. Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)14 June 2022 – 10:00 (Japan)Dr. Robert Hoppens, History Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and expert on contemporary Japanese history, will lead a lecture and discussion on Japanese history from the end of the second World War to the present day.
For more information please see the event page. Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
Mongolia Connect (via Zoom)17 June 2022 – 09:00 (Japan)Mongolia experienced a multitude of challenges in recent years, ranging from natural disasters to COVID-19, to multiple protests, to repercussions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Serving as the American Ambassador to Mongolia, Ambassador Klecheski has a wealth of firsthand knowledge of Mongolia’s responses to managing these crises. His responsibility to strengthen the strategic partnership manifested in unique and exciting methods that engaged Americans and Mongolians alike. In this upcoming webinar we will discuss how this partnership progressed under his guidance and what we think the trajectory may be for the future. Ambassador Klecheski will provide his perspective on Mongolia-US relations while reflecting on both the challenges and accomplishments of the recent past. He will then take your questions.
For more information please see the event page. Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)07 July 2022 – 19:00 (Japan)What is up for grabs in the July 2022 House of Councillors election? How does the electoral system work and whom does it reward/punish? What are the major political trends being tested? Who are the inspiring, colorful or worrying candidates? Professor Michael Cucek of Temple University Japan offers a short introduction to House of Councillors election just in time for this triennial event.
For more information please see the event page. Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
Have a look at our blog or Facebook events site to learn more about past YCAPS events.
Professional Development Programs
YCAPS is committed to supporting the personal and professional development of our members
Network Building
Meet People with Shared Interests and Common Ambitions
YCAPS events are organized on the principal that who you meet is as important as what you learn. Therefore seminars and professional development experiences typically include a social portion where members can interact on a personal level with the world-class facilitators as well as the other participants. The events have proven to be fantastic opportunities to find mentors and develop peer-to-peer support networks.
Open Seminar Series
Learn from World-class Experts in a Relaxed Setting
YCAPS open seminars feature leading experts who come from around the world to share their perspectives with our participants. Open to the public, the setting is community-oriented relaxed, accessible and professional. Getting to Know Japan webinars offer introductory-level information about Japan's social and cultural landscape. The Community Conversation series highlights topics that are of immediate interest to the base-hosting communities in Japan. These seminars are specifically designed to be applicable to all levels of expertise, from curious students to professionals working in that field. They are typically held in-person new US bases in Japan. Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour events are more technical in nature. These interactive online discussions engage regional practitioners directly involved in maritime security to shed light on maritime issues that have significant implications on regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue program is designed to address advanced-level policy-oriented interests for academics, experts, and other specialists. These interactive online sessions facilitate dialogue among security experts, policy analysts, and senior academics in an effort to examine a wide-range of issues affecting the Indo-Pacific region.
Mongolia Connect
Strengthening grassroots community connections for the common good
The YCAPS Mongolia Connect program creates opportunities for Americans, Japanese, and Mongolians to establish international friendships, develop intercultural leadership skills, and learn about issues impacting the greater international community. The program's events mix of social and educational experiences, language lessons, and opportunities to serve others in a unique and impactful way, through empowering and connecting these three countries communities, YCAPS seeks to create lasting impacts and sustainable people to people relationships.
YCAPS Roundtables
Informed Small-group Dinner Discussions
YCAPS members gather in small groups to discuss timely topics in a lively social atmosphere. Each roundtable is facilitated by a specialist who provides read-ahead materials to enable those attending to dive right into the discussion even before the food arrives. Invitations are shared with YCAPS members and those on our email list.
YCAPS Afloat
Supporting U.S. Navy Sailors at sea and their commands
YCAPS Afloat directly supports U.S. miltary personnel in their efforts to expand their regional knowledge and strategic thinking while deployed and during port visits throughout the Indo-Pacific. Working in alignment with commands’ leadership and/or Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) programs, YCAPS Afloat provides information and other resources or, when there are sufficient interested personnel, establishes a YCAPS chapter on board specific ships. If you are interested in receiving resources or establishing a YCAPS Afloat chapter, please send us an email to get in touch.
Reference Materials
Organizing and Sharing Information
The YCAPS creates and distributes reference materials for practitioners, researchers and students engaging with the region's strategic, diplomatic and legal affairs. Underwriting the Alliance is an annotated collection of the key bilateral treaties, agreements, and policy documents that provide the structure of the U.S.-Japan Alliance. The YCAPS reading list is built on the suggestions of our members and participants.
Fellowships, Scholarships, and Conferences
Connecting People with Opportunities
YCAPS has formal and informal relationships with many organizations that sponsor a wide range of professional development programs. These include university scholarships, fellowships, internships, travel grants, and conferences. If some cases, YCAPS members have opportunities for priority placement in these programs. In other cases, YCAPS volunteers are available to advise on placement and coach applications. Download the guide or contact us for more information. Download the YCAPS Guide to Fellowships, Scholarships and Conferences.
Writers' Circle
Become a YCAPS writer
The YCAPS Writers' Circle is a peer-to-peer network that supports professional writing throughout the process from idea to publication. Some of our members are professional editors or experienced authors who have published many books and articles. Others are aspiring to see their first piece in print. If you would like to get involved to get some advice regarding outlets and audiences, receive feedback on a draft manuscript, or to help others on their writing projects, email the Writers' Circle. We'll find you partners that suit your needs!
Our Partners
YCAPS partners with other organizations to deliver world-class programming
The United States-Japan Foundation (US-JF), established in 1980, is committed to promoting stronger ties between Americans and Japanese by supporting projects that foster mutual knowledge and education, deepen understanding, create effective channels of communication, and address common concerns in an increasingly interdependent world. YCAPS collaborates with US-JF to jointly deliver the Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series.
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), established in 1986, is a private foundation with the concept of “Think, Do, and Innovate-tank”. SPF conducts original research and does work that is rooted in the field to resolve issues based on local conditions and needs, with the aim of creating a world where people can live together and coexist, transcending politics, ideology, religion, race, and national borders. YCAPS collaborates with SPF to jointly deliver the Community Conversations Webinar Series.
YCAPS has an active partnership with the Japan-U.S. Military Program (JUMP) based on our common objectives and shared values. The most tangible manifestation of this partnership is the YCAPS-JUMP Seminar & Professional Development Program Series which provides opportunities for members of the U.S. military community in Yokosuka to develop professional networks with strategic thinkers from across Greater Tokyo and learn from world-class experts.
YCAPS and TUJ's Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies (ICAS) both serve as centers of gravity for professional development and advanced thinking on issues related to Asian politics, society, and economics. Because our regular event venues are about 90 minutes from each other, we share some audience members while serving different core communities. YCAPS and ICAS take advantage of this situation to regularly co-sponsor events.
The International Security Industry Council (ISIC Japan) was established in 2019 to promote collaboration between indigenous space and defense companies with their foreign counterparts. Its mission is to foster personal and commercial relationships through persistent and informative engagement, online and in-person. YCAPS has collaborated with ISIC to build public awareness of the contributions American military bases provide, in an educational online series called Community Conversation, that engendered trust and commitment.
The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership was established in 1991 to promote collaboration between the people of Japan, the United States, and beyond in order to address issues of global concern. YCAPS has collaborated with CGP to jointly deliver the online Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series.
The Pacific Forum is a non-profit, foreign policy research institute based in Honolulu, Hawaii. YCAPS collaborates with the Pacific Forum to gather regional perspectives and disseminating findings and recommendations to opinion leaders, governments, and publics. We have co-sponsored public seminars, published collaborative reports, and jointly delivered the online Maritime Discussion Series that preceded the current Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour.
Team Members
YCAPS and its services wouldn't be possible without our dedicated team of volunteers and Employees. From social media management, website planning, and webinar moderating, to event organization, research, and community outreach, our team works tirelessly to ensure that we can continue to deliver world-class events that appeal to both experts and casual attendees.
To learn more about our team members and their backgrounds, please visit our volunteer page.
Support
YCAPS is an all-volunteer organization, but we do need funds to deliver our programming
Your Financial Support is Appreciated
Make a Donation
YCAPS volunteers do not accept salaries or any sort of material compensation. However, we cannot deliver programs and events without funding. Internet services, advertising, consumables at our receptions, and tokens of appreciation for our speakers are among the largest costs. Partnerships with like-minded organizations and donations in kind from supporting businesses are a tremendous help, but more funds enable us to do more for our community. Follow this link to donate. Your donations are very much appreciated. YCAPS is 501(c)3 organization and donations are deductible from US income taxes.
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