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 an email. 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. If you are already active in YCAPS and you want to expand your roles as a volunteer please visit this page to view our latest volunteer opportunities and direction regarding applications .
Upcoming Events
YCAPS Events Connect Audience Members with Each Other and World-Class Experts
Indo Pacific Maritime Hour (via Zoom)
Friday, July 26, 2024 – 10:00 (JST)
The South and East China Seas are already grappling with the militarization of maritime domain, such as the establishment of SSBN bastions and the potential deployment of floating nuclear power plants to support military operations. Concurrently, a rapid trend towards the nuclearization of maritime security is emerging within the civilian private sector, with initiatives like the adoption of nuclear energy in maritime shipping to reduce carbon footprints gaining traction, and the sophisticated networks of nuclear proliferation in the shipping industry through the dual-use technology trade. Challenges persist due to the separate legal frameworks governing the maritime and nuclear domains, exacerbated by a lack of specialized expertise and dialogues that bridges both fields.
In this Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour webinar, YCAPS will host Dr. Chiew-Ping Hoo, Co-founder and Senior Fellow of the East Asian International Relations (EAIR) Caucus, to discuss the growing nexus between nuclear and maritime domains, emphasizing their interconnectedness and strategic implications for East Asia.
For more information, please see the event page.
YCAPS In-Person Event (Sasebo)
Saturday, August 3, 2024 – 11:00 (Japan)
Join YCAPS to enjoy a guided historical walking tour of Sasebo Naval Base! Founded in 1883, Sasebo Naval Base has had a storied history, first as a base for the Imperial Japanese Navy, and now for the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Local history expert Phil Eakins, who has researched and wrote on the history of Sasebo for decades, and has led dozens of similar tours in the past, will lead the tour. Following the tour, the group will convene for an optional lunch on-base at the Harbor View Club.
For more information, please see the event page.
YCAPS In-Person Event (Kamakura)
Sunday, Aug 4, 2024 – 12:00 (JST)
Join YCAPS for a memorable walking tour of Eastern Kamakura, where we will explore three historic temples and serene landscapes. Sugimoto Temple, Hokokuji Temple, and Jomyoji Temple are not part of the introductory city tours but hold significant historical importance dating back to the central to late Kamakura Period. The tour will be guided by YCAPS members, Mori McPherson and Richard Walton. Following the event, an optional gathering will take place at 12 Taps Pub.
For more information, please see the event page.
YCAPS-JICUF Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue
Thursday, August 22, 2024 – 19:00 (JST)
Asst. Prof. Jeffrey Payne, together with discussant Dr. Premesha Saha, will lead this free seminar in the YCAPS Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue. They will discuss the US approach to the Indian Ocean within the context of its larger Indo-Pacific strategy. U.S. policy towards the Indo-Pacific is primarily perceived through its approaches to via the Pacific Ocean, but when considering U.S. perspectives on the Indo-Pacific it is essential not to overlook the Indian Ocean Region. U.S. engagement in the Indian Ocean must navigate a large set of challenges, immense regional diversity, and bureaucratic seams. Through these variables, a clearer picture of what U.S. aims are, what key engagements are prioritized, and how the Indian Ocean matters to the affairs of the Pacific states.
For more information, please see the event page.
Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour Series (via Zoom)
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 – 20:00 (JST)
In this Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour webinar, YCAPS will host Captain Hugues Canuel, an officer of the Royal Canadian Navy and Defence Advisor at the High Commission of Canada in Singapore, to explore the intricate connection between French sea power and its colonial holdings in the Asia-Pacific region during the turbulent years of 1940 to 1965. Captain Canuel will discuss how France's naval strategy and capacity to maintain control over its overseas territories were impacted by the challenges of World War II, the rise of anti-colonial movements, and the Cold War. The talk will shed light on the difficulties France faced in balancing its imperial ambitions while shaping an independent naval policy within a strategy of alliances, from war into peace.
For more information, please see the event page.
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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 bring experts from around the world to share their perspectives with our participants. Open to the public, the setting is community-oriented, relaxed, accessible and professional. The YCAPS/US-Japan Foundation Getting to Know Japan webinars offer introductory-level information about Japan's social and cultural landscape.
The YCAPS/Sasakawa Peace Foundation 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 near U.S. bases in Japan.
The YCAPS/Japan International Christian University Foundation 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. 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.
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 social and educational experiences, language lessons, and volunteer opportunities in a unique and impactful way. Through empowering and connecting people from these three countries, YCAPS seeks to create long-lasting relationships.
YCAPS Roundtables
Informed Small-group Dinner Discussions
YCAPS members gather in small groups to discuss current events in a casual 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 Military Support
Supporting U.S. Navy Sailors at sea and military commands ashore
YCAPS Afloat directly supports U.S. military personnel in their efforts to expand their regional knowledge and strategic thinking while deployed and during port visits throughout the Indo-Pacific region. 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 for you command (guest speakers, tailor reading packages, etc) or establishing a YCAPS Afloat chapter, please send us an email to get in touch.
Reference Materials & Research Projects
Organizing and Sharing Information
YCAPS'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. Negotiate is a guide to negotiations for government practitioners. YCAPS largest research report to date is Prospects for the Quad Coast Guards to Cooperate Toward Implementation of the Free & Open Indo-Pacific Vision. The YCAPS reading list is built on the suggestions of our members and participants.
Fellowships, Internships, 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. In 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 YCAPS Guide to Fellowships, Scholarships and Conferences, or contact us for more information. YCAPS hosts interns via a small program that tailors the terms of each internship to the specific needs of each applicant. Individuals interested in interning with YCAPS should complete this statement of interest.
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 Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF) is an independent educational foundation based in New York City. Their mission is to work with International Christian University to nurture global citizens who contribute to the well-being of humanity. YCAPS collaborates with JICUF to deliver the YCAPS-JICUF Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue program.
The Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) is a Stockholm-based non-profit and non-partisan research and policy organization. ISDP is dedicated to expanding understanding of international affairs, focusing on the inter-relationship between security, conflict, and development. YCAPS collaborates with ISDP's Stockholm Centre for South Asia and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) to jointly deliver our Europe-Asia Webinar Series.
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 and co-sponsor events.
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 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 the public. 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.
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 Series.
The Japan Foundation, New York (JFNY) 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 is collaborating with JFNY to jointly deliver the online Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series. JFNY was formerly known as The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP).
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 has collaborated with US-JF in the past to jointly deliver the Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series.
Team Members
YCAPS and its services wouldn't be possible without our dedicated team of staff, research fellows, and volunteers. 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 and research that appeal to both experts and casual attendees.
To learn more about our team members and their backgrounds, please visit our team page.
Support
YCAPS is an all-volunteer organization, but we do need funds to deliver our programming
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 U.S. income taxes.
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