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. 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
All YCAPS Events will be Virtual during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)June 24, 2021 19:00 (Japan)Mr. Richard Silver (US Foreign Service Officer, rtd., and Urasenke practitioner and licensed Tea Ceremony instructor) will lead a webinar that will explore the evolving role Tea Ceremony has played in Japanese society from its beginning in the 16th century to modern times.
To join please use this link to register with Zoom. You will need the link and passcode provided in the confirmation email.
See the event page for more details.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)June 29, 2021 10:00 (Japan)Cuisine/Food is a crystalized form of the local culture. As such, it is also wired directly to hearts of the local people. While some dishes can be perplexing for the uninitiated, the very effort of trying to understand other people’s food can be a catalyst to deeper connections and beginning of lifelong friendships. Join Daisuke Utagawa, restaurateur and advocate for using food to enrich human connections, as he helps us explore Japan's food culture and its international impact.
To join please use this link to register with Zoom. You will need the link and passcode provided in the confirmation email.
See the event page for more details.
Maritime Discussion Series (via Zoom)June 29, 2021 10:30 (Japan)Dr. Kyoko Hatekayama and Dr. Virginia Watson will explore the challenges facing the Indo-Pacific's Rules-based maritime order and offer their recommendations regarding steps the US and Japan can take together to meet those challenges and enable the free, fair and legal use of regional seas for the prosperity of all.
To join please use this link to register with Zoom. You will need the
link and passcode provided in the confirmation email.
See event page for details.
Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue (via Zoom)July 07, 2021 18:00 (Japan)China’s re-emergence as the largest economy in the region has come with a growing diplomatic footprint and outspokenness that is sometimes called Wolf Warrior Diplomacy. How can we understand this outspokenness? How does the rhetoric translate into meaning for non-Chinese states?
To join please use this link to register with Zoom. You will need the link and passcode provided in the confirmation email.
See event page for details.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)July 8, 2021 20:00 (Japan)How have young people navigated their lives in the so-called "lost decades" in post-bubble Japan, against the backdrop of a rapidly ageing society? In this lecture, Professor Sachiko Horiguchi will provide an overview of changing youth cultures since the 1990s, and will highlight how representations of gendered subcultures- from rebellious kogal high school girls to reclusive otaku & hikikomori men- symbolize both the stagnation and transformation that Japan has experienced in the last three decades.
To join please use this link to register with Zoom. You will need the link and passcode provided in the confirmation email.
See the event page for more details.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)July 13, 2021 10:00 (Japan)Dr. Levi McLaughlin will deliver an introductory overview of religion in contemporary Japan. In his talk he will introduce the basics of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, explaining the ways that people interact with them and the beliefs that guide those interactions. He will conclude his talk with a broader overview of the religious landscape that these sacred sites inhabit, and then open the floor for Q&A.
To join please use this link to register with Zoom. You will need the link and passcode provided in the confirmation email.
See the event page for more details.
Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour (via Zoom)August 18, 2021 20:30 (Japan)YCAPS will host a discussion with Dr. Alessio Patalano as a part of its Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour webinar series. Dr. Patalano will discuss the strategic underpinnings of this tilt, the achievements of the multinational Queen Elizabeth Strike Group deployment and the prospects of the Royal Navy’s ambition to posture for persistent engagement in the region.
To join please use this link to register with Zoom. You will need the link and passcode provided in the confirmation email.
See the event page for more details.
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 membersNetwork 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 University Chapter
Cultivating the Careers of Motivated Students
The University Chapter connects university students to enable them to exchange knowledge and ideas, to assist with their academic or professional growth, and to connect them with young professionals and world-class experts. University Chapter participants also assist events and projects organized by the YCAPS main body. Participants is open to any full-time university student (undergraduate and graduate students). If you are interested in joining University Chapter events, please join our private Facebook group.
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.
Fellowships, Scholarships, and Conferences
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.
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 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 collaborates with GCP to jointly deliver the online Getting to Know Japan 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 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.
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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