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. If you are already active in YCAPS and you want to expand your roles as a volunteer please explain your interest via this form.
Upcoming Events
YCAPS Events Connect Audience Members with Each Other and World-Class Experts
YCAPS-SPF Community Conversation (Iwakuni)
26 September 2023 – 17:45-20:00 (JST)
Most Japanese people believe that the Japan Self-Defense Forces(JSDF)’s most important and primary mission is domestic disaster relief operations. The JSDF’s ardent commitment to domestic disaster relief works has been highlighted in the media regularly, projecting it as a national hero in this disaster-prone country. JSDF members have also been engaged in emergency relief activities abroad in cooperation with other militaries, civilian agencies, and International NGOs. Dr. Kiba will discuss this important role of the JSDF in this talk.
This event is free and open to all in the Iwakuni and surrounding communities. Food and drinks will be provided. Registration can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)
Thursday, September 28, 2023 – 19:00 (Japan)
Live in Japan long enough and you’ll see plenty of news articles about North Korea’s missile testing. Perhaps you even heard the emergency alert system earlier this year. How worried should we be about this unruly neighbor country? What does the political relationship, or lack thereof, look like between Japan and North Korea, and what implications does the North Korean threat have on Japan?
For more information please see the event page. Registration can be found here.
YCAPS-SPF Community Conversation (Sasebo)
30 September 2023 – 12:30-15:00 (JST)
This seminar will illustrate the domestic and foreign challenges that the Xi Jinping administration is faced with , and its policy for Taiwan. The Xi Jinping administration has enough power to control the central committee of the CCP and the central government, however it is faced with silent “resistance” of the society at present. Under such a situation, could the Xi Jinping administration attack Taiwan by force as the spout of domestic “dissatisfaction” ?
This event is free and open to all in Sasebo and the surrounding communities. Food and drinks will be provided. Registration can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 – 10:00 (Japan)
Mrs. Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen is joining the Getting to Know Japan series to [re]introduce sake: the uniqueness of its ingredients, sake culture as a reflection of traditional and modern values, sake etiquette, and exciting trends.
For more information please see the event page. Registration can be found here.
YCAPS-SPF Community Conversation (Fussa)
4 October 2023 - 18:15-20:45 (JST)
Captain Kentaro Furuya will provide a comprehensive overview of the Japan Coast Guard Control Guideline, recently formulated in April. Furthermore, he will delve into the emerging challenges that the Government of Japan presently confronts in this realm.
This event is free and open to all in Fussa and the surrounding communities. Refreshments will be provided. Registration can be found here.
Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour Webinar Series (via Zoom)
Monday, October 10, 2023 – 20:00 (Japan)
(originally scheduled for Wednesday, September 20, 2023 – 20:00 JST)
Desert islands are the focus of intense geopolitical tensions in East Asia today, but they are also sites of nature conservation. In this global environmental history, Paul Kreitman shows how the politics of conservation have entangled with the politics of sovereignty since the emergence of the modern Japanese state in the mid-nineteenth century. Using case studies ranging from Hawai'i to the Bonin Islands to the Senkaku (Ch: Diaoyu) Isles to the South China Sea, he explores how bird islands on the distant margins of the Japanese archipelago and beyond transformed from sites of resource extraction to outposts of empire and from wartime battlegrounds to nature reserves. This study examines how interactions between birds, bird products, bureaucrats, speculators, sailors, soldiers, scientists and conservationists shaped ongoing claims to sovereignty over oceanic spaces. It considers what the history of desert islands shows us about imperial and post-imperial power, the web of political, economic and ecological connections between islands and oceans, and about the relationship between sovereignty, territory and environment in the modern world.
Registration can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)
Thursday, October 12, 2023 – 19:00 (Japan)
What is "Kawaii" and what is its relevance to Japanese Pop culture? Dr. Kaori Yoshida will join us to discuss this concept and how it has shaped Japanese media and entertainment.
For more information please see the event page. Registration can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 – 10:00 (Japan)
Dr. Alexis Dudden, Professor of History at the University of Connecticut, will deliver an introductory webinar on The History of Meiji and the Japanese Empire, discussing the highlights of this pivotal era.
For more information please see the event page. Registration can be found here.
YCAPS-SPF Community Conversation (Sasebo)
19 October 2023 - 17:30-19:45 (JST)
More than twenty years have passed since the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in 2002 launched an official negotiation towards signing of a binding code of conduct. The negotiation intermittently slowed and picked up pace as various events in the SCS and the changes in broader strategic contexts inevitably affected the negotiation. This talk will raise some issues to consider before making a qualified argument that China's intentional foot-dragging is the main cause of the prolonged negotiation. Dr. Yoichiro Sato will lead us in this discussion.
This event is free and open to all in Sasebo and the surrounding communities. Food and drinks will be provided. Registration can be found here.
Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour Webinar Series (via Zoom)
Monday, October 30, 2023 – 19:00 (Japan)
Recent maritime accidents involving “dark fleet” vessels – a term which refers to old and aging vessels, mostly oil tankers, transporting products from sanctioned states like Russia, Iran, and North Korea without complying with international regulations – raise questions about their origin, operation, and implications to maritime security and geopolitical developments. While they are not a new maritime phenomenon, sanctions on Russian oil in the aftermath of Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine have highlighted the role of these vessels not only in helping states evade sanctions but also in creating maritime disasters and geopolitical headaches for coastal states as these vessels cross through busy maritime chokepoints. In this webinar hosted by YCAPS, Mr. Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, Inc., will help shed light on this phenomenon.
Registration can be found here.
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 Afloat
Supporting U.S. Navy Sailors at sea and their commands
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 or establishing a YCAPS Afloat chapter, please send us an email to get in touch.
Reference Materials & Reseach 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 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 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.
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 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 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.
Japan-U.S. Military Program (JUMP) had a active partnership with YCAPS based on our common objectives and shared values. The most tangible manifestation of this partnership was the YCAPS-JUMP Seminar & Professional Development Program Series which for 5 years provided 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.
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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