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 Expertise
YCAPS-SPF Community Conversations Series (Sasebo In-Person)
31 January 2023 – 18:30 (Japan)
The Japan-US alliance is facing a new challenge: China’s growing military presence in the maritime domain. China’s assertiveness challenges the current regional order and Japan’s territory—the Senkaku Islands. Examining the impacts of the Senkaku issue on the
alliance, Dr. Hatakeyama of the University of Niigata will argue that the Senkaku islands are strategically important for the alliance but are also a source of conflict.
Optional registration for this seminar can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)
9 February 2023 – 19:00 (Japan)Taiko, or kumi-daiko, has been an integral part of Japanese culture for centuries now. Taiko performances have made their way into military demonstrations, the imperial court, religious rituals, festivals, and have even found a place overseas, as a way for the Japanese diaspora to connect with their culture. Join us for an introduction to taiko drumming: our speakers will give a 30-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.
Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
YCAPS-SPF Community Conversations Series (Okinawa In-Person)
13 February 2023 – 17:30 (Japan)
Japan unveiled three new security documents in December 2022, including the nation’s first National Defense Strategy that defines Tokyo’s security policy for the coming decade. Observers have described the documents as transformational that marks a critical juncture in Japan’s foreign policy. The question, however, is how so?
The seminar led by Takuya Matsuda will explore this question by unpacking the new documents to illustrate how they focus on enhancing the overall military effectiveness of the alliance by pursuing an integrated and resilient force structure between the two nations. Japan’s updated security policy, in fact, has broader implications on debates over the role of alliances in U.S. grand strategy. The presentation will also touch upon the implications drawn from the new strategy—especially the concept of “deterrence by resilience”—for Okinawa, including how it may relate to Washington’s decision to remove two squadrons of F-15C/D fighters at Kadena Air Base in October 2022.
Registration for this seminar is mandatory and can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)
14 February 2023 – 10:00 (Japan)Guest speaker Tim White is stepping up to the plate to chat about the history of baseball in Japan, and how it’s brought the US and Japan together through the years. Join us to learn about everything from Babe Ruth’s whirlwind 1934 Japan tour, to modern-day MLB stars like Shohei Ohtani. Mr. White’s presentation will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.
Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
YCAPS-SPF Community Conversations Series (Fussa In-Person)
22 February 2023 - 17:30-20:00 (Japan)
After the end of Cold War, Japan has slowly expanded its security cooperation with countries other than the United States. Over the years, MOD/SDF have seen the benefits of using their assets to advance its strategic objectives, and the recent National Security Strategy has stressed the needs to advance such engagements abroad. This lecture glances at the general trends and characteristics of Japan's defense diplomacy and looks closely at the recent National Security Strategy to understand the future orientations and issues of Japan's defense diplomacy.
For more information please see the event page. Registration for the in-person event can be found here.
Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue (In-Person Tokyo)
24 February 2023 - 18:30-20:00 (Japan)
In order to better understand the invasion of Ukraine and its implications for the Indo-Pacific and beyond, this Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue in-person event is co-sponsored by JICUF and Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University (APU) to invite Sergiy Korsunsky, Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan to share his views. Participants will gain a better understanding of the invasion of Ukraine and its implications for the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
For more information please see the event page. Registration for the in-person event can be found here.
Getting to Know Japan Webinar Series (via Zoom)
28 February 2023 – 09:00 (Japan)Dr. Sheila Smith, the Senior Fellow for Japan at the Council on Foreign Relations, will provide an introductory-level overview of how the U.S. and Japan may respond in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. During the talk, Dr. Smith will analyze the historical evolution of Japan’s positions, posture, and policies relevant to a possible conflict across the Taiwan Strait, including the potential roles of the U.S.-Japan security alliance and the Japan’s Self-Defense Forces before we transition to Q&A.
Registration for the Zoom session can be found here.
YCAPS-SPF Community Conversation (Iwakuni In-Person)
25 February 2023 – 15:30 (Japan)Come join us for a presentation on the history of pirates in Japan, with a focus on the nearby Seto Inland Sea. The role and character of pirates differ across regions and eras through history. Although “kaizoku” is often translated to “pirates” in English, pirates and kaizoku are not the same. Like samurai and ninja, kaizoku have a uniquely Japanese history. Mr. KenTanaka will teach you about local Japanese history through kaizoku and spread the love of kaizoku around the world.
Registration for the event is mandatory, and 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
Organizing and Sharing Information
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. 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 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 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.
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 Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP) 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 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.
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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