The Tokyo Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit think tank that presents concrete policy proposals based on a lucid analysis of the issues combined with a solid grasp of everyday life and the reality on the ground. They also cultivate socially engaged future leaders with a broad perspective and deep insight, both in Japan and overseas. They fervently hope that their unique combination of policy research and human resource development will change society for the better.
Identifying Japan’s Biggest Priorities
Japan has been mired in deflation and economic stagnation since the early 1990s owing to delays in the implementation of structural reforms, ballooning public debt, lack of political leadership, and many other factors. On a deeper level, though, the situation Japan finds itself in reflects the country’s relative decline in international standing in the post–Cold War era and fundamental demographic shifts caused by the world’s fastest-graying population and a plummeting birthrate.
Japan’s institutions and rules have not kept pace with these changes and are fast becoming outdated. One alarming consequence of this has been that while Japan’s tax revenues declined by ¥17 trillion over the past two decades, social security expenditures have swollen by ¥18 trillion. This is clearly an unsustainable state of public finances.
Global political dynamics are also now in a state of flux. The Group of Eight countries alone can no longer adequately resolve the world’s biggest issues, which need to be addressed by much broader frameworks, such as the G20 and G44. This makes it all the more imperative for Japan to clearly identify its biggest international priorities and protect its national interests.
For Japan to remain a leading player in the resolution of global-scale issues at a time when the international community is experiencing historic changes, it will need to formulate and advance an effective national strategy, rather than simply adopting symptomatic measures. The Tokyo Foundation thus conducts policy research from three angles—“foreign and security policy,” “economy and social security,” and the “environment and social infrastructure”—enabling them to make a substantial contribution to the identification and implementation of such a strategy.
Developing Leaders around the World
One of the missions of the Tokyo Foundation is to nurture leaders of the future. The kind of leaders they need today are those who possess the strong drive to tackle the diverse and complex problems confronting society, regard the essence of issues from a broad perspective, and have the courage, skills, and creativity to find the right path. The Tokyo Foundation is committed to fostering the human resources needed today, both locally and globally, and administers two global fellowship programs as part of its leadership development activities. The global networks formed through these programs with institutions of higher learning, faculty members, and students create synergies that exert a positive impact on society.
