【Call for Participants】 "Asahi Earth Conference 2017" From Division to Coexistence: The Future We Pursue

The Asahi Shimbun will hold the international symposium "Asahi Global Forum 2017," discussing solutions to global social issues, at Iino Hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on October 1, and at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo in the same ward on October 2 and 3.

Under the theme "From Division to Coexistence: The Future We Pursue," the symposium will explore how to overcome the "division" occurring worldwide, including in Europe and the United States.

Approximately 30 lectures and panel discussions are scheduled over the three days. Participants are currently being recruited (free of charge, deadline September 13; lottery if oversubscribed). Details on speakers, the program, and applications can be found here.

The Asahi Global Forum, held from 2008 to 2015, was renamed the Asahi Global Conference in 2016, and this year marks its second iteration.

On the second day, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed will be invited to discuss the issues raised in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, solutions to "global issues" will be explored on various themes such as AI (artificial intelligence), big data, VR (virtual reality), fair trade, marine resources, hydrogen society, space business, gender, architecture, and climate change.

Asahi Global Conference 2017 Main Program (Titles omitted)

*For details and registration, please refer to the official website.

October 1 (Sun) 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM Iino Hall

●GLOBE Project "Do Walls Divide the World?"
Professor Sota Kimura, Tokyo Metropolitan University; Professor James F. Horfield, Southern Methodist University
Moderator: Norihito Kunisue, Editor-in-Chief, Asahi Shimbun GLOBE

●Lecture: "Toward a Sustainable, Environmentally Advanced City: Tokyo"
Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike

●Lecture: "Travelling the World Through Architecture"
Architect Shigeru Ban
Interviewer: Wakato Onishi, Editorial Writer, Asahi Shimbun

●Discussion: "Considering the Future of Our Children"
Media Artist Yoichi Ochiai
Interviewer: Shōjirō Okuyama, Editor-in-Chief, withnews

●HuffPost Project "The Possibilities of Art Beyond Gender"
Contemporary Artist Suputniko!
Interviewer: HuffPost Japan Editor-in-Chief Ryuichiro Takeshita

●Panel Discussion: "Exploring Resources Sleeping on the Seabed - Team KUROSHIO's Challenge"
Hiroaki Yokota, General Manager, Marine Business Promotion Department, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Planning Division; Takeshi Nakatani, Technical Researcher, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Moderator: Yumi Nakayama, Social Affairs Reporter, The Asahi Shimbun

●Conversation: "60 Years of Antarctic Observation: Speaking of Earth from the Polar Regions"
Professor Kumiko Higashi, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
Interviewer: Yumi Nakayama, Social Affairs Reporter, The Asahi Shimbun

October 2 (Mon) 12:00 PM - 5:45 PM, The Imperial Hotel Tokyo

● Keynote Lecture: "Globalization and the Crisis of the International State System"
Wolfgang Streeck, Sociologist, Emeritus Director, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Germany

● Keynote Address: "Populism and Democracy in the 21st Century"
Pierre Rosanvallon, Professor, Collège de France

●Panel Discussion: "From Division to Coexistence"
Wolfgang Streeck, Pierre Rosanvallon, James F. Holifield
Coordinator: Yoichi Nishimura, Managing Director, Head of Content and Editorial, The Asahi Shimbun

●Yoshimoto SDGs Oogiri
Katsura Kineeda, Katsura Sanwaka, Katsura Sanshiro, Katsura Sandou, NON STYLE's Akira Ishida, Amagami Inter's Seiko

●Special Talk: "Changing the World with SDGs"
Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
Interviewer: Yuko Kuniya, TV Anchor

Tuesday, October 3, 9:30 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. Location: The Imperial Hotel Tokyo

●Sustainable Society from the Perspective of Fair Trade
Molly Harris Olson, CEO, Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand; Mari Momi, Sustainability Consultant
Coordinator: Asami Kanda, Science and Medical Correspondent, The Asahi Shimbun

●Lecture: "The Advancement of New Nordic Cuisine and Its Global Impact"
Michael Booth, Author & Broadcaster

●Panel Discussion: "Virtual Reality (VR) Meets Art and Culture"
Director: Amon Miyamoto, Deputy Chief Administrator of Tōshōdai-ji Temple: Taichi Ishida, Professor at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo: Michitaka Hirose
Moderator: Toshihiko Katsuta, Social Media Editor, The Asahi Shimbun

●Panel Discussion: "Why Are Charismatic Business Leaders Turning to Space Business?"
Chiaki Mukai, Vice President, Tokyo University of Science; Masayasu Ishida, Principal, A.T. Carney
Coordinator: Hiromi Onishi, Executive Officer, Digital and International Affairs, The Asahi Shimbun Company

●Lecture: "Where Did the Japanese Come From? The '30,000 Years Ago Voyage: Thorough Reproduction Project'"
Yosuke Kaifu, National Museum of Nature and Science

●Panel Discussion: "How to Face the Impact of AI and Big Data"
Hiroshi Maruyama, Chief Strategy Officer, Preferred Networks; Kumiyo Nakakoji, Specially Appointed Professor, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, Kyoto University; Naoyuki Nomura, President and CEO, Metadata
Moderator: Asahi Shimbun Science and Medical Department Reporter, Ikuya Tanaka

●Panel Discussion: "Societal Challenges and the Role of Business"
Rika Fukuda, Head of CSR & Social Culture Department, Panasonic Brand Communication Division; Hidemitsu Sasaya, Managing Executive Officer & Head of CSR Promotion Department, Ito En; Mei Murakami, Manager, Emergent Strategy Center, Japan Research Institute
Moderator: Katsuhiko Tagaya, Editorial Writer, Asahi Shimbun

●Panel Discussion: "Will a Hydrogen Society Save Japan!? ~ Automobiles, Rock Concerts, Cooking... The Expanding World of Ultra-Clean Energy"
Kiyotaka Ise, Senior Managing Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation; Mineyuki Fukuda, Member of the House of Representatives, Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office
Moderator: Asahi Shimbun Editorial Writer, Shunzai Horikago

●Panel Discussion: "Protecting Water with Community Power: Kumamoto's Efforts to Overcome Crisis"
Political Scientist, Director and Chairman of the Board, Kumamoto Prefectural Theater: Kang Sang-jung; Professor, Kumamoto Liberal Arts Education Center, Tokai University; Dean, Graduate School of Industrial Engineering, Tokai University: Tsutomu Ichikawa
Moderator: Yuichi Ichimura, Executive Officer in charge of Planning and Business Development, The Asahi Shimbun Company

●Panel Discussion: "Transforming Society and Protecting the Earth with SDGs"
Masaaki Tabuchi, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Sumitomo Corporation; Kaori Kuroda, Secretary General and Director, CSO Network; Masahiro Mizuno, President, TREE
Moderator: Miyuki Kitago, Asahi Shimbun Reporter

●Panel Discussion: "Revitalizing Towns with Locally Produced and Consumed Energy"
Koji Ishikawa, Executive Officer, Head of Renewable Energy Products Division, NTN Corporation; Hidefumi Kurasaka, Professor, Graduate School of Social Sciences, Chiba University; Naomichi Suzuki, Mayor of Yubari City, Hokkaido
Moderator: Kiyoshi Isshiki, Education Coordinator, The Asahi Shimbun

●Panel Discussion: "Expanding ESG Investment: Has the Flow of Money Changed?"
Takujiro Sueyoshi, Special Advisor, UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Asia-Pacific Region, and others
Moderator: Toru Ishii, Editorial Writer, The Asahi Shimbun

*Titles and speakers are subject to change.