[Call for Participants] "Asahi Global Forum 2019: Toward an Open Society - A Sustainable Future Nurtured by Diversity"

The Asahi Shimbun Company will host the international symposium "Asahi Global Forum 2019" to discuss solutions to global social issues and the SDGs. The event will be held at Iino Hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on October 14, and at The Imperial Hotel Tokyo on October 15 and 16.
Approximately 30 lectures and panel discussions are scheduled over the three days, and participants are currently being recruited. (Free admission, deadline September 26; lottery if oversubscribed)
For program details, speakers, and registration, visit the official website.

Organized by: The Asahi Shimbun Company
Co-hosted by TV Asahi
Special Sponsors: Asahi Glass Foundation, Aderans, AEON Environmental Foundation, ITOCHU Techno-Solutions, NTT Group, Suntory Holdings, SodaStream, Dialogue Japan Society, Toppan Printing, Toyota Motor Corporation, Nippon Foundation, Panasonic
Sponsor: Sumitomo Forestry
Supported by: Global Compact Network Japan, Japan Marketing Association, Asahi Student Newspaper, CNET Japan, HuffPost Japan
Supported by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Ministry of the Environment

Message from the Organizers

This marks the fourth iteration of the Asahi Global Conference, which was renamed from the Asahi Global Environment Forum held from 2008 to 2015.
This year's theme is "Toward an Open Society: A Sustainable Future Fostered by Diversity." Our society is being challenged to respond to rapid changes, including embracing diversity, eliminating all forms of discrimination, and technological innovations like artificial intelligence (AI). Simultaneously, urgent action is needed to address global warming, which causes severe climate change and disasters. Through discussions with domestic and international experts, policymakers, and representatives from companies and NPOs, we hope the Asahi Global Conference will serve as a forum for everyone to consider pathways toward the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

【Asahi Global Forum 2019】 Program

*Titles and speakers are subject to change.

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October 14 (Mon, Health and Sports Day) 12:10 PM - 4:50 PM
 

 

Location: Iino Hall

Lecture: "Tokyo: A Sustainable, Environmentally Advanced City - Beyond 2020"
Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike
　　
Panel Discussion: "Why We Make Mistakes: Understanding Global Diversity Through Data"
Professor Bobby Duffy, University of London
Professor Asako Miura, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University
Moderator: Hiroshi Mochizuki, Editor-in-Chief, Asahi Shimbun GLOBE

Conversation: "Speaking with the Official Film Director of the Tokyo Olympics"
Film Director: Naomi Kawase
Interviewer: Tokuki Ishitobi, Editorial Writer, The Asahi Shimbun

Conversation: "Is Living Authentically Really That Hard? What Talents and Media Can Do Now"
Talent: Ryucheru
Interviewer: Ryuichiro Takeshita, Editor-in-Chief, HuffPost Japan

Panel Discussion: "Considering Work Styles That Don't Wear You Down"
Freelance Writer: Yoppy
Hayakawa Gomi, CEO of Utsuwa
Coordinator: Asahi Shimbun DI Division Staff Member Akemi Harada

Panel Discussion: "Can the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics Meet the SDGs?"
Former Marathon Runner: Yuko Arimori
Jugo Imaizumi, Director, Japan Sports Agency; Head, New National Stadium Establishment Headquarters
Moderator: Daisuke Maeda, Sports Department Reporter, The Asahi Shimbun

Panel Discussion: "Plastic Eroding Our Oceans: What Can We Do?"
Fujio Komishima, Representative, Pirika
Professor, Tokyo University of Science: Yasuo Nihei
Moderator: Takashi Sugimoto, Science and Medical Department Reporter, The Asahi Shimbun

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October 15 (Tue) 12:00 PM - 4:50 PM Location: The Imperial Hotel Tokyo

Guest Address:
Minister of Defense Taro Kono
Laurent Pic, Ambassador of France to Japan

Panel Discussion: "Planetary Boundaries and the Future of the Earth"
Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (Professor, University of Potsdam)
Moderator: Yuko Kunitani, Executive Director, Asahi Shimbun SDGs Project

Panel Discussion: "AI and Democracy"
Yasha Monk, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University
Kathy O'Neill, Data Scientist (Mathematician)
Noriko Arai, Director and Professor, Social Knowledge Research Center, National Institute of Informatics
Coordinator: Yoichi Nishimura, Managing Director, Asahi Shimbun (Representative, Tokyo Headquarters / Content Management / Digital Policy Management)

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Wednesday, October 16, 9:30 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. Location: The Imperial Hotel Tokyo

Lecture: "Running: Reasons and Meanings for Each Individual"
Professional Running Coach Tetsuhiko Kan

Panel Discussion: "Climate Change Action Can't Wait: Sharing a Sense of Crisis Across Generations"
AGC Director and Chairman / Chairman of the Asahi Glass Foundation Kazuhiko Ishimura
Masahiro Sugiyama, Associate Professor, Center for the Study of the Future, The University of Tokyo
Comedian Journalist Nana Takamatsu
Moderator: Tetsu Ishii, Editorial Writer, The Asahi Shimbun

Lecture & Discussion: "Learning from Iceland, the Country with the 'World's Smallest' Gender Gap"
Björnhildur Heidar Óg Ómarsdóttir, Secretary General, Icelandic Women's Rights Association
Interviewer: Azusa Mishima, Social Affairs Reporter, The Asahi Shimbun

Panel Discussion: "How Blockchain and Big Data Technologies Will Transform Healthcare and Wellness"
Larry Doss, Deputy Representative (Asia-Pacific) of iRespond
Professor Tomohiro Kuroda, Department of Medical Information Planning, Kyoto University Hospital
Coordinator: Yotaro Hamada, Editorial Writer, The Asahi Shimbun

Panel Discussion: "Forest SDGs: From Conservation and Restoration to Sustainable Consumption"
Yuriko Yamamoto, Secretary General, AEON Environmental Foundation
Rika Sueyoshi, Representative Director, Ethical Association
Toru Hayami, Representative, Hayami Forestry
Moderator: Asahi Shimbun Science and Medical Department Reporter, Akemi Kanda

Panel Discussion: "The North Alps: The Blessings of Forests and Water"
Mayor of Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture: Toru Ushikoshi
Actor: Yumiko Shaku
Moderator: Asahi Shimbun Mountain Specialist Reporter, Yukio Kondo

Panel Discussion: "Food Loss: Pooling Wisdom to Take Action for Reduction"
Food Loss Expert: Rumi Ide
Cooking Researcher: Yoshiharu Doi
Shinichi Tougu, Representative Director and Chairman, Co-op Union
Moderator: Asahi Shimbun Editorial Writer, Mitsuko Nagasawa

Panel Discussion: "Invisible Creatures, Unwelcome Creatures, Saving the Earth"
Kazuhide Sekiyama, Director and Representative Executive Officer, Spiber
Musca CEO Ayano Nagare
Singer and Talent: Shoko Nakagawa
Moderator: Takashi Nakajima, Editorial Writer, Asahi Shimbun

Panel Discussion: "Expanding the 'Local Production for Local Consumption' Hydrogen Society"
Toyota Motor Corporation Advanced Technology Development Company, Advanced Technology Division, Environmental Technology Planning Office Manager
Koichi Kojima
President and CEO, Nemoto Trading Co., Ltd. Katsuyori Nemoto
Asahi Shimbun DIALOG Student Reporter Mao Kameyama
Moderator: Asahi Shimbun Editorial Writer, Shunzai Horikago

Lecture: "Enjoying Life in the AI Era"
Yoichi Ochiai, CEO, Pixie Dust Technologies

Panel Discussion: "Spreading the SDGs Movement from the Employee Cafeteria"
Kinoshita Kousuke, Manager, Business Promotion Section, CSR & Social Culture Department, Panasonic Brand Communication Headquarters
Ayumu Katano (Employee at a Fisheries Company)
Representative Director, Chefs for the Blue, Hiroko Sasaki
Moderator: Katsuhiko Tagaya, Economic Affairs Department Manager, Asahi Shimbun Osaka Headquarters

Panel Discussion: "True Colors: Toward a Hyper-Diverse Society Where Everyone Can Be Their Authentic Self"
Ichiro Kabasawa, Managing Director, The Nippon Foundation
　*Breakdancers expressing diversity are also scheduled to perform
Moderator: Hiroko Saito, Social Affairs Reporter, Asahi Shimbun