May 2023 Luncheon: “What Should Japan Learn From Switzerland?”

+ Thank you to those who attended the luncheon!
Have a look at our article to find out what was discussed!

We are pleased to invite you to our May Luncheon with H.E. Mr. Kojiro Shiraishi (former Ambassador of Japan to Switzerland, former Chairman of the Yomiuri Shimbun Group), who will deliver a speech titled “What Should Japan Learn From Switzerland?”.

H.E. Mr. Kojiro Shiraishi’s three-year tenure of Japanese ambassadorship in Bern assured him of Switzerland’s political potential. He argues that the Swiss “trinity”, he coins, which comprises hospitality, stability, and neutrality, has become a novel normalcy in international politics.

H.E. Mr. Kojiro Shiraishi with Mr. Ueli Maurer, President of the Swiss Confederation, 2019.

In his presentation for the SCCIJ, Mr. Shiraishi will stress that Switzerland can play a leading role to restore world peace despite the current instability caused by the Russian aggression on Ukraine. Moreover, the simultaneous 2023-2024 non-permanent membership of Japan to the United Nations Security Council and its commitment to UN ideals represent a real opportunity for both bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Date & Time:	Wednesday, May 17, 2023 12:00-14:00 (D.O.: 11:45)
Venue:	Tokyo Edition, Toranomon (MAP) Meeting Studios I-III, 2F (The entrance to the hotel is shown here)
Entry Fee:	Members: JPY 6,500 or 1 SCCIJ Voucher 2023 Non-Members: JPY 8,000
Registration:	*Registration closed* (Deadline: May 11, 2023) Please inform us of dietary restrictions if any. No-shows/cancellations after deadline will be fully charged SCCIJ members will be prioritized.
Inquiries:	By e-mail to info@sccij.jp

Biography of the Speaker:

H.E. Mr. Kojiro Shiraishi was born in Toyama Prefecture in 1946. Having graduated from the Faculty of Letters of the University of Kyoto, he joined the Yomiuri Shimbun in 1969. Following a stint at Harvard University as an associate of the US and Japan Relations Program, Mr. Shiraishi rose through the newspaper’s ranks, becoming the Group’s Director of Digital Media in 2004, Managing Director and Editor in 2007, President in 2011, and Chairman of the Board in 2016. He also served as the owner of the Yomiuri Giants baseball team (2011) and as the Chairman of the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editor Association (2013-2019). In 2019, Mr. Shiraishi’s career took a new turn when he was appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Switzerland and Liechtenstein by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He held this function until November 2022.