PROFESSIONAL LUNCHEON
Tobias Harris, Atsuo Itoh & Takashi Uesugi,
"Election Insight"

The speech and Q & A will be in English and Japanese with simultaneous interpretation.

The latest speakers in our analysis of the 2009 House of Representatives election combine hands-on Nagatacho experience with commentary and political science insight.

A law graduate from Gakushuin University, Atsuo Ito was asked by Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka to head the political reform office at LDP headquarters in 1973. After 20 years with the LDP, he quit when it formed a coalition with the Socialist Party and Sakigake Party. He joined the general affairs office of Shinshinto in 1994, the Taiyoe Party in 1996, Menseito in early 1998, then later that year the Democratic Party of Japan, as head of its secretariat. Known as the “new party contractor” for his role in developing new political groups, Ito has since 2001 been an independent analyst, commentator and visiting lecturer at leading universities. He has written six major works on Nagatacho events and mechanisms.

Takashi Uesugi, who graduated from Tsuru Bunka University, started his working life in the NHK news department in 1993 and joined Kunio Hatoyama’s staff in 1995. In 1999, he joined the New York Times’ Tokyo bureau and went freelance three years later. Since April last year he has been a special visiting professor in Meiji University’s international relations department. He regularly appears on TV and radio news programs and contributes articles to newspapers and weekly magazines. In 2001, he received the 8th Magazine Journalism Award for his coverage of Makiko Tanaka’s term in the Foreign Ministry. Like Ito, he is a prolific author of insider political studies.

Tobias Harris is an emerging and already noted American commentator on Japanese political life. In 2006-'07 he worked in the office of Keiichiro Asao, the DPJ's shadow defense minister. He now writes Observing Japan (http://www.observingjapan.com), a weblog focused on Japanese politics and foreign policy. His posts appear in Japanese on Newsweek Japan's website. He contributes to the Far Eastern Economic Review and has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal Asia and The Japan Times. Harris has a BA in politics and history from Brandeis University and an M.Phil in international relations from Cambridge. He is currently working towards a PhD in political science at MIT.

MENU
Sandwich Plate: Corned beef with sauerkraut and wholegrain mustard on campagne with salad and pickles.
Hot Plate: Char-grilled swordfish with lemon, capers, spinach, potato, tarragon salsa and seasonal green salad.

Atsuo Ito, Political Analyst

Takashi Uesugi, Freelance Journalist

Tobias Harris, Japan/East Asia Specialist