PRESS CONFERENCE
Koji Sugihara, representative, Network Against Japan Arms Trade (NAJAT)
Takaki Imai, President of Japan International Volunteer Center
Olena Yurchenko, Senior Analyst at the Economic Security Council of Ukraine

15:00-16:00 Wednesday, November 29, 2023
(The speech and Q & A will be in English and Japanese with English interpretation)
* Olena Yurchenko will join the event online.

Is Japan's Defense and Technology Trade Fueling Militaries Around the World?
The 1967 Japanese Arms Export Ban prohibited arms exports to communist bloc countries, under embargo, under UN Security Council resolutions, and involved in, or likely to be involved in, international conflicts. However, since the ban was eased in 2014 by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Japanese government has taken major steps to export defense equipment and machinery.

Advances in technology, globalization and new product development also present new challenges for Japan and other G-7 countries like the U.S., calling into question the coherence and efficacy of sanctions against banned countries. One example is the sourcing of an increased number of Western technologies by Russia through intermediary countries like China to fuel its military arsenal during its invasion of Ukraine. Trade data analysis shows Russia imported $2.5 billion worth of semiconductor technologies in 2022 alone.

Our speakers will help decipher the rather complex issue of direct and indirect arms and technology transfers by Japan and other developed countries to active wars around the world.

Koji Sugihara is a veteran activist who has been involved with Japanese civil society groups since the early 1990s. In the past, he has advocated for public assistance for Kobe quake victims and supported various anti-nuclear groups in Fukushima and other areas of Japan. As a vocal opponent of missile defense systems and weaponization of outer space, he serves as the representative of NAJAT (Network Against Japan Arms Trade).

Takaki Imai is the Director of Japan International Volunteer Center, an NGO with experience in supporting people in more than 20 countries, including in peacebuilding, medical care, disaster relief and advocacy since its founding in 1980. Most recently, the group issued an appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the war between Israel and Hamas, urging all concerned parties to enact a ceasefire in order to avoid further casualties and damage.  

Olena Yurchenko is the Chief Analyst at the Economic Security Council of Ukraine. As an expert on complex machinery and the Computerized Numerical Control manufacturing, she publishes reports on the arms trade and comments regularly on Western support for Ukraine, as well as EU sanctions against Russia.

How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding.

How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.

How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/A5CKWSfBhGrseTwH9
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event.

Professional Activities Committee