April 2025
Special seminar “Balancing Commerce and Diplomacy: Japan’s Strategy for Economic Security” with Prof. Christina Davis (Harvard University) was organised to mark the Centre’s 5th Anniversary.
The seminar was held on Tuesday, 1st April 2025 at the Old Physics Theatre, Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), 86 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin.
Prof. Davis is the Edwin O. Reischauer Professor of Japanese Politics in the Department of Government and Director of the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations at Harvard University.
During academic year 2024-25, Prof. Davis is currently the Centenary Visiting Professor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University, affiliated with Queen's College.
Prof. Davis is the author of three books: Food Fights Over Free Trade: How International Institutions Promote Agricultural Trade Liberalization (2003), Why Adjudicate? Enforcing Trade Rules in the WTO (2012), and Discriminatory Clubs: The Geopolitics of International Organizations (2023).
In the last 5 years, Prof. Davis has been an External Academic Advisor for the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies.
Prof. Davis' lecture looked at how Japan navigates geopolitical rivalries—balancing economic growth, security, and diplomacy in an era of rising tensions between the US, China, and Europe.
With a unique perspective shaped by decades of academic insight and government engagement, Professor Davis spoke about Japan’s strategic leadership in trade, AI policy, and regional cooperation through initiatives such as CPTPP and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
The seminar was organised by UCD Centre for Japanese Studies, in collaboration with the UCD GearyInstitute for PublicPolicy, UCD Centre for AsiaPacific Research, Trinity Centre for Asian Studies, and The Irish Institute of Japanese Studies, University College Cork.
Front left to right: Adjunct Prof. Neary (UCD College of Social Sciences and Law / former Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, 2011-14), Mrs Shimada, Prof. O’Riordan (UCD VP for Global Engagement), Prof. Davis, H.E. Mr Junji Shimada (Ambassador of Japan to Ireland), Prof. Moore-Cherry (UCD College Principal, College of Social Sciences and Law). Back left to right: Dr Rimner (UCD School of History / Director, UCD Centre for Asia Pacific Research), Dr Kodate (UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice / Director, Public Policy Programme, UCD), Dr Peng (TCD Centre for Asian Studies), Ms Fitzgerald (Director, Asia Pacific Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland), Prof. Sokell (UCD Deputy Registrar / former Deputy Director, UCD Centre for Japanese Studies), Assoc. Prof. Donnelly (UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice).
UCD Vice President for Global Engagement, Prof. Dolores O’Riordan officially opens the seminar
Dr Kodate (Director, UCD Centre for Japanese Studies) welcomes the speakers and guests.
Prof. Nathan Hill (Director, Trinity Centre for Asian Studies), Prof. Neary, Mr Paul Murray (former Ambassador of Ireland to Koreas) and Ms Anne Barrington (former Ambassador of Ireland to Japan) during the reception.
Prof. Mary Gallagher (Professor of French and Francophone Studies, UCD / Centre for Japanese Studies) & Prof. O’Riordan (VP for Global Engagement, UCD)
Dr Kodate, Mr Bill Emmott (former Editor in Chief, The Economist), Prof. Davis and Prof. Imai (Harvard University).
Special thanks to Ambassador H.E. Shimada, staff at the MoLI, Magdalena at the UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy, Mr Bill Emmott, Prof. Kosuke Imai (Harvard University), and colleagues at the UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.