Tokyo at the Forefront

A discussion with:
The Honorable Yoichi Masuzoe
Governor of Tokyo

Moderated by:
Michael J. Green
Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS
Chair in Modern and Contemporary Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy, Georgetown University

Mr. Yoichi Masuzoe has been the Governor of Tokyo since February 9, 2014. Prior to being elected to that post, he had served as an academic and a politician. Governor Masuzoe served as a Research Fellow at l’Institut d’Historie des Relations Internationales at the University of Paris from 1973 to 1975; attended l’Institut d’Hautes Etudes Internationales at the University of Geneva from 1976 to 1978; and served as an Associate Professor of Political Science and History at the University of Tokyo from 1979 to 1989. He also founded the Masuzoe Institute of Political Economy where he served as director from 1989 to 2007. Governor Masuzoe entered politics in 2001, serving as a Member of the House of Councillors for two terms from 2001 to 2013. Major posts he held during his time in government include Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense (2005) and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (2007-2009). As Tokyo prepares for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games, Governor Masuzoe will share with us his vision and plans to meet multifaceted challenges commonly faced by major cities.  He will discuss creating a “Hydrogen Society” to address climate change, promoting a barrier-free society, and creating a competitive business environment.