Diplomacy and Business

International summits are measured not only by the agreements they produce, but also by the image they project. At a time when geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global alliances, the recent G7 meeting once again demonstrated that diplomacy extends well beyond official statements. Every gesture, every photograph and every public appearance contributes to the credibility of a country's international standing. Japan has earned worldwide respect through a diplomatic tradition rooted in discretion, institutional discipline and careful attention to protocol. These qualities have become part of its international identity, reinforcing the country's influence far beyond its economic and military capabilities. In…

For much of the twentieth century, diplomacy was associated with summit meetings, trade agreements and military alliances. Yet some of the most effective forms of international engagement often take place far from conference rooms. Football, the world's most popular sport, has become one of the most powerful instruments of soft power, capable of connecting societies that politics alone sometimes struggles to bring together. The FIFA World Cup offers perhaps the clearest example of this phenomenon. Every four years, countries that may have little direct contact in their daily political relations suddenly find themselves sharing the same global stage. National teams…

The Island States Ocean Summit highlights a quiet but structural shift in global governance: the growing economic and strategic relevance of small island states within the ocean economy. Long framed primarily through the lens of climate vulnerability, these countries are increasingly emerging as relevant actors in infrastructure management, maritime regulation, and the governance of trade routes that underpin global commerce. The ocean can no longer be understood solely as a geographic or environmental space. It functions as critical infrastructure for the global economy. Around 80% of world trade moves by sea, passing through corridors that intersect with the exclusive economic…

When Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in Tokyo last week, the images followed a familiar diplomatic script: official meetings, joint statements and renewed commitments to closer cooperation. Yet the significance of the visit extends well beyond bilateral relations. It offers a glimpse into a broader transformation taking place across the Indo-Pacific, where strategic partnerships are increasingly being shaped by economic security, technological competition and shifting geopolitical realities. For much of the post-war era, Japan's engagement with Southeast Asia was primarily economic. Trade, investment and development assistance formed the backbone of its regional presence. Today, however, Tokyo is pursuing a…

A few years ago, few in Seoul would have imagined Sanae Takaichi arriving in South Korea as the face of regional pragmatism. Long associated with the nationalist wing of Japanese politics and frequently criticised for her positions on historical memory, Takaichi represented precisely the kind of leadership many South Koreans feared could push bilateral relations back into permanent confrontation. Yet her recent visit to Seoul suggests something important is changing in Northeast Asia: strategic necessity is beginning to override ideological instinct. The shift has less to do with reconciliation than with pressure. China and Russia have accelerated their alignment with…