Date: March 18, 2024

The Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) has concluded its delegation’s visit to Japan, spanning the period 2-7 March 2024. The visit aimed to advance bilateral cooperation and knowledge exchange in various fields of mutual interest, with a focus on research initiatives. The Derasat delegation comprising Executive Director Dr. Hamad Ebrahim Al-Abdulla, and Dr. Abdulla Isa Al-Abbasi, Director of the Energy and Environment Program at the Studies and Research Directorate, actively engaged in a series of meetings with Japanese think tanks, organizations, and institutions.

On the first day, Derasat’s delegation held meetings with key Japanese counterparts to explore collaborative opportunities and discuss regional dynamics. The delegation held discussions with Dr. Haruhiko Obara, Executive Officer at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, on joint research and development initiatives in this field, with emphasis on energy and sustainability.

The delegation also met with Mr. Ryuichi Funatsu, Director of the Second Middle East Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss enhanced cooperation in various research fields between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan. They exchanged insights on media initiatives with Mr. Kazuo Kodama, President of the Foreign Press Center in Japan.

Day two of the visit saw the delegation meet H.E. Mr. Tatsuya Terazawa, Chairman and CEO of the Japanese Energy Economics Institute, to discuss energy economics and explore research cooperation and joint projects in renewable energy. The delegation also met with Mr. Kunihiko Miyake, Senior Advisor and Board Member at the Canon Institute for Global Studies, where they had a positive discussion focusing on global geopolitical dynamics and the role of research institutions in fostering dialog and understanding between nations.

Moreover, the delegation had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Toshihide Ando, Assistant Minister and Director-General of the Office of Middle Eastern and African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirming their commitment to exploring unique scientific research initiatives. Another productive discussion was held with H.E. Mr. Yasuo Asakura, Chairman of the Institute of Systems Science Research, focusing on emerging technologies and innovation to enhance mutual capabilities. The delegation’s visit to the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) at the University of Tokyo provided an opportunity to meet Professor Masakazu Sugiyama, Director of RCAST, and Professor Satoshi Ikeuchi, Professor of Religion and Global Security.

The visit was concluded with a trip to Kyoto, where the delegation met H.E. Mr. Takashi Honjo, Senior Managing Director at the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for Earth, to discuss innovative technologies for environmental sustainability and explore opportunities for joint research and development. They also met with Professor Takashi Morii, Director of the Institute of Advanced Energy at Kyoto University, to exchange insights on energy policies and potential collaborations in energy research and analysis.

Dr. Al-Abdulla expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and productive discussions throughout the visit, highlighting the significance of such interactions in promoting knowledge-sharing between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan. The outcomes of these engagements are expected to contribute to mutual growth and development of a diverse set of scientific research.

The visit marks a significant milestone in fostering cooperation and exchanging expertise between Derasat and its counterparts in Japan. All parties expressed commitment to adding to the progress achieved during this visit and further enhancing strategic research areas of mutual interest.