Welcome. This is our voices for Japan Program at the stimson center. This is the annual event that Japan Program hosts to invite those whom we often do not get to listen to here in washington. This year i am extremely honored to have these leaders. Have been my mentors and i respect them deeply. They have taught me 70 things over the years and that time that i have known them. Im very happy that they agreed to come to washington and talk to us this morning. You all have a bio, their detailed bio in the program in your seat. I will save you from a lengthy introduction. Very quickly to my immediate left is general transport next to him is admiral and lieutenant general. They are all retired but demonstrate the importance of a joint operations on the forces. We will listen to what they have in mind about japans defense posture. Before we start i am late in introducing myself. I yuki tatsumi. I am the Japan Program director. This could not have happened without a lot of the sponsors and su
This is the annual event the Stimson Center hosts. To listen to here in washington. This year i am extremely honored to have these leaders. Have been my mentors and i respect them deeply. They have taught me 70 things over the years and that time that i have known them. Im very happy that they agreed to come to washington and talk to us this morning. You all have a bio, their detailed bio in the program in your seat. I will save you from a lengthy introduction. Very quickly to my immediate left is general transport next to him is admiral and lieutenant general. They are all retired but demonstrate the importance of a joint operations on the forces. We will listen to what they have in mind about japans defense posture. Before we start i am late in introducing myself. I yuki tatsumi. I am the Japan Program director. This could not have happened without a lot of the sponsors and supporters of the Japan Program. I would very much like to thank all of the Japan Program supporters at this lo
Georgetown. Some distinguished in fact, this audience is pretty much 100 distinguished, as i look out. Quite an impressive audience. Thank you very much for coming. A few brief safety and security announcements. I am your designated Safety Officer in case of an emergency. Youll find the exits are back behind you. And youll go down one floor, exit down through the stairwell and well meet around the corner at National Geographic which is just down left and left should we have to so today together with the japan center for Economic Research is delighted to host this discussion with three of japans leading lawmakers, statesmen with particular expertise in National Security and to talk about our alliance and the years ahead. Ill introduce the other members of the panel in a moment. But let me first mention they are all here in washington for the week as part of whats known as golden week, and to join discussions here and around town under the mount my friend ue which runs and many are parti
Georgetown. Some distinguished in fact, this audience is pretty much 100 distinguished, as i look out. Quite an impressive audience. Thank you very much for coming. A few brief safety and security announcements. I am your designated Safety Officer in case of an emergency. Youll find the exits are back behind you. And youll go down one floor, exit down through the stairwell and well meet around the corner at National Geographic which is just down left and left should we have to so today together with the japan center for Economic Research is delighted to host this discussion with three of japans leading lawmakers, statesmen with particular expertise in National Security and to talk about our alliance and the years ahead. Ill introduce the other members of the panel in a moment. But let me first mention they are all here in washington for the week as part of whats known as golden week, and to join discussions here and around town under the mount my friend ue which runs and many are parti
Economic sanctions all together. Ive said consistently after five difficult decades the relationship between our governments will not be transformed overnight. We continue as president castro indicated to have some very serious differences, including on democracy and human rights. Translator i had the opportunity to discuss with president obama further steps that could be taken in order to remove restrictions, and contribute to the dismantling of the blockade. On the first day of obamas visit, members of a womans group campaigning for democracy in cuba were detained during a rally. Theres opposition in the u. S. To rebuilding ties with cuba. Critics cite Human Rights Violations in the communist state. Castro said the issue should not be used for political purposes. Japans Prime Minister shinzo abe says the selfdefense forces must prepare for their new duties. Security legislation set to go into effect next week will expand duties abroad. Abe spoke at a National Defense Academy Graduati