Young China Watchers Berlin & MERICS: Discussion with Prof. Akio Takahara

Japan is home to one of the world’s richest scholarly traditions on China. Japanese China-scholars are sought after by American, European, and Asian governments and peers for their unique expertise on the country’s politics and history. As the People’s Republic of China continues to turn inward and limit access for researchers it is becoming increasingly important to forge connections between experts based outside of China to facilitate the world’s understanding of developments within China.

Against this backdrop, Young China Watchers Berlin and the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) were delighted to host Prof. Akio Takahara, a widely respected Japanese authority on contemporary Chinese politics and China’s relationship with its East Asian neighbors. 

Over a brown bag lunch meeting on Friday, 07 June, 12:00-13:00 CEST, Prof. Takahara shared his insights into political developments under the Xi Jinping administration as well as the Japan-China relationship.

Akio Takahara is distinguished visiting professor at the Tokyo Woman's Christian University and Senior Fellow at MERICS. He formerly was professor of Contemporary Chinese Politics at the Graduate Schools for Law and Politics at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo). He also serves as Senior Research Advisor of the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development. He was dean of the Graduate School of Public Policy of UTokyo from 2018 to 2020. He received his DPhil in 1988 from Sussex University, and later spent several years as visiting scholar at the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong, the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, Harvard University, Peking University, and the Australian National University. Dr. Takahara is also on the International Scientific Council at MERICS.

This event was held under the Chatham House rule.