Survey and Research
Our Chairperson has met with Associate Professor Hosoda from the University of West Bohemia.
Our Chairperson Mr. Shukuri visited Prague, Czech Republic, on September 19, 2025, and met with Associate Prof. Naoki Hosoda from the Department of Political and International Relations, Faculty of Philosophy, University of West Bohemia. Our Senior Research Fellow Mr. Nomura also attended the meeting.
Associate Prof. Hosoda shared his insights on the general situation in the Czech Republic, the current situation regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the perspectives and support measures of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the EU (European Union), and the Czech Republic. Our Chairperson Mr. Shkuri introduced the research and study activities on securing sea lanes, which our Center participates in, while the Japan Transport Technology Research Institute (JTTRI) is the main organization undertaking this work, and provided information on issues of common concern with key stakeholders of the Japanese and US governments. Associate Prof. Hosoda stated that he would like to consider how to effectively utilize the current sense of crisis among NATO countries regarding Russia and the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine for Japan, and how Japan can fulfill the expected role within NATO to further expand and deepen Japan-NATO reciprocal cooperation.
Our Chairperson Mr. Shkuri highly valued Associate Prof. Hosoda's expertise as the only Japanese expert in the Czech Republic, and one of the few in Europe, expressed his expectations for his future activities, and promised to continue exchanging opinions.
The meeting took place during the NATO DAY event, an annual awareness-raising event on NATO activities held by various organizations in the Czech Republic, which was held in Ostrava, approximately 3 hours east of Prague by train. Associate Prof. Hosoda was invited as an expert panelist to this event, and after returning to Prague, he met with Our Chairperson. He concluded by expressing his appreciation for having gained insight into the latest developments in Japan and the US through our Chairperson Mr. Shkuri's explanation.
At the entrance to Smetana Hall (Prague Municipal House), adjacent to the meeting venue.
