History

Institute History

  • 1959
    The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) established
  • 1960
    JIIA approved as incorporated foundation affiliated with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monthly publication Kokusai Mondai (International Affairs) first published
  • 1963
    JIIA approved as specified public interest promotion corporation
  • 1981
    The Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) Secretariat established
  • 1994
    The Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Secretariat established
  • 1996
    Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (CPDNP) established
  • 2008
    JIIA ranked 2nd in Asia in the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report announced by the University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • 2010
    19th PECC General Meeting held in Japan
    JIIA celebrates 50th anniversary
  • 2012
    JIIA certified by Prime Minister as public interest incorporated foundation;
    JIIA assumes new status
  • 2014
    JIIA ranked 1st in Asia and 13th globally in the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report
    JIIA merged with Institute of World Economy
  • 2017
    JIIA once again ranked 1st in Asia and 14th globally in the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report
  • 2019
    Celebrating its 60th anniversary, JIIA released its first Strategic Annual Report and held the 1st Tokyo Global Dialogue.
  • 2021
    JIIA awarded "2020 Think Tank of the Year -- Top Think Tank in the World" in the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, ranking 1st in Asia end 8th in the world.

Past Chairmen and Presidents

Past Chairmen

*Positions at the time of appointment

  • Dec 1959 - Oct 1967
    • Chairman

      YOSHIDA Shigeru

      (former Prime Minister)

  • Oct 1967 - Jun 1973
    • Acting Chairman

      KAJIMA Morinosuke

      Chairman, Kajima Institute of International Peace

  • Jun 1973 - Dec 1975
    • Chairman

      KAJIMA Morinosuke

      Chairman, Kajima Institute of International Peace

  • Dec 1975 - Apr 1976
    • Acting Chairman

      UEMURA Kogoro

      Honorary Chairman, Keidanren

  • Apr 1976 - Feb 1990
    • Chairman

      HOTTA Shozo

      Chairman, The Sumitomo Bank, Ltd.

  • Feb 1990 - Mar 1991
    • Acting Chairman

      IWASA Yoshizane

      Advisor, The Fuji Bank, Ltd.

  • Mar 1991 - Jun 1999
    • Chairman

      IWASA Yoshizane

      Advisor, The Fuji Bank, Ltd.

  • Jul 1999 - May 2007
    • Chairman

      HIRAIWA Gaishi

      Advisor, Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc.

  • May 2007 - Apr 2011
    • Acting Chairman

      HATTORI Reijiro

      Honorary Chairman, Seiko Holdings Corporation

  • Apr 2011 - June 2016
    • Chairman

      NISHIMURO Taizo

      Advisor to the Board, Toshiba Corporation

  • June 2016 - June 2018
    • Acting Chairman

      MIKI Shigemitsu

      Senior Advisor, MUFJ Bank, Ltd

  • June 2018 - Present
    • Chairman

      OKA Motoyuki

      Special Adviser, Sumitomo Corporation

From left: Chief Executive Director Kamikawa, U.S. Ambassador MacArthur, and Chairman Yoshida (at the cocktail party celebrating his appointment as chairman, April 28, 1960).

Former Presidents

*Positions at the time of appointment

  • January 1962 - May 1965
    KUBOTA Kanichiro
  • May 1965 - April 1968
    BEPPU Setsuya
  • April 1968 - September 1969
    TOKUNAGA Taro
  • September 1969 - December 1973
    SHIMAZU Hisanaga
  • December 1973 - October 1977
    TAKAHASHI Michitoshi
  • October 1977 - October 1980
    ONO Katsumi
  • October 1980 - May 1984
    NAKAGAWA Toru
  • May 1984. 5 - April 1990
    NIIZEKI Kinya
  • April 1990 - March 1999
    MATSUNAGA Nobuo
  • March 1999 - January 2003
    OWADA Hisashi
  • February 2003 - January 2009
    SATOH Yukio
  • February 2009 - June 2018
    NOGAMI Yoshiji
  • June 2018 - Present
    SASAE Kenichiro