Shorenstein APARC alumni and friends gather in Tokyo

17 fellows headliner

On September 10, the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) hosted a memorable gathering of 100 alumni and friends in Tokyo. It afforded recent Shorenstein APARC visitors the opportunity to converse and exchange stories with alumni who first visited Stanford 20 to 30 years ago. The event was held in conjunction with the annual Stanford Kyoto Trans-Asian Dialogue, which had taken place the week before in Kyoto.

Norihiko Ishiguro, director-general of the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, represented one of Shorenstein APARC’s earliest groups of visitors at the event. He shared some of his Stanford memories from 1985 to 1986, and described how he has been able to keep in touch with many people he met during that time. U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos also addressed the group, expressing his pleasure at seeing the way that strong relationships first formed at Stanford have grown over the years. Finally, Gerhard Casper, Stanford president emeritus and the director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, offered insights from the Kyoto Dialogue, which had focused on reforming higher education in an increasingly globalized and digital world.

Shorenstein APARC deeply appreciates the continuing support of our friends and alumni, and we hope you can join us as we celebrate our thirtieth anniversary this coming May.