Organization

The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) was established in October 1978 at the initiative of Professor Inoki Masamichi, Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University and former President of the National Defense Academy. In accordance with Japanese law, the Institute is registered as a non-profit institute (zaidan hojin) and is therefore under the managerial oversight of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense Agency. However, the Institute reserves full discretion over its research goals and activities on international security issues.

RIPS monitors and analyzes security and arms control trends over time. It also provides policy recommendations to the government and contributes to public debate on issues of immediate concern to Japan. Recent policy initiatives include the results of a study on the legal provisions in Japan for crisis management. In November 1997, the Institute issued its "Policy Recommendations on the Legal Provisions for Emergencies," contributing to the lively national debate in Japan over how to cope with crisis situations. Moreover, in May 1998, as a result of a three-year joint research project with US experts on regional security, RIPS announced the project's recommendations on "Revitalizing the US-Japan Alliance." These recommendations were published in both Japanese and English and distributed to key policymakers in both governments, adding to the critical policy debate in the United States and Japan over how to redefine the alliance to meet the demands of the post Cold War era.

One of the main undertakings of our Institute is the development of specialists in the fields of security studies and arms control. Since 1982, RIPS has administered a two-year fellowship program for young researchers. Today, over 50 researchers have successfully completed the program, and these new security specialists are working in universities, research institutes and government offices throughout Japan.

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