U.S.-Japan Space Forum
Program Overview
The U.S.-Japan Space Forum (USJSF) is a standing committee of American and Japanese space policy experts and officials, meeting twice yearly to examine critical developments and opportunities for bilateral and multilateral space-related activities. This forum runs roughly in parallel to the U.S.-Japan track-1 “Comprehensive Dialogue on Space.” Reflecting the increasingly important role of the private sector in national space capabilities, the Forum integrates the perspectives of a wide array of experts, including corporate, academic, and other non-government players, in an informal environment that is conducive to creative and frank discourse. The USJSF is co-chaired by Mansfield Foundation President & CEO Frank Jannuzi, Saadia Pekkanen of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington, and Setsuko Aoki of Keio University Law School.
USJSF meets for its inaugural meeting in Missoula, Montana in 2014
Aiming to contribute to a stronger basis for coordination of space policy and governance, the U.S.-Japan Space Forum strives to deliver policy recommendations addressing bilateral cooperation in the realm of space technologies, policies, and strategic direction. Towards this goal, In July 2016, the U.S.-Japan Space Forum published the above Recommendations for the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Space Dialogues / 日米宇宙フォーラム:「宇宙に関する包括的日米対話」への提言. This publication supersedes an earlier Forum publication: Mid-Term Objectives and Near-Term Priorities for Japan-U.S. Space Cooperation.
Program Objectives
• Identify and discuss developments of importance to domestic and bilateral space cooperation
• Advance ideas of common concern and interest within the bilateral space policy community
• Complement the U.S.-Japan Comprehensive Dialogue on Space by disseminating reactions and conclusions reflecting industry imperatives and perspectives
• Establish and renew professional contacts between the Japanese and American space industries and governments
Program Updates
Policy Recommendations for Maritime Domain Awareness and Space Technology
In 2021, the Mansfield Foundation convened a working group of practitioners and scholars to address how best to establish more effective maritime domain awareness in the contested South China Sea. The spark for this working group came from the U.S.-Japan Space Forum, a standing committee of American and Japanese space policy experts examining critical developments and opportunities for cooperation in space.
The group consisted of ten experts from five countries with significant economic and strategic interests in the South China Sea: Australia, Japan, the Philippines, the United States, and Vietnam. These countries have strong records of bilateral and multilateral engagement in the region, and the group put forward strategies to increase cooperation on pairing space technologies to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
In October 2023, the group published a policy brief which outlines a number of workable proposals to increase this cooperation, while also laying out a framework for policymakers to work across the five nations for mutual benefit in the global commons. The publication lays out emerging technologies in MDA, with a special focus on space observation tools. Key policy recommendations include building a consortium of universities or research institutes (e.g. national labs) from the participant nations which can act as neutral brokers for a range of MDA solutions, as well as creating a government-to-government fusion center to handle sensitive information related to law enforcement, upholding sanctions, and other government activities.
Policy Recommendations from 12th U.S.-Japan Space Forum Meeting
In October 2022, the U.S.-Japan Space Forum gathered in Tokyo for its 12th meeting to discuss recent changes in the operating environment for space businesses, government policy towards outer space, and the applications of space to traditional domains like maritime domain awareness. Forum members put together the attached brief outlining the key takeaways and policy recommendations stemming from the discussion. A few highlights:
- The war in Ukraine shows the essential role of satellites for wartime strategy making, and the nations of the world must act now to harden these systems and prepare sufficient contingency planning.
- Emerging spacefaring nations, such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and Australia, must be considered and directly involved in the conversation about creating standardized licensing and certification to ensure that any U.S.-Japan framework will be built to accommodate new partners rather than exclude them.
- The United States and Japan should work with regional partners to invest in and support the growth of maritime domain awareness as a common good for all nations, including the ones which lack or possess limited space capabilities.
- Both the U.S. Government and the Government of Japan should continue the trend of increasing investment in their respective military space branches, namely the Space Force and the Space Operations Squadron, so that these services can expand their ability to pursue international capacity building exercises, provide public goods, and promote space sustainability.
For a full list of takeaways and recommendations, see the attached document: XII Space Forum Takeaways & Recommendations
Staff writer: Kelly Primrose
12th Meeting of the U.S.-Japan Space Forum in Tokyo
From October 18-20, the Mansfield Foundation was proud to host an in-person meeting of the U.S.-Japan Space Forum in Japan. This private forum culminated in a public on the afternoon of October 20. More information on this symposium, “Applying Space Tech to Maritime Domain Awareness in the South China Sea,” is available online here.
This series of discussions was the first in-person meeting of the Forum since 2019, and the group was excited to continue discussions that have continued virtually over the past two years.
The Space Forum identifies and discusses developments of importance to domestic and bilateral space cooperation, and many discussions during the week looked at the intersection of space and Maritime Domain Awareness, welcoming perspectives from other regional stakeholders from Australia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The forum looks forward to advancing ideas of common concern and interest within the bilateral space policy community, and synthesizing the input from partner countries in future meetings.
Mansfield Announces New Initiative on Maritime Domain Awareness in SCS
The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation has received a grant from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo for a new initiative: a workshop in which participants will discuss the application of space technology to maritime domain awareness (MDA) in the South China Sea.
The South China Sea plays an important role in global maritime trade, connecting a number of East Asian and Southeast Asian nations and providing essential undersea resources. However, there are considerable challenges to maintaining freedom of navigation in the area, including terrorism, piracy, smuggling, environmental pollution, and territorial disputes. These obstacles have serious implications for the economy and security of the parties who rely on the South China Sea for transportation and trade. Fortunately, space technology has the ability to mitigate the impacts of these challenges. Since 2008, Earth observation satellites have revolutionized security and improved MDA in the South China Sea, as they can collect data and track maritime vessels that are misrepresenting their locations, even under cloud cover or in the dark.
Data collection and vessel tracking are further enhanced by effective communication between interested parties. The United States and Japan have a well-established cooperative relationship in space research, evident in programs like the Mansfield Foundation’s biannual U.S-Japan Space Forum (more information available on our program page.) However, the need for more comprehensive dialogue and information-sharing has become evident as challenges in the South China Sea intensify. Therefore, the Mansfield Foundation will invite governmental and private sector experts from Australia, Vietnam, and the Philippines to join the United States and Japan in a multilateral working group, which will meet in Tokyo in 2021. This working group will produce a public report of their findings and will generate actionable policy recommendations to improve space and MDA capabilities and advance the ideals of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. The results of this workshop will not only have far-reaching benefits for strategic and operational decision-making but will also forge essential human connections that will bolster multilateral cooperation going forward.
The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation wishes to extend its whole-hearted thanks to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo for its indispensable assistance with this important initiative.
This program is sponsored is conducted with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and is administered by The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation.
U.S.-Japan Space Forum Convenes for 9th Meeting
Afterwards, Major-General John E. Shaw and Lieutenant-Colonel Toshihide Ajiki offered their assessment of orbital debris and space traffic management as facets of national security and as potential sources of conflict in the new space age. This was the first time the Forum has welcomed members of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Japan Self-Defense Force, and we look forward to future opportunities for collaboration.
These meetings would not be possible without the gracious support of our sponsors: Boeing, IHI Corporation, Marubeni America Corporation, MELCO, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NEC, L3Harris Corporation, and Raytheon.
2014 Founding Participants
Masao Akiyama, IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd.
Setsuko Aoki, Keio University
Shoichiro Asada, MHI
Frank Jannuzi, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation (Co-Chair)
Ed Jew, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
Koichi Kishi, NEC
Hiroshi Koyama, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Hideshi Kozawa, NEC
Ronald Lopez, Boeing
Peter Marquez, Planetary Resources
John Mittleman, Maritime Domain Awareness
Robert Morrissey, Raytheon
Scott Pace, George Washington University
Saadia Pekkanen, University of Washington (Co-Chair)
Ryan Shaffer, Mansfield Foundation (Program Director)
Sheila Smith, Council on Foreign Relations
Masakazu Toyoda, Institute of Energy Economics Japan
Hiroshi Yamakawa, Kyoto University
Participants: Standing committee of American and Japanese space policy experts and officials (founding members listed below)
Sponsors: IHI, MHI, NEC, MELCO, Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Mansfield Foundation