New Diplomacy Initiative

The New Diplomacy Initiative (ND) is a Japanese think tank founded in 2013. It advocates for a "new diplomacy" that goes beyond traditional government-to-government channels, incorporating parliamentary, intellectual, economic, and civil society diplomacy. ND conducts research, publishes policy proposals, and organizes symposia and international dialogues, with a focus on East Asian security, the US-Japan alliance, nuclear energy, and historical reconciliation. Its representative is lawyer Sayo Saruta, and its board includes prominent scholars and journalists. ND is known for its concept of the "Washington Loudspeaker," which describes how certain Japanese voices are amplified through US networks to influence Japanese policy. The organization engages in track-two diplomacy, including visits to the United States and lobbying efforts, to broaden the range of voices in foreign policy. It operates primarily in Japan and the United States, with a focus on East Asia.

The New Diplomacy Initiative (ND) was established in 2013 in Japan as a think tank dedicated to promoting a new form of diplomacy. Its founding was driven by the recognition that in a rapidly changing international environment, the construction of peaceful and constructive diplomatic relations in the Asia-Pacific region is crucial for global peace, security, and sustainable development. ND argues that international relations should not be influenced by only a limited set of voices, as this undermines national interests and regional stability. Therefore, it advocates for multi-track diplomacy encompassing intergovernmental, parliamentary, intellectual, economic, and civil society channels. The organization's representative is lawyer Sayo Saruta, and its board includes journalists, scholars, and former officials such as Shuntaro Torigoe, Kiichi Fujiwara, Mike M. Mochizuki, Jiro Yamaguchi, and Kyoji Yanagisawa. Since its founding, ND has conducted research and policy proposals on topics including US military bases in Japan, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, energy policy (renewable energy and nuclear power), the North Korean nuclear issue and Six-Party Talks, Japan-China relations, and Japan-South Korea relations. It has undertaken projects such as the Futenma base relocation and Henoko alternative project, the Japan-US nuclear energy project, the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement project, and the East Asia security project. ND also engages in track-two diplomacy, including coordinating visits to the United States for Japanese politicians and civil society groups, such as the 2017 Okinawa delegation and two visits by Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine. In 2023, ND celebrated its 10th anniversary, reflecting on its activities and continuing its mission to amplify diverse voices in foreign policy. The organization has also developed the concept of the "Washington Loudspeaker" to describe how certain Japanese voices are amplified through US networks to influence Japanese policy. ND publishes policy proposals, research reports, and books, and organizes symposia and international dialogues, including the East Asia Quadrilateral Dialogue.

• 2023

  ND celebrated its 10th anniversary and published a 10-year activity report.

• 2023

  ND organized 'The East Asia Quadrilateral Dialogue 2023' international research meeting.

• 2017

  ND coordinated the Okinawa delegation to the US and two visits by Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine.

• 2013

  New Diplomacy Initiative founded in Japan.

A progressive think tank advocating for multi-track diplomacy and alternative security policies in East Asia.

• ND Policy Proposals

  Policy recommendations on security, diplomacy, and energy.

• East Asia Quadrilateral Dialogue

  International symposium series with experts from the US, China, South Korea, and Japan.

• ND Compass

  Project translating Japanese expert articles into English to broaden international debate.

• Washington Loudspeaker analysis

  Research on how Japanese voices are amplified through US networks.

1. 1New Diplomacy Initiative official websitend-initiative.org
2. 2About NDnd-initiative.org
3. 32-minute guide to NDnd-initiative.org
4. 4Historical recognition research pagend-initiative.org
5. 5Wikidata entrywikidata.org
6. 6Japanese Wikipedia articleja.wikipedia.org