≪Uploaded on May 9th, 2025≫
The Japan Chapter of the Asian Society of International Law
The 16h Annual Conference
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Chuo University Myogadani Campus, Tokyo
Supported by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)
There is a growing awareness of European international law, and sometimes of Latin American or African international law. Is there such a thing as Asian international law? At first glance, the answer seems to be no. Not only are the historical backgrounds diverse, with cultural legacies ranging from Confucianism to Islamic traditions, but there is no regional institution to give shape to the Asian legal heritage, even if there were such a thing. However, while not representative of all of Asia, there may be some elements of regional or sub-regional peculiarities in international law as practiced or proclaimed by Asian public and private entities. Should we claim the existence of an “Asian international law” with them? Or should such parochialism be seen as a threat to the universality of international law?
The 2025 Annual Conference will address research findings from diverse fields of international law, spanning historical to current issues, encompassing both, private and public international law, as well as substantive law and the dynamics of law, in the hope of cross-sectoral dialogue and collaboration.
PROGRAM
11:00-12:20 [UTC+9] Morning Session (in English)
11:00-11:10 Opening Remarks
11:10-11:50 Keynote Lecture
Moderator:
TOYODA Tetsuya （Professor, Akita International University）
Keynote Speaker:
NAKAGAWA Junji (Professor, Chuo Gakuin University; Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo)
“International Economic Law with Asian Elements?”
11:50-12:20 Questions and Answers
12:30-13:30 [UTC+9] Buffet Lunch
12:30-12:45 Lunch reception, along with panelists meetings at tables
12:45-13:00 Greetings and Toast
13:00-13:30 Conversations over lunch continued
14:00-16:30 [UTC+9] Afternoon Session (in English and Japanese)
第1分科会 (Panel 1) 国際法の地域性とアジア(Asia and the Regionality of International Law) [in Japanese]
Moderator:
荒木一郎（横浜国立大学名誉教授）
ARAKI Ichiro (Professor Emeritus, Yokohama National University)
Speakers:
梅島修（高崎経済大学名誉教授）
「ASEAN FTAの付加価値基準・政府認証はアジア的規律たりえるか」
UMEJIMA Osamu (Emeritus Professor, Takasaki City University of Economics)
“Could Regional Value Content Rules of Origin and the Third-Party Certification under ASEAN Free Trade Agreements be the Asian Norms?”
澤田眞治（防衛大学校教授）
「中南米の地域法廷の展開とアジアへの視座」
SAWADA Shinji (Professor, National Defense Academy of Japan)
“Development of Regional Courts in Latin America and Perspectives on Asia”
谷川幹（国際教養大学教授）
「デジタルプラットフォームにおける投稿管理と国際人権法の原理の適用」
TANIKAWA Miki (Professor, Akita International University)
“Content Moderation on Digital Platforms: Applying Principles of International Human Rights Law
中井愛子（大阪公立大学教授）
「地域的国際法はあるべきか否か：「米州国際法」をめぐる戦間期の議論とアジア」
NAKAI Aiko (Professor, Osaka Metropolitan University)
“Should There be Regional International Law(s)?: Debates over ‘American International Law’ in the Inter-War Period and Insights for Asia”
Panel 2. Cooperation and Competition in the Asian Context
Moderator:
MOCHIZUKI Yasue (Professor, Kwansei Gakuin University)
Speakers:
HU Shixue (Assistant Professor, Chinese University of Hong Kong)
“An Asian Approach Towards State-Capitalism?: Evidence from SOE Provisions in RTAs”
David TILT (Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Tokyo)
“International Law and the Conceptual Scope of National Security: How Does Japan Compare Globally?”
ZHONG Hui (Associate Professor, School of Law, Xiamen University)
“Rethinking the Issue of Sunken State Vessels: An East Asian Context”
Panel 3. Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Asia
Moderator: TBD
Speakers:
Bhumika NANDA (Assistant Professor, School of Law, Bennett University)
“International Criminal Court at 20: Questioning the Contemporary Relevance of the Rome Statute in the South Asian Context”
Atul ALEXANDER (Assistant Professor, The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences)
“Asian State Practice and Diplomatic Asylum: In Quest for Locating Regional Customary International Law”
Ondřej SVOBODA (Diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Japan)
ISHIKAWA Tomoko (Professor, Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University)
“Emerging “Asian” Grievance Mechanisms for Human Rights Violations?”
SATO Yasunobu (Special Researcher, Waseda University Institute of Asia Pacific Studies)
“Asia Pro Bono Conference for Promotion of “Rule of Law” in Asia”
Panel 4. Asian Approach to Dispute Settlement
Moderator:
IDEI Naoki (Attorney at Law, Kojima Law Offices)
Speakers:
ICHIHARA Masako (Program-Specific Assistant Professor, Kyoto University)
“Climate Litigation in Asia: Regional contexts, Features and Prosepects”
Leonardo F SOUZA-McMURTRIE (PhD Candidate, University of Cambridge)
“Does Culture Influence Treaty Litigation?”
Jan FELIX von ALTEN (Scientific Assistant, Frankfurt University)
“Is There Room for An effet atténué asiatique of the Public Policy Reservation in Japanese Private International Law?”
DAO Thi Ha Trang (Master’s student, Tohoku University)
“Japan’s Approach to Dispute Settlement under UNCLOS: Shaping Regional Custom in the Law of the Sea”
Panel 5. Asian Contribution to International Law
Moderator: TBD
Speakers:
Mark Darryl CANIBAN (Associate Solicitor III, Office of the Solicitor General of the Philippines)
“A Chip Off the Old Asian Block: ASEAN Law as a Subset and a Superset of Asian International Law in Shaping Regional Legal Frameworks and Influencing Broader Institutional Models”
Xuan W. TAY (Visiting Doctoral Researcher, New York University)
“Caricatures of “Asia”: How Euro-American and Asian Narratives Interact to Sustain Orientalism and Self-Orientalism in International Law”
Dita LILIANSA (Research Fellow, National University of Singapore)
“Decolonising Naval Warfare Law: Can Small and Middle Powers Influence Its Evolution?”
Ümit Barış BAYINDIR (Research Assistant, Marmara University)
“Provincializing Eurocentrism: Asian Legal Heterodoxy and the Contested Universalities of International Law”
16:45-17:00 [UTC+9] Concluding Session with Remarks by NISHIUMI Maki (in English and Japanese)
17:10-17:30 [UTC+9] Japan Chapter’s Assembly Meeting (only in Japanese)
18:00-19:30 [UTC+9] Evening Reception (in English and Japanese)
Registration Guidelines
・Registration fee: JPY1,500 (No meal or reception fee is included. Includes coffee break and online access to conference papers)
・Buffet Lunch: JPY2,000
・Evening Reception: JPY5,000-
Registration Deadline: June 26, 2025.
Please note that fees are non-refundable after June 27, 2025.
Any personal information you provide to us including your name, affiliation, and e-mail address will not be used for the purposes other than those related to the Conference.
Venue
The venue of the conference is Chuo University, Myogadani Campus, Tokyo
The venue is located within few minutes’ walk from the Myogadani Station (M23) on the Marunouchi Subway Line.
The route from Haneda Airport to Myogadani Station or the route from Narita Airport to Myogadani Station can be found on Google maps or other maps.
Language
The working language of the Conference is English, except Panel 1 in the afternoon. Conference papers are made available in advance to the registered participants.
Conference Papers and Online Participation Links
We will open a webpage dedicated to the conference in mid June, and upload conference papers and links there. The password required to view the page will be emailed to registered participants.
No materials will be distributed at the venue. Please download or print the papers in advance.
Buffet Lunch and Evening Reception
A buffet lunch will be organized in the same building as the conference for all participants (JPY2,000). Presenters are required to join for lunch to meet the other presenters of the panel.
An evening reception will be held at a nearby restaurant for JPY5,000.
VISA
If you are a foreign national, please check here whether you are required a visa or not to enter Japan.
Please note that we will not be able to arrange visas for attendees, except for the accepted speakers of the Conference.
Accommodations
We are not able to arrange you a hotel or any special tours. Please be advised that participants make arrangements at one’s own cost.
If you are looking for a hotel with an easy access to the Conference venue, it will be a good idea to look for those near three stations below.
Ikebukuro Station (M25)
Ikebukuro is a commercial and entertainment district. Ikebukuro Station is one of the city’s busiest transportation hubs, flanked by two huge department stores. You will have good access to the venue by subway (5 minutes), as well as to the airports and places of interest in Tokyo.
Ochanomizu Station (M20)
Ochanomizu is a major university area of Tokyo, close to Tokyo Station, Akihabara, and a number of historic sights. It will be 6 minutes’ ride from Ochanomizu Station to Myogadani Station.
Tokyo Station (M17)
Tokyo Station is the main inter-city rail terminal in Tokyo. Bullet trains (Shinkansen) to Kyoto and other major cities start here. It takes 11minutes to Myogadani Station.
Inquiries
Please feel free to contact us at asiansil-jp2025@nifty.com.
