≪Uploaded on July 7th, 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) Room3C13
11:00-11:10 Opening Remarks
NISHIUMI Maki (Professor, Chuo University; President, Japan Chapter of the Asian Society of International Law)
KITAI Tatsuya (Professor, Chuo University; Director, The Institute of Comparative Law of Japan)
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 Room3E06
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 Room3E03
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?”
Panel 3. Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Asia Room3E04
Moderator:
HAYAKAWA Yoshihisa （Partner, Uryu & Itoga）
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”
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 Room3E05
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 Prospects”
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 Room3E07
Moderator:
HAYASHI Eriko (Founding Partner, ERI Law Office)
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”
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) Room3C13
17:10-17:30 [UTC+9] Japan Chapter’s Assembly Meeting (only in Japanese) Room3C13
18:00-19:30 [UTC+9] Evening Reception (in English and Japanese)
