UK-Japan Student Conference

📢 Calling all university students in Japan and the UK! 🇯🇵🇬🇧

Join us in London this August for our 11th annual conference! Connect with students from around the world as we explore this year’s theme: “World Peace in a Breaking International Order.”

Applications are now open! Visit out website for more information and the latest updates.

As a participant, you gain the opportunity to:

🤝 Connect with students from around the world,
💭 Engage in thought-provoking discussions
🌱 Grow your international network
🌎 Explore today’s most pressing global challenges
🌐 Stay connected through annual alumni meet-ups in both the UK and Japan

For more information, contact us via email, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or X!

本会議は、一連の基調講演と、7つのサブテーマに基づく対話型のセッションによって構成される。各テーマは、現在の国際情勢を包括的に捉え、以下に挙げるサブテーマに沿って平和と秩序に関する現代の諸課題について、参加者の皆様が批判的に考察できるよう設計されている。

📜歴史的背景とレガシー
参加者は英国と日本における国際関係の変遷ー戦後の動態、植民地時代の遺産、帝国が現代の外交や政治に与えた影響ーを考察する。

💹 国際政治経済
日英両国が異なる手法を用いつつも、如何にして自国経済に深く関与し、世界的な経済的課題への対応を形作ってきたかを探る。

🌍 共有地の悲劇
集合行為問題の枠組みを用い、気候変動や資源枯渇、そして断片化する国際情勢下における安全保障パートナーシップといった、地球規模の課題に取り組む。

🤝 外交
進化し続ける外交戦略を検証するとともに、信頼が低下する状況下での平和交渉における国家および非国家主導者の役割について検討する。

🛡️ 防衛
新たな脅威、同盟関係の変化、技術革新という文脈の中で、安全保障上の懸念と防衛政策を分析する。

🗣️ ソフトパワー
国家が文化、言語、メディアを通じていかに影響力を行使しているかを探り、世界的な不安定さが増す中でソフトパワーがその有効性を維持できるのかを問い直す。

🏛️ 民主主義の後退
ポピュリズム、権威主義、制度の侵食といった近年の傾向に焦点を当て、民主主義の規範がいかにして国境の内外で試練にさらされているかを検証する。

本会議の到達点として、参加者は対話型のディスカッションおよびグループでの政策立案を行い、 問い「国際秩序が緊迫する世界において、いかにして環境・平和・経済の安定を達成できるか？」に対する解決策を提案する。

This year's conference will consist of a series of key lectures and interactive sessions organised around seven sub-themes. Each theme is designed to build a comprehensive view of the current international landscape and enable participants to critically engage with contemporary issues related to peace and order alongside these subthemes down below.

📜Historical Context and Legacies
Participants will explore the evolution of international relations in the UK and Japan, including post-war dynamics, colonial legacies, and the impact of the empire on present-day diplomacy and politics.

💹 International Political Economy
This session explores how both the UK and Japan intervened heavily in their economies, though in different ways, shaping responses to global economic challenges.

🌍 The Tragedy of the Commons
Using the framework of collective action problems, this theme addresses global-scale issues such as climate change, resource depletion, and security partnerships in a fractured international landscape.

🤝Diplomacy
This module will examine evolving diplomatic strategies and the role of state and non-state actors in negotiating peace under conditions of declining trust.

🛡️Defence
Participants will analyse security concerns and defense policies in the context of emerging threats, shifting alliances, and technological change.

🗣️ Soft Power
This session explores how countries wield influence through culture, language, and media, and questions whether soft power can maintain its effectiveness amid global instability.

🏛️ Democratic Backsliding
Focusing on recent trends in populism, authoritarianism, and institutional erosion, this theme examines how democratic norms are challenged within and beyond national borders.

The conference will culminate in interactive discussion and group policy making where participants propose solutions addressing the question: “How can we achieve the stability of the environment, peace, and economy in a world where the international order is under strain?”

Applicants from UK universities have now been contacted regarding the second stage of the application process!

If you have yet to be contacted, please email us as soon as possible. Be sure to check your spam folder!

Thank you so much to all those who applied for this year’s Navigating Divides in a Modern Society conference! We are really looking forward to reviewing your applications.

We will update our social media once application outcomes have been emails to applicants, and for details the stage two interviews.

Join our UK-JP alum!

When you participate in a UK-Japan Student Conference, you don’t only broaden your perspectives, but often leave with new (and unexpected) friendships.
Once you attend a UK-JP event, you become an alumnus for life, joining an already 10 year and still growing network.

UK-JP alumni have the opportunity to reconnect with fellow participants, from your conference year and since our very first conference in 2016! (Yes, they attend too)

We hold yearly alumni meet-ups in London and Tokyo, so no matter where life takes you post-graduation, you can remain close with the UK-JP community ❤️

Join us for our 10th annual conference, this summer in Tokyo! 🇯🇵

Undergraduate and postgraduate students from the UK and Japan will spend nine days in Tokyo, learning from experts on their perspectives on “Navigating Divides in a Modern World”, while sharing ideas, and exploring the streets of Tokyo.

Participants fee: 350/¥65000, inclusive of all meals, accommodation, and transport for conference related events over the 24th of August until the 1st of September. Scholarships are available.

The application deadline is just one week away! Please be sure to apply before the 7th of May 23:59BST (8th of may 07:59JST)

We look forward receiving your applications!

‼️‼️APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN‼️‼️

Undergraduate or postgraduate student studying in the UK or Japan? Applications for our 10th annual conference are now open!

Apply now to join us this August in Tokyo!

⚠️Application deadline:
Wednesday, 7th of May 23:59 BST
5月8日(木) 07:59 JST

Last but definitely not least, introducing our incredible 2025 Finance and Logistics team! Since last year, they’ve been working tirelessly behind the scenes, managing scholarships and grants which make our conference possible!

Meet Maho Kamiya
Page 1:
Title: UK-JP Committee 2025
Subtitle: Finance & Logistics
On the left is a photo of Maho. Maho is a young, Japanese female, with long black hair tied back. She is stood outside in a resort, with a palm tree and a swimming pool in the background, wearing a white tank top and a pretty pearl necklace, with a number is charms on it. There is text to the right.
Maho is studying Education at Kyoto University.
Participant in 2024.

Page 2:
Subtitle: Finance
I’m the top right is a photo of Maho. She is wearing her long, brown hair down, with a black and white dress, and sparkly blue Mickey Mouse ears on her head. She is stood in front of a hedge of pink flowers, with a merry-go-round in the background. There is text to the left.
Text: Hi everyone! I’m Maho from Kanagawa, Japan. I love traveling and playing volleyball 😁 At the UK-JP, you can broaden perspectives and by having fun exchanging cultures, you can make lots of friends. -addict

Last but definitely not least, introducing our incredible 2025 Finance and Logistics team! Since last year, they’ve been working tirelessly behind the scenes, managing scholarships and grants which make our conference possible!

Meet Ian Tam
Page 1:
Title: UK-JP Committee 2025
Subtitle: Finance & Logistics
On the left is a photo of Ian. Ian is a young, Asian male, with short black hair. He is wearing a denim blue shirt, thin framed glasses, and is sat in a corner with a cream background, and a bookshelf to the right of him.
There is text to the right.
Text: Ian is studying Economics at the University of Glasgow.
Participant in 2023.

Page 2:
Subtitle: Finance
In the top right is a photo of Ian. He is posing with a 2 finger peace sign, the photo has a filter on it, putting a Mario-style toad hat on Ian’s head.
There is text to the left.
Text: Hi all! My name is Ian, I’m from Hong Kong. I can usually be found listening to (and sometimes playing) music, or reading. I think UK-JP is a chance to meet lots of absolutely fantastic people, and also, to have lots of fun!

Last but definitely not least, introducing our incredible 2025 Finance and Logistics team! Since last year, they’ve been working tirelessly behind the scenes, managing scholarships and grants which make our conference possible!

Meet Sana Handa
Page 1:
Title: UK-JP Committee 2025
Subtitle: Finance & Logistics
On the right is a photo of Sana. Sana is a young, Japanese female. She is stood facing to the side, wearing a beautiful yellow and red coloured kimono. Her hair is tied up with a white flowery hair piece, and she is standing against a white background. There is text to the right.
Text: Sana is a studying
International Economic Law at Keio University.
Participant in 2024.

Page2:
Subtitle: Finance
In the top right corner is a photo of Sana, she is stood outside on a bridge, wearing a black skirt and a big, white coat, wearing her long black hair down.
There is text to the left of the image
Text: Hi everyone, I’m Sana from Tokyo! I lived in Pittsburgh, PA for three years when I was in elementary school. I love playing futsal, driving to hot springs, and traveling! My dream is to travel around Europe during the holiday season and visit Christmas markets in different cities. I believe that UK-JP will be an awesome opportunity to broaden your view and make meet so many nice people from all around the globe!