International Law and Treaties

From August 26 to 30, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan organized the second Tokyo International Law Seminar at the United Nations University, Tokyo.

• (1) The Tokyo International Law Seminar provides lectures in the field of international law, for officials and legal experts from Asia and Africa. Through the exchanges between the participants, the seminar aims to contribute to the peace guided by the rule of law.
• (2) The seminar is also designed to foster professionals in the fields of international law by opening the door to lawyers and international law researchers from Japan.

• (1) Approximately 90 people attended the seminar. The participants included 32 government officials from Asia and Africa, namely Botswana, Brunei, Cambodia, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz, Laos, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Secretariat of AALCO【Nationality: India】 and AUC【Nationality: Tunisia】, including 5 JICA Long Term Training Participants, studying in masters’ and doctorate programs in Japanese graduate schools, as well as lawyers from Japanese law firms that sponsored the seminar and young researchers in the field of international law. During the seminar, prominent international law experts from abroad and international law scholars from Japan gave lectures on various areas of particular importance in the practice of international law, as well as on practices related to international litigation.
• (2) At the inaugural lecture on 26th August, H.E.Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, delivered a video message to the participants.
• (3) On the first day of the seminar, 26th August, the welcoming reception was hosted at the United Nations University.
• (4) The list of lecturers is as follows (video recording are available for some lecturers):
  • (a) “International Litigation”, Mr. Paul REICHLER, International Lawyer, 11KBW
  • (b) “The Influence of the Common Law and Civil Law traditions on International Adjudication and Arbitration”, Judge Joan E. DONOGHUE, Former President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
  • (c) “International Criminal Law”, Judge AKANE Tomoko, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
  • (d) “State, State Official, Diplomatic Immunities”, Prof. Philippa WEBB, King’s College London
  • (e) Lunch Seminar on Intellectual Property hosted by the Ministry of Justice, Ms. HAYASHI Izumi, President of the Intellectual Property Lawyers Network Japan
  • (f) “Capacity Building of Legal System”, Mr. YAMAUCHI Yoshimitsu, Director of UNAFEI and Mr. TATEMOTO Ryota, Director of ICD, Research and Training Institute, Ministry of Justice
  • (g) “Business and Human Rights”, Ms. Rachel DAVIS, Vice President and Co-Founder, Shift
  • (h) “The Reform of the Investment Regime and of ISDS”, Prof. Makane Moïse MBENGUE, University of Geneva
  • (i) “International Law and the Use of Force”, Prof. Dapo AKANDE, University of Oxford, ILC member
  • (j) “Preparation and Participation in ISDS”, Mr. Ben JURATOWITCH KC Barrister, Essex Court Chambers
  • (k) “Responsibility of States”, Prof. HAMAMOTO Shotaro, Kyoto University
  • (l) Panel Discussion “Global South and Rule of Law”
  • <Panelists>
    Prof. Erika de WET, University of Graz, Prof. Dapo AKANDE and Prof. Makane Moïse MBENGUE
  • <Moderator>
    Prof. HAMAMOTO Shotaro
• (5) On 30th August, the completion ceremony was held and the certifications were awarded to qualified participants.
• (6) The seminar was:
  • (a) organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan;
  • (b) co-organized by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, the Japanese Society of International Law and the Ministry of Justice;
  • (c) supported by the United Nations University and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO); and
  • (d) sponsored by TMI Associates, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Nishimura & Asahi, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, Atsumi & Sakai, Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise), City-Yuwa Partners, Kitahama Partners, Koga & Partners, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto、Oh-Ebashi, Shinwa Law, Kakui Law, Midosuji and Shiratori Law.

The seminar was accompanied by the “Asia Cup”, one of the largest international law moot court competitions in Asia. “Asia Cup” has been held annually in Japan since 1999 for students from Asian countries. This year, the team from Singapore won the championship.