International Law and Treaties

• (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 100 people attended the seminar. The participants included 53 government officials from Asia and Africa, namely Algeria, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Djibouti, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Secretariat of AALCO and AUC, including 20 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 4th August, H.E. Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, delivered a video message to the participants.
• (3) On the first day of the seminar, 4th August, the welcoming reception was hosted at the United Nations University.
• (4) The list of lecturers is as follows:
  • (a) “International Litigation”, Mr. Paul REICHLER, International Lawyer, 11KBW
  • (b) “The role of the International Law Commission in the codification and the progressive development of International Law”, Prof. Phoebe OKOWA, Queen Mary University of London, ILC member
  • (c) “State, State Official, Diplomatic Immunities”, Prof. Philippa WEBB, University of Oxford
  • (d) “Law of the Seas, The Impact of Climate Change on International Law”, Dr. Nilufer ORAL, Director, Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore, ILC member
  • (e) “International Law Applicable to the Cyberspace”, Prof. Mohamed HELAL, the Ohio State University
  • (f) “International Criminal Law and the International Criminal Court”, Mr. YAMAUCHI Yoshimitsu, Director, United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders
  • (g) “Investor-State Dispute Settlement”, Ms. Catherine AMIRFAR, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton
  • (h) “International Law and the Use of Force”, Prof. KUROSAKI Masahiro, National Defense Academy of Japan
  • (i) “Business and Human Rights”, Mr. Viren MASCARENHAS, Founding Partner, Mascarenhas Law
  • (j) Panel Discussion “AI and International Law - Navigating the Uncharted Waters”
  • <Panelists>
    Ms. Amirfar, Prof. Helal, Prof. Okowa, Prof. Webb, Prof. SATOH Ken, Director, Center for Juris-Informatics, Research Organization of Information and Systems
  • <Moderator>
    Ambassador MIKANAGI Tomohiro, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN
• (5) On 8th 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, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise), City-Yuwa Partners, Kitahama Partners, Koga & Partners, Momo-o, Matsuo & NambaOh-Ebashi, Yodoyabashi & Yamagami LPC, XAI, Ikeda Law, Midosuji LPC, Obara Law Office, Shiratori Law Office, SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO.

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 the Philippines won the championship.