The final issue of the Briefing Paper Series (BPS) titled "Japan’s Arctic Policy 2015-2025: Suggestions for the Next Decade" (No. 12) has been published in English. This is an abridged and translated version of the original Japanese Policy Brief BPS (No. 11). BPS have been published with the aim of broadly disseminating the research results of ArCS II International Law Research Program. BPS consist of three categories: “Policy Brief”, “Fact Sheet” and “Research Brief”. The final issue is a Policy Brief that provides with the policy-maker with a concise summary of relevant information and/or policy options on Arctic issues. As a concluding research result of ArCS II International Law Research Program, this policy brief is authored by seven researchers from International Law and International Politics Research Program and is edited by Medy Dervovic, Osamu Inagaki, Akiho Shibata and Kentaro Nishimoto.

This Policy Brief aims to provide academic review on Japan’s engagement in and contributions to Arctic international cooperation by analyzing the practice of government, industry, and academia over the past decade since the formulation of its first-ever Arctic policy, Japan’s Arctic Policy in 2015. It also seeks to provide suggestions for the next decade. The publication process took more than six months, with the cooperation of many international and domestic experts and practitioners. In September 2024, a workshop was held at Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi, Finland, and a seminar was conducted at the 17th Polar Law Symposium in Östersund, Sweden, where the authors and international experts exchanged views on the implementation of Japan’s Arctic Policy (for details, please see the relevant information below). Additionally, in November 2024, a workshop was held in Japan to collect inputs and information from relevant domestic stakeholders. Although this Policy Brief owes to the discussion in those workshops, it is published under the responsibility of its authors. We extend our sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to the discussion.

This Policy Brief consists of six chapters. Following Chapter 1, "Introduction", Chapter 2 "Engagement through Research and Development" evaluates Japan’s contributions to Arctic international cooperation through research and development in terms of the concept of science diplomacy. It also identifies Japan’s contributions to and challenges regarding the Arctic Council and other multilateral and bilateral frameworks. Chapter 3 "Engagement through the Rule of Law" examines three key themes: the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement, collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, and environmental protection, highlighting achievements and future challenges from the perspective of the rule of law. Chapter 4 "Sustainable Use" discusses Japan’s practices and challenges in utilizing the Arctic Sea route and resource development. It also explores emerging fields such as tourism and the blue economy. Chapter 5 "The Arctic: Amidst Historical Power Balance Changes" examines the impact of geopolitical changes, symbolized by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on Arctic security and the Arctic Council, as well as Japan’s responses to these changes.

Editors：

Medy Dervovic, Ph.D. Candidate, Reykjavík University, Iceland
Osamu Inagaki, Researcher, Kobe University; ArCS II Research Program on International Law
Akiho Shibata, Professor, Kobe University; Principal Investigator, ArCS II Research Program on International Law
Kentaro Nishimoto, Professor, NIPR/Tohoku University; Research Director, ArCS II Strategic Goal 4

<Relevant Information>
■The summary of the discussion in Rovaniemi Workshop Fumika Iwama, Osamu Inagaki, Maiko Raita and Medy Dervovic, “Review of Japan’s Arctic Policy 2015–25: A Report of the Rovaniemi Workshop and the 17th Polar Law Symposium,” Current Development in Arctic Law, Vol. 12, (2024), pp. 83-89. <https://lauda.ulapland.fi/handle/10024/66259>

■ArCS II International Law Research Program Briefing Paper Series
<https://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/gsics-pcrc/arctic/press_release/briefing_papers.html>