Polar Cooperation Research Centre (PCRC), Kobe University

Kobe PCRC is proud to organize the 2026 Antarctic Governance Seminar Trail: From Hiroshima, Awaji to Kobe, three events prior and after the Hiroshima ATCM/CEP (May 11-21, 2026). Each event will have its distinct audience and merits, so please access the dedicated webpage to check the details. Those interested to attend should pre-register their interest by the end of February 2026. Kobe PCRC is also convening a 100-day prior to ATCM public symposium in Hiroshima (language Japanese only) on February 11, and its registration has started.

On 22-24 October in Nuuk, Greenland, the 18th Polar Law Symposium will be held, with Director Shibata moderating one plenary session and one breakout session on Ice Governance led by Associate Professor Miharu Hirano, and being a panelist in the final plenary session on Asia and International Polar Law. Dr. Osamu Inagaki will be leading one breakout session on Antarctic Air Tourism and making a presentation on CAO Fisheries Agreement. Please refer to the exciting final program. Please refer to a brief report by a participating researcher (updated November 25).

On October 9, Kobe PCRC is delighted to welcome two diplomats visiting us from the Embassy of Canada to Japan in Tokyo. One of them, Ms Christine Guilbault will talk on Canada's Arctic Foreign Policy launced in December 2024. For the details, please refer to the flyer.

Kobe PCRC and Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) have been co-organizing Antarctic governance workshops annually since 2023, previously in Kobe, Japan. This time, KOPRI will host its third meeting in Incheon, Korea, on September 15, entitled “Antarctic Treaty at a Crossroad: Navigating Change through Cooperation”. This event will be convened as a JSPS Core-to-Core Program seminar, with its participating researchers as panelists from Kobe University, The University of Tokyo (guest), UTAS, University of Wollongong, KOPRI, Yonsei University, and Ocean University of China. A brief report with photos by Ms Vivanco, GSICS LL.M., is now available.

The Elgar's Concise Encyclopedia of Polar Law (2025) will　be one of the most authoritative and essential resources for students and scholars in this area of law. Four entries have been contributed by the PCRC members. "ATCMs" by Akiho Shibata and Zia Madani; "Arctic Science Cooperation Agreement" by Osamu Inagaki and Akiho Shibata; "CITES" by Nikolas Sellheim and Akiho Shibata; and "Japan" by Akiho Shibata.