Emperor Akihito’s plans to abdicate have resulted in a lot of discussion around the world. It has been 200 years since a Japanese emperor last chose abdication. What kind of social, political, and legal consequences might this have? This also brings up the discussion of the past, present, and future role of the imperial family in general.
Two speakers will provide their views on these questions.
About the speakers
Kenji Okano-Heijmans is a lawyer for Buren N.V. and is responsible for coordinating the legal services to Japanese companies on the European market. He studied at Waseda University in Tokyo, and also has law degrees from Erasmus University and Leiden University. He will talk about the legal and constitutional implications with regard to the emperor abdicating his throne.
Margarita Winkel is a lecturer an the Leiden Institute of Area Studies (LIAS), focusing on Japan. She teaches cultural anthropology. Her main interest lies in the way popular media interact with changing lifestyles and how these media reflect novel ideas and conditions in contemporary society. She will share her perspective on the social and historical context of Emperor Akihito’s abdication.
For more detailed information about the speakers and updates about the programme, please follow our Facebook-event page, where you can also share your attendance. The event takes place at the Koorenhuis in the city center (close to Grote Markt). Please note our new starting time!
- When: Wednesday, September 27
- Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm (speakers will start around 7:30pm)
- Where: Koorenhuis, Prinsegracht 27, Den Haag
- What: Informal networking with two short presentations and Q&A
- Who: Anyone with a (business) interest in Japan
About the Japan Open Café
The Japan Open Café welcomes everybody with an interest in Japan! Our goal is to establish an informal platform for people who occupy themselves with Japan in any way, whether for business or out of personal interest. We wish to provide the opportunity to connect, share knowledge, and discuss ideas with individuals from different fields and various backgrounds.