JPC Activities & Events 2022

From 28 November to 18 December, 2022, Lieutenant Col MIYAMOTO Ayako, research officer of the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC), participated in the Female Military Officers Course (FMOC) at the Kenya International Peace Support Training Centre (Kenya IPSTC) located in the city of Nairobi, Kenya.
　This course was designed to provide the participants with an understanding of the roles required in PKO missions and the required knowledge to fulfill those roles, in order to prepare them for future deployments and to achieve the UN Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy goal which increases the number of women’s participation in missions. 38 trainees from 35 countries participated in the two-week course.
　In the lectures, participants learned about mission headquarters and the role of women in Protection of Civilians, and through group working with participants from other countries, she obtained the knowledge about the role of women in missions and how to be proactively involved in missions.
　The JPC will reflect the best practices from this course in the center’s training and research.

From November 7 to 18, 2022, Lieutenant Col MIYAMOTO Ayako, an research officer at the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC), participated as an instructor in the United Nations Protection of Civilian Course (UNPOCC) at the Kazakhstan Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAZCENT) located in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan.
　The purpose of this course is to provide concept of the Protection of Civilians (POC) for military personnel who will be deployed in PKO missions in the future as staff officers, military observers, and staffs in troops in order to prepare for their following deployments. Lieutenant Col MIYAMOTO participating as an instructor with request of Kazakhstan,25 trainees from other countries attended at a two-week training program.
　In this course, Lieutenant Col MIYAMOTO gave lectures on initiatives for the POC based on her experiences in the UNMISS, and exchanged various perspective by discussions and group exercise with other instructors and participants. She could share her knowledge accumulated through the experiences and work at the JPC.
　The JPC will reflect the results from this course in our center’s training and research.

From November 7 to 25, 2022, Lieutenant Commander OKUDA Tetsuya, research officer at the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC), participated in the United Nations Staff Officers Course (UNSOC) at the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre (SWEDINT) located about forty kilometers northwest of Stockholm, the capital of Kingdom of Sweden.
　The course was designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a military staff in UN PKO Force/Sector Headquarters. About thirty participants met in one place for three weeks, who came from such various countries as of Europe and Africa.
　Students learned about the general idea about UN PKO and the roles of military staffs at the Headquarters, and also were able to expand their knowledge and perspectives they could not have gained in their own countries, in discussing and executing group work with participants of the other courses that ran concurrently, the United Nations Police Integrated Mission Training (UNPMT) and the United Nations Civilian Staff Officer Course (UNCIVSOC).
　Participation in this program was also meaningful in view of resuming the exchanges with other countries after the COVID-19.
　The JPC will reflect the results from this course in the center’s training and research efforts.

On December 2, 2022, International Peace Support Training Center(IPSTC) of Kenya, Brigadier Joyce C Sitienei visited the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC.)
　During the visit, Col. Arima, Chief training and research office gave a presentation on the outline of the center, which was followed by opinion exchange on training courses.
　In the opinion exchange, Brigadier Joyce C Sitienei mentioned the importance of exchange between the two countries in training related to international peace cooperation activities, and future development.
　The JPC will continue reflecting the results to be gained from such exchange in its training and research.

On December 2, LTC Leigh Scott Crawford, Commanding Officer for the ADF Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC), visited the JPC.
　The JPC’s Chief Training and Research Officer Col. ARIMA briefed him on the summary of the JPC activities and LTC Crawford briefed on the training in POTC.
　In the opinion exchange, both countries shared the current situation and challenges of the training and research activities on the international peace operations and expressed hope for deepened ties between the educational organizations in two countries through exchanges such as seminars and symposiums.
　We will reflect the outcomes of these exchanges in the future JPC’s training and research efforts.

On November 16, 2022, the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC) held the 3^rd Peace Operation Workshop of FY 2022.
　This workshop is aimed at acquiring knowledge necessary for education and Research on international peacekeeping operations. Dr. HONDA, Senior Researcher of the Canon Institute for Global Studies joined us online as a lecturer for this Workshop, which was held under the theme of Looking Back on the 30 years of Japan’s International Peace Cooperation.
　The workshop was held both online and in-person with the participants from JPC, Secretariat of the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters (Cabinet Office), Foreign Policy Bureau (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Joint Staff, and International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit (GSDF), and UNMISS.
　In the workshop, Dr. HONDA gave lectures based on their extensive research achievements, followed by active questions, and exchanged opinions among the participants regarding future initiatives for international peace cooperation.
　The JPC will continue to improve the quality of its training and research through workshops.

From October 31 to November 4, 2022, Colonel TAKEKUMA Koichi, GSDF, Director of Japan Peacekeeping and Training and Research Center (JPC) and Major HARA Yasushi, GSDF, research officer of JPC, participated in the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres（IAPTC） annual conference in Bangladesh.
　IAPTC is an association of centers, institutions, agencies, and programs dealing with peace operations research, education, and training, and was established in July 1995 to contribute to more effective peace operations through promoting a better understanding of peacekeeping, and to facilitate communication between organizations and people related peacekeeping matters. Approximately 240 participants from centers and institutions handling research and education and training on peace operations in 52 countries attended the conference this year.
　At the conference, we acquired information through various lectures, and exchanged viewpoints and ideas on the current opportunities and challenges of the PKO between other training centers and people.
　JPC will utilize the outputs from the conference for our future training and research.

Deputy Chief of the Military Policy and Planning Division, Defense General Staff of the Italian MOD, Visits the JPC
　On November 2, 2022, Deputy Chief of the Military Policy and Planning Division, Defense General Staff of the Italian MOD, Brigadier　General Alessandro GRASSANO and his staff visited the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC).
　The JPC’s Chief Training and Research Officer Col. ARIMA briefed them on the summary of the JPC activities, and Maj. Stefano MANCA briefed on the Italian commitment to Peace Operations and personnel training.
　In the opinion exchange, both countries shared the current situation and challenges of the training and research activities on the international peace operations and expressed hope for deepened ties between the educational organizations in two countries through exchanges such as seminars and symposiums.
　The JPC introduced the International Peace and Security Symposium 2022 to be held on December 1, which will be open for the participants from all over the world through online.
　We will reflect the outcomes of these exchanges in the future JPC’s training and research efforts.

From August 22 to September 9, 2022, Major OGAWA Akira, research officer at the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC), participated in the United Nations Military Observer Course (UNMOC) at the Finnish Defense Forces International Centre (FINCENT) located near the capital of Finland, Helsinki.
　The course was designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to work as military observers in international peace cooperation activities. 30participants from various countries gathered for approximately 3 weeks of training
　In the course, participants learned about the procedures for conducting international peace cooperation activities, and through discussions and group work with military participants from other countries, exchanged opinions from various perspectives, etc.,and were able to expand their knowledge and perspectives that they could not have gained only in Japan.
　Participation in this program was also meaningful from the perspective of exchanges with other countries, which had been stagnant in the Corona Disaster.
　The JPC will reflect the results from this course in the center’s training and research efforts.

Dr. Philip Shetler-Jones, the European Union’s Enhancing Security Cooperation in and with Asia (ESIWA) project manager, visited the JPC on September 13, 2022.
　The visit was a follow-up to the online meeting held last year. After the meeting with the Director of the JPC, Col Egashira gave an overview of the JPC, follow by an exchange of views with JPC researchers and others.
　During the exchange of opinions, there was a lively exchange of views on areas of possible international peace cooperation between Japan and the EU.
　The JPC will continue to proactively interact with relevant international organizations and reflect the results in its training and research.

On July 19, 2022, the Head of Ethiopian Defence Peacekeeping Center (PKC), Brigadier General Mekonnen Asfaw and the Commandant of the Ethiopian International Peace Support Training Institute (IPSTI), Brigadier General Sebsibe Duba visited the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC).
　The JPC’s Executive Research Fellow briefed them on the JPC, and Brig.Gen. Sebsibe briefed on Ethiopia’s PKC and IPSTI, followed by opinion changes on training and research.
　In the opinion exchange, both countries shared the current situation and challenges of training and research on international peace activities and expressed the hope for deepened ties between the two countries through exchanges including Ethiopia’s seminar and JPC’s symposium.
　The JPC will reflect the results from these exchanges in the JPC’s training and research efforts.

On June 28, 2022, the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC Director: Colonel OSADA Eiichiro, GSDF) held the 2^nd Peace Operation Workshop of FY 2022.
　This workshop is aimed at acquiring knowledge necessary for education and research on international peacekeeping operations. This time it was themed on “The Invaluable Experience and Benefits of working at United Nations Headquarters” and one of our researchers, Colonel ARAI Nobuhiro, GSDF, the former Military Planning Officer, Office of Military Affairs, UN DPO (Department of Peace Operations) (-April 2022) gave a lecture on it.
　The workshop was held both online and in-person with the participants from JPC, Secretariat of the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters (Cabinet Office), Foreign Policy Bureau (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Internal Bureau (Ministry of Defense), Joint Staff, and International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit (GSDF). After his invaluable lecture, the participants asked him questions and exchanged opinions on future challenges in frank and open discussions.
　The JPC will continue to improve the quality of its training and research through workshops.

On June 23, 2022, Colonel ARAI Nobuhiro, GSDF, research officer of Japan Peacekeeping and Training and Research Center (JPC) was invited as a guest lecture by the Faculty of Global Communications, Toyo Gakuen University.
　The lecture was themed on “The International Peace Cooperation by MOD/SDF and Working at the United Nations Headquarters” and COL ARAI briefed about the international peace cooperation activities by the SDF, its overview, and his working experience at the UN headquarters.
　Some students who are interested in the SDF supported the shooting of the lecture. COL ARAI gave a lecture based on requests from the university. After the shooting, the students asked COL ARAI some questions about the international peace cooperation activities by the SDF and his working experience at the UN.
　The university distributed the recorded lecture to the students to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
　The JPC will make efforts in the education and the research of the international peace cooperation.

From May 17 to 19, 2022, Colonel OSADA Eiichiro, GSDF, Director of Japan Peacekeeping and Training and Research Center (JPC) and Major OGAWA Akira, GSDF, research officer of JPC, visited German Armed Forces United Nations Training Centre (DEU UN TC) in Hammelburg, Germany, with the aim to observe the education and training of foreign armed forces and exchange opinions with them.
　During the visit, COL OSADA and MAJ OGAWA were briefed on the overview of the DEU UN TC, observed the trainings, and exchanged opinions with Commander of DEU CN TC. They recognized the importance of strengthening the cooperation in education and training between both countries’ Centers and learned a lot through observing the practical trainings and visiting training facilities. Furthermore, they also recognized the importance of education through exchanging the views with the German graduate of the JPC’s training course.
　The JPC will reflect the results from this visit in the JPC’s training and research efforts.

From May 2 to 6, 2022, Lieutenant Colonel ARAKI Junko, research officer at the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC), participated in the Peacekeeping-Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (PKISR) workshop at the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre (SWEDINT).
　The United Nations has been focusing on PKISR recently and the workshop was held in-person for the first time. During this workshop, LTC ARAKI learned about the basic principles of PKISR and she discussed the future challenges in PKISR and the lessons learned with the participants form UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO), Department of Operational Support (DOS), PKO personnel and working-level staffs of member states.
　The workshop was also held online and Lieutenant Colonel AWAJI Daisuke, research officer at the JPC, participated in it from Japan. It had 20 in-person and 20 online participants from member states and PKO missions and which shows each member state’s strong interest in PKISR.
　It was a significant benefit for the JPC to expand personal network with UN staff and member state’s military personnel through the workshop. The JPC will reflect the results from this workshop in the JPC’s training and research efforts.

On April 14, 2022, the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC Director: Colonel OSADA Eiichiro, GSDF) held the 1^st Peace Operation Workshop of FY 2022, inviting as a lecture, Ms. MASTUZAWA Tomoko of Director, Defense Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region, Defense Policy Bureau, MOD & Co-chair of ADMM-Plus^* PKO Experts Group.
　This workshop is aimed at acquiring knowledge necessary for education and research on international peacekeeping operations, and was themed on “The Trends of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in PKO” this time. The workshop was held both online and in-person with the participants from JPC, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint Staff, International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit (GSDF), United Nations in New York, and UNMISS.
　In the workshop, the lecturer briefed on the trends of WPS in PKO, MOD’s recent efforts and challenges in this field with her extensive experience. Also, the participants exchanged opinions on future challenges in frank and open discussions.
　The JPC will continue to improve the quality of its training and research through workshops.

^*ADMM Plus･･･ADMM (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting) Plus

On March 4, 2022, the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC, Director: Col. OSADA Eiichiro) held the 4^th Peace Operation Workshop of FY2021, inviting as the lecturer, Major KANETSUKA Tomonari of the Ground Component Command who had been dispatched to United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) on the 12th deployment.
　This workshop is aimed at acquiring knowledge necessary for research on international peacekeeping operations, and was themed on “Request for the Center’s training based on the experience of the UNMISS staff officer” this time.
　In the workshop, the lecturer commented that the JPC’s Basic Course which he attended was really beneficial for the duty in the UNMISS headquarters. Also, he made constructive proposals and ideas for the training courses the JPC offers, and exchanged opinions on the current situation of the mission.
　The JPC periodically exchanges opinions with dispatched personnel, and will continue to improve the quality of its training and research.