BBL Seminars

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RIETI's periodic Brown Bag Lunch (BBL) seminars welcome an array of guest experts to share their research and views. The sessions encourage lively discussion that contributes to dynamic policy-related debate.
Select transcripts and handouts are available below.
Videos of the seminars are published on RIETI’s official YouTube channel, “rietichannel,” after each event.

Past BBL Seminars Reports and Summaries

  • March 19, 2026

    Challenges in the Medical Field: Female physician career choice and the wage gap

    • Speaker: USUI Emiko (Professor, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University)
    • Commentator: YAMAGUCHI Kazuo (Visiting Fellow, RIETI / Ralph Lewis Professor of Sociology, University of Chicago)
    • Moderator: SAKAI Yoshimasa (Director of PR Strategy, RIETI)

    Japanese

  • March 17, 2026

    Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai Series

    A Society Where Discarded Electricity and CO2 Become Fuel: A new form of social infrastructure, the "Regional CO2 Loop," which recycles unused renewable energy, CO2, waste, and hydrogen

    • Speaker: MITSUYAMA Masahiro (CEO, Sustainable Energy inc.)
    • Speaker: President MIDORIKAWA (CEO, PROTON SYSTEM CO., LTD.)
    • Commentator: KASHIWAGI Takao (Emeritus professor, Institute of Science Tokyo)
    • Moderator: SAKAI Yoshimasa (Director of PR Strategy, RIETI)

    Japanese

  • March 13, 2026

    Economic Security Implementation Know-How from a Corporate Perspective: Department-specific responses

    • Speaker: TAGAMI Eiki (Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG))
    • Commentator: INOUE Seiichiro (Vice Chairman, RIETI)
    • Moderator: SAKAI Yoshimasa (Director of PR Strategy, RIETI)

    Japanese

  • March 11, 2026

    RIETI-NEDO Joint BBL Seminar Series: Emerging Industry Frontiers and Pioneering Innovation

    Digital KANSEI as a New Foundation for Value Creation - Case studies in digital haptics & experience R&D -

    • Speaker: KURITA Yuichi (Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University)
    • Speaker: TANABE Takefumi (Director General, Technology and Innovation Strategy Center (TSC), New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO))
    • Moderator: YOKOI Kazuhito (Director General of Digital Unit, Technology and Innovation Strategy Center (TSC), New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO))

    Japanese

  • March 6, 2026

    Demographic Change and Korea’s Growth Prospects: The Role of AI and Human Capital

  • February 27, 2026

    Follow FDI: Production Networks and the Geography of Globalization

  • February 26, 2026

    Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai Series

    How XR-Based Digital Expression and the SBNR Economy Are Transforming Tourism and Regional Revitalization: Toward an era of digital experiences, meaningful connection, and shared understanding

    • Speaker: KOSHIBA Keiichi (CEO, G1 company Inc. / Visiting Fellow, Center for Tourism Research, Wakayama University)
    • Speaker: MAKI Takahiro (Co-CEO, SIGNING Ltd.)
    • Commentator & Moderator: SAKAI Yoshimasa (Director of PR Strategy, RIETI)

    Japanese

  • February 25, 2026

    Economic Analysis of Carbon Pricing in Japan: The GX-ETS scheme with an economic perspective

    • Speaker: ARIMURA Toshihide (Faculty Fellow, RIETI / Professor, School of Political Science and Economics and Director, Research Institute for Environmental Economics and Management, Waseda University)
    • Commentator: WAKABAYASHI Nobuyoshi (Director, Environmental Economy Office, GX Policy Group, METI)
    • Moderator: SEKIGUCHI Yoichi (Director of Research and Senior Fellow, RIETI)

    Japanese

  • February 19, 2026

    Economic Growth Strategy and Productivity: Key issues

    • Speaker: MORIKAWA Masayuki (Distinguished Senior Fellow (specially appointed), RIETI / President, Economic Research Institute, Japan Society for the Promotion of Machine Industry)
    • Commentator: INOUE Seiichiro (Vice Chairman, RIETI)
    • Moderator: SAKAI Yoshimasa (Director of PR Strategy, RIETI)

    Japanese

  • February 18, 2026

    Rising Geopolitical Risks and Foreign Direct Investment

    • Speaker: MATSUURA Toshiyuki (Faculty Fellow, RIETI / Professor, Keio Economic Observatory)
    • Commentator: YODA Keiji (Director, Policy Planning and Research Office, Trade Policy Bureau, METI)
    • Moderator: SAKAI Yoshimasa (Director of PR Strategy, RIETI)

    Japanese