Professor Akira Kotera of the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, who had made significant contributions to the development of research at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) since its foundation in 2001, passed away on February 10, 2014 at the age of 61. We would like to express our heartfelt sorrow over his passing and offer our sincere prayers for the reposition of his soul.
Professor Kotera's interests encompassed a broad array of international law topics. At RIETI, his tremendous achievements were particularly in the area of international economic law mainly for trade and investment. He was interested in the regime of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from the time of its inauguration in 1995. His interests and insights were embodied into some of RIETI's key research projects, including those to explore the limitations of the WTO regime, which remains stuck in the stagnation of the Doha Round, and examine the legal relationships between the WTO laws and laws governing other policy areas (the environment, culture, taxation, etc.). Findings from those research projects have been delivered in the forms of highly regarded books and discussion papers.
In tandem with a shift in Japan's trade policy to put greater focus on regional trade agreements such as economic partnership agreements (EPAs) and free trade agreements (FTAs), Professor Kotera tirelessly advocated the significance and importance of such regional initiatives at RIETI as a platform for communicating and disseminating ideas and information. Professor Kotera was a vocal proponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and actively spoke out, including in media interviews and symposiums, for Japan's participation in the ongoing TPP negotiations, which remains fresh in our memories.
More recently, Professor Kotera spearheaded research in international investment law, which is still in its nascent stage in Japan, literally as a pioneer in this field of study. At RIETI, he led two research projects on international trade law, one from fiscal 2006 through 2010 and another from fiscal 2011 onward. The projects, which involved sorting out and examining numerous bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and numerous investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) cases under such treaties, have culminated in the publication of books and discussion papers that provide in-depth analysis from various angles. Those works will definitely serve as a standard reference for Japanese researchers in the field of international investment law study.
While keeping in mind that the theoretical framework that must be adhered to in order to be considered as a viable academic pursuit, he also valued practitioners' viewpoints, always paying respect to the thoughts of those at the forefront of policymaking. This is exactly why Professor Kotera came to be trusted incredibly as an advisor for the government through his participation in numerous advisory councils and policy study groups, which eloquently shows how indispensable he was to RIETI, a policy research forum.
This page was created to show our gratitude to Professor Kotera for his contribution and commemorate the legacy of the virtue he left to us by introducing his research activities at RIETI.
Research Projects
Programs (2011-2015)
Policy Research Domains (2006-2010)
Major Common Themes: 2005
Major Common Themes: 2004
Papers
RIETI Discussion Papers
- January 2014 14-J-007
"General Exception Clauses in International Investment Agreements Concluded by Japan" - January 2014 14-J-006
"Non-Pecuniary Remedies in Investment Treaty Arbitration" - March 2011 11-J-036
"The Significance and Problems of Tax Treaty Arbitration: An analysis of the new Japan-Netherlands tax treaty" - June 2008 08-J-026
"'Fair and Equitable Treatment' in Investment Treaties: Function of general provisions" - March 2007 07-E-017
"On the Comparison of Safeguard Mechanisms of Free Trade Agreements" - April 2006 06-J-026
"Transparency and International Investment Treaties - Definition and responses" - June 2005 05-J-021
"New Developments on Investor-Versus-State Arbitration and their Implications: Impact of 'Legalization' of Investment Treaties" - January 2005 05-J-001
"The GATS Structure Relating to Telecommunications Services - WTO Panel Report on the U.S.-Mexico Telecommunications Dispute: Impact and Issues"
RIETI Policy Discussion Papers
Publications
RIETI Books
- April 2010
International Investment Agreement: Legal protection through arbitration - December 2009
The Future of the Multilateral Trading System: East Asian Perspectives
Economic Policy Analysis Series
Events
Symposium
- June 7, 2012
RIETI-JETRO Symposium "Global Governance in Trade and Investment Regime - For Protecting Free Trade -" - July 22, 2005
RIETI Policy Symposium "Prospects for the Doha Round -Major Challenges in the Multilateral Trading System and their Implications for Japan-"
BBL Seminars
- April 21, 2006
"The Olympic Arbitration and Contemporary Sports World" - October 3, 2003
"Sports Arbitration and its Development - Global Relationships and History"
Research Seminar
- July 10, 2003
"Legalization of International Economic System - Reality and Prospect"
Columns and Essays
Columns
- August 17, 2010
"Japan's Trade Policy: What is the problem?" - September 16, 2008
"Overseas Business Operations and the Government's Role: What companies should expect from the government when they suffer damages in a foreign country" - May 22, 2007
"What Conditions Must EPAs Fulfill to be Consistent with WTO Rules, and Who Decides them?" - May 23, 2006
"What is the 'Spaghetti Bowl Phenomenon' of FTAs?" - February 8, 2005
"Economic Partnership Agreements and the 'East Asian Community' — The Meaning of the Japan-Philippines EPA —" - November 18, 2003
"Accurate Understanding of FTAs is Essential! In Response to Breakup of WTO Ministerial Talks in Cancun"
Newspapers & Magazines
- February 2003 Research & Review
"WTO in Transition - The Current Status of the WTO Framework and its Future" - July 11, 2013
"Focus of the TPP Negotiations: Be aware of 'global rules'" - October 09, 2012
"Don't Rush in Dealing with Territorial Issues" - June 21, 2012
"Shifting toward Plurilateral EPAs/FTAs: Critical to improving the efficiency of supply chain networks" - December 02, 2010
"Japan Must Act Quickly to Join the TPP Negotiations to Find a Realistic Solution" - October 09, 2007
"Fuel Supply Operations Need No U.N. Resolution - Japan should make independent decisions" - June 06, 2007
"Integration of East Asia: Non-economic benefits deserve greater attention" - March 16, 2004
"With Asia, Japan Leads"
Keizai Sangyo Journal
Nihon Keizai Shimbun
Other contents
Policy Update
- December 20, 2006
No. 029 RIETI Policy Dialogue Series: Part One
"Challenges and Prospects for Resumption of DDA Negotiations" - July 7, 2005
No. 018 Pre-event Interview No.4
"Institutionalization of International Relations in the Era of Globalization"