JENESYS Alumni Event: Maritime Safety and Rule of Law, Energy, and Climate Change

JENESYS 2026 · Online Japan-Visit Advanced Program

Day 1: Energy & Climate Change

7 September 2026 · Organized by the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE)

I had the privilege of attending Day 1 of the JENESYS Alumni Event, an online session bringing together ASEAN alumni around the timely theme of Maritime Safety and Rule of Law, Energy & Climate Change. The day opened with a compelling lecture from a University of Tokyo scholar on the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision and the rule of law at sea — a fitting reminder of how legal frameworks and environmental stewardship are deeply intertwined in our region's shared future.

📍 Kentaro Nishimoto's lecture, "The Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Vision and the Rule of Law at Sea"

It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni and meet scholars and professionals from across Southeast Asia. Breakout sessions like the Group B orientation let us put faces to names from Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Indonesia, and beyond — a genuine reminder of how wide and warm the JENESYS family has grown.

📍 Group B Orientation — meeting JICE staff and fellow alumni

One of the most engaging parts of the day was the case study on the Strait of Hormuz, which unpacked how international law — particularly UNCLOS — serves as common ground even between states with sharply different positions. It was a sharp illustration that legal frameworks don't automatically resolve disputes, but they do give everyone a shared vocabulary to work from — the same spirit of dialogue and cooperation that underpins climate and energy diplomacy.

📍 Case study: Strait of Hormuz and the limits of international law

"From Japan to Southeast Asia, we continue to build bridges for a more sustainable future."

📍 Day 1 recap — 7 September 2026

📍 Together again — JENESYS 2026 alumni, Day 1

The discussions, shared experiences, and diverse perspectives on energy and climate change made the event both meaningful and inspiring. Grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, and strengthen friendships beyond borders.

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