The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is hosting a roundtable discussion on Canada-Japan strategic relations with Japan’s Former Minister of Justice, Hideki Makihara.
This timely discussion with Mr. Makihara, a distinguished voice on Japan’s foreign and economic policy, we explore how U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade measures have reshaped the global economic order. We’ll examine the implications for Japan, including economic security and supply chain resilience, and discuss how Japan is adapting to shifts in U.S. foreign policy and relations with allies, such as Canada.
The discussion will also touch on Japan’s perspective on the G7 and the growing importance of a robust Japan-Canada strategic partnership in today’s uncertain geopolitical landscape.
About Hideki Makihara
Hideki Makihara is a Japanese politician and legal expert, and a founder of Dream Platform, who served as the Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba first administration in 2024.
Makihara earned his LLB from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law and later pursued an LLM at Georgetown University Law Center. He is also a licensed attorney in New York. His career began in 2003 at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), working in the Multilateral Trade System Department of the Trade Policy Bureau.
In 2005, Makihara entered politics, winning a seat in the House of Representatives as the representative for Saitama Prefecture’s 5th district. Over the years, he has held numerous key positions within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japanese government. His appointments include Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Environment (2013), Deputy Secretary-General of the LDP (2014), and Director of the LDP Youth Division (2015). He has also been Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (2017), Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Cabinet (2018), and Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (2019).
Beyond politics, in 2024, he founded and became CEO of Dream Platform. His leadership continues to influence Japan’s legal, economic, and environmental policies, reflecting his diverse expertise in governance, law, and business.
