Examining the Factors that Contribute to U.S.-Japan Relations

今年，继续前两年的研究，该小组审查了美国的国内，国际和双边方面。日本关系，并举行了多次学习会议，并单独发表了我们的研究成果，因为我们准备完成我们的书150年的美国-日本关系。在前一年的基础上，我们定期举办学习会，包括两次静修，用几天时间讨论彼此的工作，并邀请外部演讲者。我们正在进行的150年历史项目决定继续采用"十年"方法，将关系分为10年进行深入分析。美国和日本的决策过程都受到了同样详细的研究。每十年指派两名研究人员，从日本和美国的角度研究这一时期和关系。我们邀请了外部专家为我们的演讲和章节提供反馈和见解。我们赞助了两次务虚会，一次是在2006年7月19日至22日，另一次是在2007年1月5日至7日。在这两次务虚会期间，共作了15次以上的专题介绍，并有同样多的讨论时间和反馈时间。通过这种交流，我们对构成美日关系的国际、双边和国内问题的理解得到了极大的提高。我们已经将我们的书《美日关系150年》（日文版）中的相关章节提交给获奖出版商Yuhikaku，预计2008年初出版。

This year, continuing the previous two years of research, the group examined the domestic, international, and bilateral aspects of the U.S.-Japan relationship, and held numerous study meetings and individually published our research findings, as we prepared for the completion of our book on 150 years of U.S.-Japan relations.Building on the work done the year before, we regularly held study sessions including two retreats where we spent several days discussing each other's work and inviting outside speakers to come in.The 150-year history project we are working on decided to continue to employ the "decade" approach, looking at the relationship by separating it into 10-year periods for intense analysis. Both the U.S. and Japan decision-making processes were looked at, in equal detail. Two researchers were assigned for each decade, looking at the period and relationship from Japanese and U.S. perspectives. Outside experts were brought in to provide feedback and insights on our respective presentations and chapters.We sponsored two retreats, one from July 19-22, 2006, and the other from January 5-7, 2007. Over the course of the two retreats, more than 15 presentations were made and an equal number of discussion periods and time for feedback. Our understanding of the international, bilateral, and domestic issues making up the relationship grew tremendously due to this interaction.We have submitted our respective chapters for our book tentatively titled 150 Years of U.S-Japan Relations (in Japanese) to the award-winning publisher, Yuhikaku, and expect it out in early 2008.