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

今年，该小组继续前两年的研究，研究了美日关系的国内、国际和双边方面，并举行了多次研究会议，并单独发表了我们的研究结果，为完成我们的《美日关系150年》一书做准备。在前一年所做的工作的基础上，我们定期举行学习会议，包括两次闭关，在那里我们花了几天的时间讨论彼此的工作，并邀请外部演讲者进来。我们正在进行的150年历史项目决定继续采用“十年”方法，通过将其分为10年进行深入分析来研究这种关系。对美国和日本的决策过程进行了同等详细的研究。每十年派两名研究人员，从日本和美国的角度研究这段时期及其关系。我们请来了外部专家，为我们各自的演讲和章节提供反馈和见解。我们赞助了两次静修，一次是2006年7月19日至22日，另一次是2007年1月5日至7日。在两次务虚会期间，进行了15次以上的演讲，并有相同数量的讨论时间和反馈时间。由于这种互动，我们对构成两国关系的国际、双边和国内问题的理解得到了极大的发展。我们已经将各自的章节暂定名为《美日关系150年》（日文），提交给获奖出版社Yuhikaku，预计将于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.