From right to left, Yuji Uesugi, Hideki Hayashi, Sukehiro Hasegawa, Yasunobu Sato and Ken Inoue

　The inaugural session of the Heiwa Kochiku Kenkyu Kai (H3K – Peacebuilding Research Group) was held at Hosei University on April 20^th. The group is led under the direction of Special Advisor to the President of Timor-Leste, Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa, and managed by students and professionals in and around the Tokyo area.

　Aiming to broaden their own understandings of peacebuilding and share their learning with the wider world, the group has decided to hold both study sessions led by students and seminars with prominent guest speakers.

　The first session held on 20 April was divided into two subjects. In the first, Professor Yasunobu Sato of Tokyo University’s Graduate School spoke on the issue of human security. Mr. Sato explained the multifaceted nature of the field, which encompasses a vast range of issues from protection from diseases to disasters. Mr. Shogo Yoshida, who serves as the group’s Secretary General, also spoke on the writings of scholars in this important field. In the second session, Mr. Hideki Hayashi of the Japan Peacekeeping Training & Research Center of the Joint Staff College, and Associate Professor Yuji Uesugi of Waseda University shared their perspectives on the protection of civilians within United Nations peacekeeping missions. Both sessions allowed for members to present questions and engage in discussion.

(Jason Pratt)

Professor Yasunobu Sato Graduate Programme on Human Security, University of Tokyo	Professor Hasegawa, Visiting Professor of Hosei and UN University, with Professor Yasunobu Sato and Captain Hideki Hayashi of the Ministry of Defense
Mr. Ken Inoue, former UNMIT Director and Chief Governance Advisor	Ms. Ryoko Iizuka, former staff UNDP Myanmar Office and Mr. Shogo Yoshida, Hosei University	Captain Hideki Hayashi, International Peace Cooperation Center, Joint Staff College, Ministry of Defense
Ms. Seiko Toyama, Programme Adviser Secretariat International Peace Cooperation Headquarters, Cabinet Office and Mr. Michiharu Honda, Secretary for Policy Affairs to Member of the House of Representative, the Diet of Japan	Mr. Norimasa Tochibayashi, former Programme Adviser International Peace Cooperation Office, Professor Eiji Oyamada, Doshisha University, and Mr. Ken Inoue, former UNMIT official	Associate Professor Yuji Uesugi, Waseda University speaking and Captain Hayashi in the background