| Speaker: | Kenzo FUJISUE, Ph.D, Member of Japanese House of Councillors (Upper House) | |
| When: | April 29, 2019, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | |
| Where: | Engineering Building, Room 4705 | |
Japanese-US collaboration on cybersecurity and cyber resilience is becoming increasingly important, not only due to the size and technological sophistication of our economies, but also because of international competition in cyberspace. This is a rare opportunity to interact directly with an influential member of Japan's Upper House who is passionately interested in cyber resilience issues and technically qualified to speak on them. Dr. Fujisue will discuss why he feels that cyber resilience (the ability to take damage and keep on operating) is a stronger approach in today's environment than cybersecurity (trying to prevent damage from happening) and how he's trying to change Japanese thinking in this area. This will be particularly important as Japan transitions to "Society 5.0," which the Japanese government defines as "the advanced fusion of cyberspace and physical space to balance economic advancement with the resolution of social problems and to bring about a human-centered society." Japan's cybersecurity policy has been evolving in preparation for "Society 5.0," to include a number of important laws, regulations and organizations. However, there still is room for improvement, and especially for more effective implementation of existing guidance and increased awareness of the importance of the topic. He also will address US-Japan security cooperation in cyberspace and the cyber defense of Japan. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics can provide a powerful incentive to (1) increase the cyber security awareness of the Japanese people, (2) establish a stronger culture of cyber security, and (3) shift Japan's policy from cyber security to cyber resilience (which he has discussed with representatives from GMU).
Japanese Member of the House of Councillors (Upper House), Kenzo FUJISUE, was born in 1964 in Kumamoto Prefecture. He received a degree in Computer Science from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1986, an MS in Management of Technology from MIT in 1995, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard in 1996, a PhD in Industrial Management from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1999, and a PhD in International Relations from Waseda University in 2013. From 1986 to 1999 he served in what is now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and was Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo in 1999. Elected to the Diet in 2004, 2010 and 2016, he is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and Voice of The People. His current responsibilities in the House of Councilors (as of February 16,2019), include: Committee on Financial Affairs, Committee on Audit, Special Committee on North Korean Abduction Issue and Related Matters, and the Commission on the Constitution. He is passionately interested in cyber issues and would like to become Japan's Cyber Minister some day. His English is excellent.