On Friday, June 26, 2026, the opening ceremony for the "Center for International Criminal Justice" (also serving as the International Criminal Court (ICC) Asia-Pacific Academic Network Office) was held at the Keio University Mita Campus.
This center was established within the Faculty of Law as a hub for research, education, and dialogue to support the development of international criminal justice in the Asia-Pacific region. Its launch marks an important step in further strengthening academic cooperation in international criminal justice within this region.
Keio University and the ICC have engaged in ongoing research and educational exchanges, primarily through the Faculty of Law, the Graduate School of Law, and the Law School. In June 2024, an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was concluded on the occasion of a lecture at Keio University by ICC President Tomoko Akane. In November 2025, the 1st ICC Asia-Pacific Academic Forum was held at the Mita Campus, with participation from 10 universities in Japan, South Korea, and Mongolia. During this forum, it was agreed that Keio University would serve as the ICC Focal Point (coordinator) for all universities in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. As the culmination of these years of exchange, this center will function as the secretariat for the partner university network and coordinate forums, related academic events, and educational programs.
As the environment surrounding the ICC becomes increasingly challenging, the importance of maintaining a space for academic dialogue independent of specific nations or political positions is growing. Under Keio University's founding spirit of "independence and self-respect," this center aims to contribute to the sound development of international criminal justice while maintaining academic independence, and to become a "hub of knowledge" that nurtures the future talent of international criminal justice from Japan and the Asia-Pacific.
The opening ceremony featured remarks from President Kohei Itoh, Vice-President Juro Iwatani, Gentaro Kamei (Dean of the Faculty of Law), Jun Hasebe (Director of the International Legal Affairs Division, International Legal Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Takehiko Kawabuchi (Director of the International Affairs Division, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Justice), Yoshimitsu Yamauchi (Director of the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI)), Christian Mahr (Director of the Division of External Operations, ICC), and Philipp Osten (Director of the Center for International Criminal Justice and Professor at the Faculty of Law).
With this opening as a catalyst, it is expected that dialogue surrounding international criminal justice will be further promoted and academic engagement in the Asia-Pacific region will deepen.
Photography: Fumihito Morioka