Center for Space Law (SU)

Director: Kinji Akashi (Professor, Faculty of Law)

Campus: Mita

Based on a 1959 UN resolution, space law (the five UN treaties on outer space), primarily developed by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, is the international law governing outer space and its use. In light of the anticipated expansion of space activities and further promotion of related technological development and commercialization, Keio University has established an interdisciplinary, start-up research center (the Center for Space Law). This was led by a group of researchers specializing in space law (including Kinji Akashi, Professor, Faculty of Law, and Setsuko Aoki, Professor, Faculty of Policy Management) with the cooperation of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The objectives of its establishment are: (1) to address various issues through examination from a legal perspective concerning space activities, (2) to raise the standard of space law research in Japan, (3) to contribute to the training of practitioners and researchers in the field of space law, and (4) to contribute to capacity building in the field of space law in Asia.

Space Law, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Law on Space Activities

■ Implementation of the Business Plan for the Fiscal Year, Research Results, and Degree of Achievement

At the beginning of fiscal year 2013, research was planned on the following four topics:

Namely:

Certain results have been achieved for all of the above issues, and some of them are scheduled to be reported at the "4th Space Law Symposium" to be held on March 5, 2014.

The Center organized the following opportunities for research reports and lectures by invited experts:

In addition, the Center hosted the 22nd Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition Asia-Pacific Regional Round on June 1 and 2, 2013.

Furthermore, in April 2013, the "Handbook of Space Law" was published, supervised and edited by the Center.

Because the research collaboration system with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and external researchers was expanded from the previous fiscal year, other research topics were established and implemented in addition to the research activities originally planned for this fiscal year. The Center also organized various opportunities for research reports and lectures, and published the "Handbook of Space Law." Over the two years, we believe that we have achieved more than originally planned and have also been able to identify further research topics as our research has deepened.