Energy & Economic Security: The U.S. and Japan’s Strategies in a Rapidly Changing World

The energy landscape, which is crucial to our daily lives, industries and economic growth, is undergoing significant changes. Technological innovations are accelerating the transition to renewable energy, yet increasing geopolitical risks are causing market instability. Additionally, the rise of AI and data centers is driving a surge in electricity demand, making energy security an urgent priority for nations. At a recent summit in Tokyo President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi affirmed their commitment to take further steps for a new golden age of the U.S.-Japan alliance. How can our two countries deepen their collaboration to address shared challenges and maximize mutual benefits? In this program, experts from both countries will explore the significance of energy and economic security, assess the current energy landscape, and highlight opportunities for deeper U.S.-Japan cooperation to secure a stable energy future.

Agenda
6:30 – 7:30pm: Discussion and Q&A 
7:30 – 8:00pm: Networking Reception

Admission 
This is a paid event with advance registration required. A designated number of tickets are available for free to our corporate members. (Corporate member code is required to register for the event. If you don’t know your corporate member code, please contact [email protected].) Please note that seating is limited and on a first come, first served basis.

Speaker Bios
Takajiro Ishikawa
President & CEO, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America;
Executive Vice President, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
In his role as President & CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America (MHIA), he leads the North American team to deliver innovative and integrated solutions that help realize carbon neutrality, improve quality of life, and ensure a safer world. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, he has expertise in both industrial and mining assets, and investment in startup technology companies. Most importantly, he is passionate about advancing the energy transition and achieving MHI’s goal to achieve net zero emissions through our entire value chain by 2040. He is a graduate of Waseda University in Tokyo and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Carolyn Kissane
Associate Dean and Clinical Professor, Center for Global Affairs, New York University
Dr. Carolyn Kissane serves as the Associate Dean of the graduate programs in Global Affairs and Global Security, Conflict, and Cybercrime at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs (CGA), where she is also a Clinical Professor. She teaches graduate-level courses on the geopolitics of energy, comparative energy politics, resource security, and climate and energy transitions. She is the Founding Director of the SPS Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab, Coordinator of the Energy and Environment concentration at CGA, and faculty adviser to the Energy Policy International Club. Kissane’s research and teaching explore the intersections of energy, policy, and security across global and regional contexts. Kissane is the author of the weekly Substack newsletter Energy Common Sense, which offers analysis and commentary on the evolving dynamics of energy, climate, and geopolitics. She is also a regular contributor to Barron’s and Project Syndicate, where her essays examine the political economy of energy, electricity demand, and global energy security. She is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the National Committee on U.S.–China Relations, a Non-Resident Fellow of the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines, a Senior Fellow at the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.–China Relations, and a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Piraeus. She serves on the boards of the New York Energy Forum, New York Energy Week, and the Clean Start Advisory Board. Dr. Kissane has been recognized as one of Breaking Energy’s Top Ten New York Women in Energy and Top Ten Energy Communicators. She received her Ph.D. from Columbia University and is the recipient of multiple NYU teaching awards, including the Excellence in Teaching Award and the SCPS Award for Teaching Excellence.

Ken Koyama
Senior Managing Director, Chief Economist, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ)
Since he joined IEEJ in 1986, Dr. Ken Koyama has held many senior positions in IEEJ, including Senior Research Fellow at the Energy Strategy Unit, general manager of Energy Strategy Department, and an honorary associate, Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy, University of Dundee. Currently, Dr. Koyama is the Senior Managing Director and Chief Economist at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ). He also serves as a Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo and as an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo. Dr. Koyama is known for his expertise in energy security issues and the geopolitics of energy. His research in the area of energy economics and the world oil and gas market has been published extensively in national and international journals and books. Dr. Koyama has also been featured in numerous broadcasts on BBC, NPR and others. He has served as a member of energy policy related advisory councils and committees of Japanese government on numerous occasions. He was appointed as a Director of Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX). He also serves on the International Advisory Board of the Energy Academy of Europe (Netherlands) and is an International Advisor (Chair in Energy Economics) at the Energy Commission of Tenaga Nasional University (Malaysia). He was appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of Rapidan Energy Group in October 2025. He was awarded the BrandLaureate’s “Brand Personality Award 2016.” Most recently, he was awarded “The OPEC Award for Research”(July 2023). Dr. Koyama obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Dundee, Scotland, and his BA and MA from the Waseda University, Japan.

Moderator:
Joshua W. Walker, Ph.D., President & CEO, Japan Society

Business & Policy Forum is generously supported by Japan Society Global Leaders & Corporate Partners.

Global Leaders

Corporate Partners

Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Advocate Sponsor, Mizuho Americas, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; and Friend Sponsor, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).