JPRI - History

JPRI was founded in 1994 by Chalmers Johnson and Steven C. Clemons to promote public education about Japan, especially Japan's then growing significance in Pacific Rim and world affairs. Despite the name, JPRI has never focused exclusively on Japan. Over the years it has published many works on other parts of the Pacific Rim, ranging from Australia, Burma, and China, to the two Koreas, the United States, and Latin America.

During its first decade JPRI was a member-based organization, and subscribing members received a monthly publication. These mailings were comprised of Working Papers, Critiques, Occasional Papers, and books. Working Papers were basically research papers, either free-standing or chapters from forthcoming books or dissertations; Critiques shorter 'opinion' pieces; Occasional Papers more historical works, memoirs, or other 'think' pieces. Books distributed free of charge to members included Okinawa: Cold War Island, edited by Chalmers Johnson, along with a number of important titles by George Hicks, Ivan Hall, and others. In late 2003, JPRI switched to internet publication and, since its web site is open to all, no longer required membership.

In 2006 Chalmers Johnson transferred the JPRI editorial office and archive to the USF Center for the Pacific Rim which had anyway been maintaining the JPRI site for several years at that point. In early 2009 Chiho Sawada (who coincidentally began his study of Japan and the Asia Pacific under Johnson and JPRI stalwart John Dower while at the University of California, San Diego) was appointed director. Chalmers Johnson remains its president and Sheila Johnson its chief editor.

At the USF Center for the Pacific Rim, JPRI continues its core activity of producing policy-relevant research and publication, but also, as it did in its early years, will actively sponsor conferences and workshops, public events, and service activities to foster dialogue and cooperation among scholars, government officials, journalists, business leaders, NGO activists, as well as the general public.


	Home \| Publications \| Projects \| Events \| News \| About Us Top of the Page Japan Policy Research Institute University of San Francisco Center for the Pacific Rim 2130 Fulton Street, LM280 San Francisco, CA 94117-1080 Last updated 1 November, 2011 . For more information contact jpri@usfca.edu.