Join us for our February Luncheon with Prof. Masaaki Shirakawa, former Governor of the Bank of Japan, as he offers a comprehensive perspective on Japan’s economic outlook at a time of profound structural change. Drawing on his experience at the center of global monetary policymaking, Prof. Shirakawa will address key challenges facing Japan’s economy, including monetary policy, exchange-rate dynamics, fiscal sustainability, demographic decline, and the evolving role of immigration. Through a comparative lens with Switzerland, the discussion will provide valuable insights into how two advanced economies have confronted parallel challenges, offering timely reflections for business leaders navigating Japan’s economic landscape.
The presentation will address the key structural challenges facing Japan’s economy, including monetary policy, exchange-rate dynamics, fiscal sustainability, demographic decline, and the evolving role of immigration. Where relevant, Switzerland’s experience will be used as a point of comparison.
Switzerland holds a special place in the speaker’s professional career as a central banker, not least because Basel, home to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), was a frequent destination during his tenure. Moreover, Japan and Switzerland faced several parallel economic challenges during this period, offering valuable perspectives for comparative analysis.
| Date: | Wednesday, February 4, 2026 |
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| Time: | 12:00 – 14:00 (D.O. 11:45) |
| Venue: | Shangri-la Tokyo, @Conway 2&3 (27F) Marunouchi Trust Tower Main, 1-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8283 (MAP) |
| Entry Fee: | • Members: JPY 6,500 or 1 SCCIJ voucher 2026 • Non-members: JPY 9,600 |
| Registration: |  Registration Status: Fully booked A waiting list will be created, and seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis in case of cancellations. Deadline: January 29, 2026, 18:00 JST.* |
| Concept: | • This event consists in a 3-course lunch followed by a presentation (and Q&A). The setting is ideal for networking. • Participants are typically members of the Swiss-Japanese business community, but non-members are also welcome to join. • Seats are not attributed (free seating). • Dress code is business / business casual. |
| Disclaimer: | • The SCCIJ may film and take photographs of this event. If you participate, please be noted that these pictures and videos may be used in various media, such as the SCCIJ website, SCCIJ social networking sites, and SCCIJ promotional materials. If you do not want to appear on these pictures and/or videos, kindly notify the SCCIJ staff at the event. • The views expressed by the speaker(s) do not reflect those of the SCCIJ as an organization. |
| Inquiries: | By e-mail to info@sccij.jp |
Biography of the Speaker
Prof. Masaaki Shirakawa is the former Governor of the Bank of Japan. He was appointed as Governor in April 2008 and left the Bank in March 2013. He was Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) between January 2011 and March 2013. Currently, he is Distinguished Guest Professor at Aoyama Gakuin University and a member of the Group of Thirty.
Masaaki Shirakawa joined the Bank of Japan in 1972. His career encompassed both monetary policy and financial stability. He held key positions including the one of Executive Director responsible for laying the groundwork of Japanese monetary policy decisions.
Born in 1949, Masaaki Shirakawa studied economics at the University of Tokyo (B.A. in 1972) and at the University of Chicago (M.A. in 1977). From July 2006 until March 2008, he was Professor at the Kyoto University School of Government.
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