Researchers

ITOH, Shoichi
ITOH, Shoichi

Senior Fellow, Energy Security Unit

Main areas of research:
Energy Security
International relations in the Asia-Pacific and Eurasia
Japan’s foreign policy
U.S.-Japan relations

1993 M.A. in Contemporary Soviet and East European Studies, School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), University of London.
1998 M.A. in International Political Economy (completed Ph.D. course work [ABD]), Graduate School of International Political Economy, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
2000-2003 Political and economic attaché, The Consulate-General of Japan in Khabarovsk.
2004-2010 Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA)
2010- Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ)

<Adjunct posts>

2006 Visiting Fellow, Center for East Asian Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS).
2008-2009 Visiting Associate Professor, Slavic Research Center, Hokkaido University.
2009 Visiting Fellow, Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS), the Brookings Institution.
2010 Visiting Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
2007-2013 Asahi Asia Fellow, Asahi Shimbun Asia Network (AAN).
2010-2019 Associate Fellow, Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) in Stockholm.
2017-2021 Reconnecting Asia Virtual Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
2018-2019 Visiting Professor, Slavic-Eurasian Center, Hokkaido University.
2020- Associated Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP)
2023- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Japan Chair, Adjunct Fellow

Articles :

  • Atoms for Peace 2.0: The case for a stronger US-Japan nuclear power alliance” (co-authored with Julia Nesheiwat), Atlantic Council, October 23, 2023.
  • “Japan’s Russia Policy at a Crossroads: New Phase for Geopolitics of Energy”, P. J. Saunders & J. S. Van Oudenaren (eds.), Change and Continuity in Japan-Russia Relations: Implications for the United States, The Center for the National Interest, 2019.
  • Japan's Opaque Energy Policy toward Russia: Is Abe Being Trumped by Putin?”, in E. Downs et al., The Emerging Russia-Asia Energy Nexus, The National Bureau of Asian Research, Special Report no.74, 2018.
  • "Sino-Russian Energy Relations in Northeast Asia and Beyond: Oil, Natural Gas and Nuclear Power", Japan and the Sino-Russian Entente: The Future of Major-Power Relations in Northeast Asia, The National Bureau of Asian Research, Special Report, no.64, 2017.
  • Energy Security in Northeast Asia: A Pivotal Moment for the U.S.-Japan Alliance”, The Brookings Institution, March 12, 2013.
  • “Sino-Russian Energy Relations: True Friendship or Phony Partnership?”, Russian Analytical Digest, No.73, 2010.
  • “After the Election: Will Japan be Different?”, The Brookings Institution, September 14, 2009.
  • “A Japanese Rethinking of Europe-Russia Relations”, posted on the Website of the Slavic Research Center, Hokkaido University, Japan, December 2008.
  • “China’s Surging Energy Demand: Trigger for Conflict or Cooperation with Japan?”, East Asia: an International Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2008.
  • “Japan’s Energy Strategy and Development of Energy Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific”, ERINA Report, Vol. 77, 2007.
  • “The Pacific Pipeline at a Crossroads: Dream Project or Pipe Dream?”, ERINA Report, Vol.73, 2007.
  • “Energy Security Revisited: A Catalyst for Multilateral Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region and the Role of the U.S.-Japan Alliance”, posted on the Web site of the Center for Global Partnership, August 29, 2006.

Books (chapters):

  • “Energy Outlook in the Asia-Pacific” in E. Buchanan (ed.), Russian Energy Strategy in the Asia-Pacific: Implications for Australia (Australia National University Press, 2021).
  • “The energy factor in Russia’s ‘Asia pivot’ (co-authored with A. Kuchins)”, in M. M. Mochizuki & D. M. Ollapally (eds.), Energy Security in Asia and Eurasia, Routledge, 2017.
  • “The Geopolitics of Northeast Asia’s Pipeline Development”, in M. E. Herberg (ed.), Energy Security and the Asia-Pacific, The National Bureau of Asian Research, 2014.
  • “Sino-Japanese competition over Russian oil”, in R. E. Bedeski & Niklas Swanström (eds.), Eurasia’s Ascent in Energy and Geopolitics:Rivalry or partnership for China, Russia and Central Asia?, Routledge, 2012.
  • Russia Looks East: Energy Markets and Geopolitics in Northeast Asia、Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), 2011.
  • “Russia’s Energy Policy Towards Asia: Opportunities and Uncertainties”; “Is there a Solution? Obstacles to and Prospects for Multilateral Energy Cooperation in Asia” in C. Len & A. Chew (eds.), Institute for Security & Development Policy, 2009. Energy and Security Cooperation in Asia: Challenges and Prospects, Institute for Security and Development Policy, 2009
  • “Can Russia Become a “Regional Power” in Northeast Asia?”, in A. Eberhardt & A. Iwashita (eds.), Security Challenges in the Post-Soviet Space: European and Asian Perspectives, Polish Institute of International Affairs, 2007.
  • “Sino-Russian Energy Relations: The Dilemma of Strategic Partnership and Mutual Distrust”, Hiroshi Kimura (ed.), Russia’s Shift toward Asia, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, 2007.
  • “Sino-Russian Energy Partnership: Dilemma of Cooperation and Mutual Distrust” in G. Austin & M. Schellekens-Gaiffe (eds.), Energy and Conflict Prevention, Madariaga European Foundation & the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation, 2007.