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Paper short abstract

This presentation explores Japan’s leadership on drug resistance, a major global health threat. Drawing on interviews and document analysis, it shows how Japan shapes G7/G20 agendas, exerts financial and technical influence, and strengthens its role in global health governance.

Paper long abstract

Drug resistance, or antimicrobial resistance (AMR), is often called the “silent pandemic”, threatening the lives of tens of millions worldwide. In 2016, Japan launched its first National Action Plan on AMR, emphasizing its leadership in promoting international collaboration against this global health threat.

Yet little attention has been paid to how Japan has translated this commitment into concrete actions – particularly within global governance systems dominated by the West, such as the G7, G20, and others. Using AMR policy as a case study, this paper asks: In what ways does Japan shape global and Western health policies on AMR, and how is Japan’s leadership received by the West?

Drawing on document analysis, interviews with Japanese and global policymakers, and participant observation at the Global AMR R&D Hub, a G20 agency initiated by Germany where Japan serves as a board member, this paper shows that Japan actively shapes global and Western AMR strategies through political, financial, technical, and diplomatic influence.

First, Japan’s active membership in key multilateral forums secures its political influence to set the agenda. Second, Japan provides significant financial and political support to Western-led AMR initiatives. Third, Japan contributes technical expertise in multilateral working groups that inform Western and global AMR practices. Fourth, Japan acts as a crucial bridge between East and West, gaining influence through its consistent presence at, and organization of, high-profile diplomatic events. This study highlights Japan’s leadership in global health, contributes to our understanding of contemporary Japan–West relations, and offers insights into the dynamics of today’s global governance.