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At the latest Budapest Lecture, Professor Tomohiko Taniguchi, Distinguished Fellow of the Ludovika Public Diplomacy Hub and former Special Advisor to MP Shinzo Abe, discussed how Japan’s postwar economic strategy became a foundation for Asia’s rise.
He explained that Japan’s long-term planning and state coordination played a central role in transforming key industries such as shipbuilding and automotive manufacturing, helping the country emerge as an economic powerhouse in the second half of the 20th century. This state-led, innovation-driven approach later served as a model for other rapidly developing Asian economies.
Professor Taniguchi also addressed the challenges of globalization, digital transformation, and shifting geopolitical realities. He emphasized the growing importance of intangible assets such as software and artificial intelligence, and underlined that sustainable progress depends on openness, international cooperation, and civic participation. He concluded that governments have a responsibility to encourage younger generations to stay engaged and active in shaping the future.
