Notice of Seminar 'Dissecting the GX League at a Turning Point: Approaching the Forefront of Public-Private Rule-Making' on May 29, 2026
The Japan Public Affairs Association will host a free online seminar on May 29, 2026, featuring METI officials and experts discussing the GX League Phase 2 and GX Skill Standards.
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The Japan Public Affairs Association (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hiroya Masuda) will hold an online seminar titled "Dissecting the GX League at a Turning Point: Approaching the Forefront of Public-Private Rule-Making" on Friday, May 29, 2026.
The "GX League," which fully launched its activities in 2023, has promoted ambitious "public-private rule-making" in close collaboration between numerous major domestic companies and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). In 2026, the GX League enters its second phase, further accelerating initiatives toward emissions trading and GX market creation. At this major turning point, reviewing the GX League's achievements and activities to date is extremely important for forecasting the future prospects of Japanese companies.
This seminar will focus on the "GX Skill Standards," one of the major deliverables of the first phase, as a case study. The Environmental Economy Office of METI's GX Group will provide perspectives on the outcomes and future outlook of public-private partnerships, including the GX Skill Standards. Sendenkaigi Co., Ltd., an educational vendor for GX personnel, will provide an analysis of the changes in corporate behavior observed from outside the GX League.
Furthermore, in the second half of the seminar, a panel discussion will be held with Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Director of the Association and a leading expert in rule-making for environmental issues, aiming to provide a perspective applicable to "public-private partnerships and rule-making" in general.
[Seminar Overview]
Organizer: Japan Public Affairs Association
Date & Time: Friday, May 29, 2026, 13:30 - 15:00
Format: Online via Zoom (Details will be provided after registration.)
Capacity: 50 people (If the capacity is exceeded, a lottery will be held.)
Fee: Free
Registration: Please apply using one of the following methods:
1. Peatix ( https://jpaagx260529.peatix.com )
2. Email (Please send your company name, names of all participants, and email addresses to info@j-paa.jp.)
[Program]
13:30 - 13:40 / Introduction to the Association
13:40 - 14:00 / Keynote Speech 1
"The GX Future League as a Venue for Public-Private Partnership: Phase 1 Achievements and Phase 2 Prospects"
Masaharu Ohara, Deputy Director, Environmental Economy Office, GX Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
14:00 - 14:15 / Keynote Speech 2
"Changes in Corporate Behavior Prompted by the Launch of the GX League and the Formulation of GX Skill Standards"
Toshimitsu Bansho, Executive Officer, General Manager of Environmental Business Division & Kyushu Branch Manager, Sendenkaigi Co., Ltd.
14:15 - 15:00 / Panel Discussion
"Efforts Toward Solving Environmental Issues and the Ideal State of Public-Private Rule-Making"
[Initial Remarks] Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Director, Japan Public Affairs Association
[Moderator] Takashi Iwamoto, Director, Japan Public Affairs Association
[Panelists] Masaharu Ohara (METI), Toshimitsu Bansho (Sendenkaigi), Yoshiaki Ichikawa (Japan Public Affairs Association)
[Speaker Profiles]
■ Masaharu Ohara (Deputy Director, Environmental Economy Office, GX Group, METI)
Joined METI in 2011.
Seconded to Wakayama Prefectural Government in 2021 (Director of Growth Industry Promotion Division).
Appointed to current position in the Environmental Economy Office, GX Group in 2025.
■ Toshimitsu Bansho (Executive Officer, General Manager of Environmental Business Division & Kyushu Branch Manager, Sendenkaigi Co., Ltd.)
After joining Sendenkaigi, served in sales and editorial departments before becoming Regional Managing Director. Assumed current position after serving as Executive Officer in the Corporate Planning Office. As the head of the education business, he is involved in supporting HR strategies and planning training for many companies and local governments. Since 2025, he has overseen media and education as the general manager of the specialized media "Kankyo Business" (Environmental Business). He also serves as an advisor on PR and sustainability for companies and municipalities, with experience in Edogawa Ward and Nerima Ward in Tokyo, Saga Prefecture, Oita Prefecture, Kasuga City in Fukuoka, and Ube City in Yamaguchi.
[Moderator]
■ Takashi Iwamoto (Director, Japan Public Affairs Association)
Graduated from the Department of Metallurgy, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo. Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science, UCLA. After working at Motorola Japan, Lucent Technologies Japan, Nokia Japan, and Dream Incubator, served as Project Professor at Keio University Graduate School of Business Administration (2012-2022), Industry-Academia Collaboration Professor at Yamagata University (2018-2023), and Project Professor at Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance (2022-2025). Lecturer at Keio University Graduate School of Business Administration since April 2023. Director of ICT CONNECT 21, etc.
The "GX League," which fully launched its activities in 2023, has promoted ambitious "public-private rule-making" in close collaboration between numerous major domestic companies and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). In 2026, the GX League enters its second phase, further accelerating initiatives toward emissions trading and GX market creation. At this major turning point, reviewing the GX League's achievements and activities to date is extremely important for forecasting the future prospects of Japanese companies.
This seminar will focus on the "GX Skill Standards," one of the major deliverables of the first phase, as a case study. The Environmental Economy Office of METI's GX Group will provide perspectives on the outcomes and future outlook of public-private partnerships, including the GX Skill Standards. Sendenkaigi Co., Ltd., an educational vendor for GX personnel, will provide an analysis of the changes in corporate behavior observed from outside the GX League.
Furthermore, in the second half of the seminar, a panel discussion will be held with Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Director of the Association and a leading expert in rule-making for environmental issues, aiming to provide a perspective applicable to "public-private partnerships and rule-making" in general.
[Seminar Overview]
Organizer: Japan Public Affairs Association
Date & Time: Friday, May 29, 2026, 13:30 - 15:00
Format: Online via Zoom (Details will be provided after registration.)
Capacity: 50 people (If the capacity is exceeded, a lottery will be held.)
Fee: Free
Registration: Please apply using one of the following methods:
1. Peatix ( https://jpaagx260529.peatix.com )
2. Email (Please send your company name, names of all participants, and email addresses to info@j-paa.jp.)
[Program]
13:30 - 13:40 / Introduction to the Association
13:40 - 14:00 / Keynote Speech 1
"The GX Future League as a Venue for Public-Private Partnership: Phase 1 Achievements and Phase 2 Prospects"
Masaharu Ohara, Deputy Director, Environmental Economy Office, GX Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
14:00 - 14:15 / Keynote Speech 2
"Changes in Corporate Behavior Prompted by the Launch of the GX League and the Formulation of GX Skill Standards"
Toshimitsu Bansho, Executive Officer, General Manager of Environmental Business Division & Kyushu Branch Manager, Sendenkaigi Co., Ltd.
14:15 - 15:00 / Panel Discussion
"Efforts Toward Solving Environmental Issues and the Ideal State of Public-Private Rule-Making"
[Initial Remarks] Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Director, Japan Public Affairs Association
[Moderator] Takashi Iwamoto, Director, Japan Public Affairs Association
[Panelists] Masaharu Ohara (METI), Toshimitsu Bansho (Sendenkaigi), Yoshiaki Ichikawa (Japan Public Affairs Association)
[Speaker Profiles]
■ Masaharu Ohara (Deputy Director, Environmental Economy Office, GX Group, METI)
Joined METI in 2011.
Seconded to Wakayama Prefectural Government in 2021 (Director of Growth Industry Promotion Division).
Appointed to current position in the Environmental Economy Office, GX Group in 2025.
■ Toshimitsu Bansho (Executive Officer, General Manager of Environmental Business Division & Kyushu Branch Manager, Sendenkaigi Co., Ltd.)
After joining Sendenkaigi, served in sales and editorial departments before becoming Regional Managing Director. Assumed current position after serving as Executive Officer in the Corporate Planning Office. As the head of the education business, he is involved in supporting HR strategies and planning training for many companies and local governments. Since 2025, he has overseen media and education as the general manager of the specialized media "Kankyo Business" (Environmental Business). He also serves as an advisor on PR and sustainability for companies and municipalities, with experience in Edogawa Ward and Nerima Ward in Tokyo, Saga Prefecture, Oita Prefecture, Kasuga City in Fukuoka, and Ube City in Yamaguchi.
[Moderator]
■ Takashi Iwamoto (Director, Japan Public Affairs Association)
Graduated from the Department of Metallurgy, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo. Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science, UCLA. After working at Motorola Japan, Lucent Technologies Japan, Nokia Japan, and Dream Incubator, served as Project Professor at Keio University Graduate School of Business Administration (2012-2022), Industry-Academia Collaboration Professor at Yamagata University (2018-2023), and Project Professor at Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance (2022-2025). Lecturer at Keio University Graduate School of Business Administration since April 2023. Director of ICT CONNECT 21, etc.