This weekend, senior financial and government leaders from the United States and Japan will gather in Armonk, N.Y., to examine challenges facing the financial sectors of the two countries. The “Symposium on Building the Financial System of the 21st Century: An Agenda for Japan and the United States” is organized by Harvard Law School’s Program on International Financial Systems (PIFS) and the International House of Japan (I-House).

“Now in its twelfth year, the Japan-U.S. Symposium is the premier forum for constructive dialogue between leaders of the financial systems of Japan and the U.S.,” said Professor Hal S. Scott, director of PIFS. “This symposium should be quite significant given the changes in political leadership in Japan and the United States over the past year. During the symposium, participants will discuss how these new governments are addressing economic and regulatory policy in light of the economic crisis.”

Said Yasushi Akashi, chairman of the International House of Japan: “Thanks to the appropriate and swift measures taken by the world’s central banks, the global financial crisis has abated. However, the global markets are far from normal. I am confident that the Japan-U.S. Symposium, with its focus on proper regulatory measures and the future role of central banks, will give us some hints as to where we go from here in terms of normalizing global markets.”

The 120 attendees at the symposium include senior officials from financial firms, government officials, lawyers, and academics from the U.S. and Japan.

Speakers include:

  • Shigesuke Kashiwagi, president and chief executive officer, Nomura Holding America, Inc.
  • Bill Rhodes, senior vice chairman, Citi; senior vice chairman, Citibank
  • Takafumi Sato, former commissioner, Financial Services Agency, Japan
  • Rintaro Tamaki, vice finance minister for international affairs, Ministry of Finance, Japan
  • Neal S. Wolin, deputy secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury

Founded in 1986, PIFS fosters the exchange of ideas on capital markets, financial regulation, and international financial systems through its acclaimed portfolio of symposia on building the financial system of the 21st century. PIFS also conducts research and organizes special events on these topics.

Each year, the symposia organized by PIFS bring together senior financial leaders, high-ranking government officials, and distinguished academics from the United States and their counterparts from China, Europe, Japan, and Latin America for intensive dialogue on issues affecting international capital markets.