Japan's Independent Institute Co., Ltd.

Japan's Independent Institute Co., Ltd. (株式会社独立総合研究所, Dokuritsu Sōgō Kenkyūjo), often abbreviated as Dokken, is a private Japanese think tank headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. It was founded in April 2002 by Shigeharu Aoyama, a former Mitsubishi Research Institute researcher, together with several colleagues. The institute positions itself as Japan's first truly independent think tank, declaring in its corporate creed that it is independent of any organization or group, receives no subsidies, and conducts research from a completely fair and objective standpoint for the benefit of companies, society, the nation, and the world. It refuses donations and does not maintain backing from any specific company, organization, or financial institution. The institute's core activities span social sciences—including national security, counter-terrorism, public relations strategy, economic and financial consulting, and political/diplomatic policy planning—as well as natural sciences such as marine acoustics, ocean resource exploration, and infrastructure protection. It has undertaken government-commissioned research projects, including studies for the Ministry of Defense and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In addition to research, it operates membership-based information services: the Tokyo Confidential Report (TCR), launched in 2000, and the Independent Club (IDC), launched in 2011, which offers members opportunities to visit government and military sites with Aoyama. The institute also hosts regular independent lecture meetings. Leadership has evolved over time. Founder Shigeharu Aoyama served as representative director until June 2016, when he resigned to run in the 24th House of Councillors election; his eldest son, Daiki Aoyama, became president. In April 2021, Daiki Aoyama moved to a director role, and Chiharu Aoyama became representative director and president. The institute maintains a small staff of around 11 people. While sometimes perceived as Aoyama's personal office, he has denied this characterization. The institute continues to operate as a private, independent entity.

Japan's Independent Institute Co., Ltd. was established in April 2002 in Takeshiba, Minato, Tokyo, as a limited liability company (yūgen gaisha) by Shigeharu Aoyama and several colleagues from the Mitsubishi Research Institute. Aoyama, who had worked at Mitsubishi Research Institute, left with a few like-minded individuals to create what they described as Japan's first independent think tank. The institute adopted a corporate creed emphasizing independence from any organization or group, refusal of subsidies, and a commitment to fair and objective research for the benefit of companies, society, the nation, and the world. It also explicitly rejects donations and does not accept support from specific companies, organizations, or financial institutions. In June 2004, the institute changed its legal organization from a limited liability company to a stock company (kabushiki gaisha). Over the years, it has conducted research in both social and natural sciences. Its social science division covers security, counter-terrorism, public relations strategy, economic and financial consulting, and political/diplomatic policy planning. The natural science division engages in marine acoustics, ocean resource exploration, ocean physics and simulation models, civil protection planning and geographic information systems, and infrastructure protection. The institute has undertaken government-commissioned research, including projects for the Ministry of Defense and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2008. In addition to research, the institute operates membership-based information services. The Tokyo Confidential Report (TCR), launched in February 2000, provides members with analysis and forecasts on politics, diplomacy, national security, and economic issues. The Independent Club (IDC), started in June 2011, offers members opportunities to visit government and military sites with Aoyama. The institute also hosts independent lecture meetings, which began in May 2011 as a charity event for the Great East Japan Earthquake and have been held regularly since. Leadership transitions have occurred. On June 30, 2016, founder Shigeharu Aoyama resigned as representative director to run in the 24th House of Councillors election, and his eldest son, Daiki Aoyama, became representative director and president. The institute continued to commission work from Shigeharu Aoyama in crisis management, policy research, and information dissemination. On April 1, 2021, Daiki Aoyama became a director, and Chiharu Aoyama, previously a director, became representative director and president. The institute maintains a small staff of around 11 people, with a majority of female employees. While sometimes viewed as Aoyama's personal office, he has denied this. The institute continues to operate as a private, independent entity.

• 2021

  On April 1, Daiki Aoyama became director; Chiharu Aoyama became representative director and president.

• 2016

  Shigeharu Aoyama resigned as representative director on June 30; Daiki Aoyama became president.

• 2011

  Independent Club (IDC) launched in June; independent lecture meetings started in May.

• 2008

  Undertook government-commissioned research projects, including for the Ministry of Defense and IAEA.

• 2004

  Changed legal organization from limited liability company to stock company in June.

• 2002

  Institute founded in April in Takeshiba, Minato, Tokyo as a limited liability company.

• 2000

  Tokyo Confidential Report (TCR) membership service launched in February.

Japan's first independent think tank, free from organizational ties and subsidies, providing fair and objective research.

• Tokyo Confidential Report (TCR)

  Membership-based information service launched in February 2000, covering politics, diplomacy, national security, and economic issues.

• Independent Club (IDC)

  Membership club launched in June 2011, offering visits to government and military sites with Shigeharu Aoyama.

• Independent lecture meetings

  Lecture meetings started in May 2011, held regularly in Tokyo or the Keihanshin region.

1. 1独立総合研究所 official websitedokken.co.jp
2. 2Wikidata entry for Japan's Independent Institute Co., Ltd.wikidata.org
3. 3独立総合研究所 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org