Economist Jesper Koll explains why he's optimistic about Japan's trajectory in a conversation with Asia Society Executive Vice President Tom Nagorski and Consul General of Japan in New York Kanji Yamanouchi. (1 hr., 3 min.)

Breakfast Available from 8:00AM

Our February “Asia Briefing” takes a deep dive into the short-and-long-term prospects for Japan's economy — with one of the most influential economic advisors and commentators in Japan. Jesper Koll believes Japan is poised for more than just positive growth surprises — going so far as to predict that the new leaders of corporate Japan will out-compete global rivals, including China; that demographic destiny is actually a powerful positive force in Japan; and that public debt, central bank action, and regulatory change will combine to create unprecedented industrial and corporate change. Too good to be true?

Join us for a special conversation with the founding head and CEO of WisdomTree Investments Japan to get a better understanding of his bullish view on Japan’s future.

Featuring opening remarks by Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi, Consul General of Japan in New York

Jesper Koll is Head of Japan at WisdomTree.  He has been researching and investing in Japan since 1986 and is one of the country's most influential economic advisors and commentators. Jesper is widely known for his optimistic views on Japan’s economic future. Previously, he served as the Director of Research for JP Morgan Japan and was the chief economist of Merrill Lynch Japan. Before his career in finance, he was an aide to a Japanese Member of Parliament for two years. Koll holds a Masters degree from The Johns Hopkins University, SAIS.

Tom Nagorski (moderator) became Executive Vice President of the Asia Society following a three-decade career in journalism — having served most recently as Managing Editor for International Coverage at ABC News. Before that, he was Foreign Editor for ABC’s World News Tonight, and a reporter and producer based in Russia, Germany, and Thailand. Nagorski was the recipient of eight Emmy awards and the Dupont Award for excellence in international coverage, as well as a fellowship from the Henry Luce Foundation. He has written for several publications and is the author of Miracles on the Water: The Heroic Survivors of a World War II U-Boat Attack. Nagorski lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two children.