After a half-century of commitment to Japan’s territorial defense, the U.S.-Japanese security alliance has begun to evolve. The Japan Self-Defense Forces deployed to Iraq and continue to make vital contributions to operations in the global war on terror. Increasingly, American security planning in Asia centers on bilateral cooperation with Japan. With growth, there have also been strains on the relationship over a variety of problems, including North Korea, Tokyo’s defense spending, and U.S. bases in Japan. The regional strategic imperative requires that Japan and the United States develop a common agenda for security cooperation. What role will the alliance play in enhancing existing Asian economic and security institutions and in developing new ones? How can the United States and Japan effectively address shared concerns over terrorism and nuclear proliferation, among others? On March 7, leading scholars and policymakers will address these and other questions about the next steps in U.S.-Japanese alliance transformation.