Are we facing the end of the era of international law and a rebirth of imperialism? And how should we assess the wars against Ukraine, in Gaza and in Sudan? Can the theory of just war serve as a moral yardstick for assessing them? A panel discussion on the global political situation held on 18 April 2025 at the Goethe-Institut in Kyoto (Japan), which was opened with a keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Reinold Schmücker, director of the Centre for Advanced Study, attracted great interest. Our photo shows him discussing with the professors Johannes Waßmer (The University of Osaka), Satoshi Kodama (Kyoto University), Takuya Nakamura (Doshisha University, Kyoto) and moderator Atsuki Morishima (The University of Osaka) (from left to right); on the far left: translator Nikolas Scheuer.