About Kiyoshi Kurokawa

Recent Posts by Kiyoshi Kurokawa

Japan Komeito and Liberal Democratic Party: Overcoming Crisis & Making a Contribution to Rest of World

Last month, a dialogue with the Tetsuo Sato, former Minister of the Environment and current acting Secretariat General of the New Komeito and myself took place on the topic of “Japan Overcoming Crises and Making a Contribution to the Rest of the World – The Lessons of Our Nuclear Disaster as a Resource for the Common International Good” (in Japanese).  This article appeared in New Komeito which is the official monthly journal of the New Komeito Party.  This debate took place one month after the earthquake on April 13th.  I hope you will forgive me for the delay in posting this information because, frankly, it completely slipped my mind.

The following topics were covered:

• The real face of Japan
• Leadership that is weak at the time of crises
• A blueprint for disaster recovery
• Japan in the world today

I wrote frankly about “political leadership (p. 3) of the current Democratic Party of Japan administration.

In this journal, a dialogue with the Kazuhisa Ogawa, an expert on Japan’s self-defense force, and another with Masayuki Yamanouchi, a historian and a great scholar appeared in the issues before and after mine.

A three-part series was published in the official weekly paper of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan in July.  The series was entitled “Contemplating the State of the Nation” and my theme was Social Welfare.  The titles of the articles (all in Japanese) are listed below:

• Delayed Adaptation of Japan to Globalization, No Progress in Social Restructuring
• Confronting the Globalization of the Changing World
• Assembling New Power and Wisdom From the Expansive Area of Society

 

Japan’s Nation Press Club: What Can Be Done To Recover The Trust

Japan National Press Club regularly holds lectures welcoming various guests.  Recent example is Senator Daniel Inouye, a big figure at the US Congress.  His lecture is posted on this web site, also.
I was invited to give a lecture here at May 20th.  My handout was the material which I used at the gathering of the legislators of the Democratic Party the day before (this meeting was open to media…).  The excerpt of my speech is shown here.

I talked conservatively and mildly as I understood that this lecture would be broadcasted On-line.

However, at the following Q&A session, since the audience was mostly journalists, I naturally was somewhat acquainted with them, and they in turn was familiar with my backgrounds, so I felt that many questions reflected such backgrounds.

I do, however, kept my straight open style here and there, so if you are interested, please watch the video.

Mr. Koiwai was present at the lecture and he posted an article of the summary of my presentation on the Science Portal,http://scienceportal.jp/highlight/2011/110603.html (in Japanese).  Mr. Koiwai kindly points out that I am including media in my target of criticism.  I repeatedly speak and write so in many occasions (Ref.1 in Japanese) (Ref.2,3 in English), too.

Mr Makino, a journalist who calls himself “Stimulator of the Era (Jidai Shigeki-bito)”, also showed up at the lecture (I see him at many occasions…) He posted a column on his blog by the title of “A Last Chance for Japan to Recover From Mistrust On Nuclear Power Plant Breakdown at the G8 Summit”.
I see some moves among the legislators towards realization similar to my recommendations which, hopefully, they find useful.  Now is also a good opportunity to structure healthy relations between the legislature arm and the administrative arm of the Government of Japan.

Mavericks Moving into New Frontiers in Okinawa & Beyond

I departed from Kuala Lumpur and arrived at Narita early on the morning of the 17th for a visit to the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST） which has entered in the final stage of preparations to be certified as an official graduate school.  Meetings of the executive committee were held on the 16th and 17th. I was unable to effectively participate in because the teleconferencing connection from Kuala Lumpur was bad and the connection wasn’t much better during the final morning session on the 17th after I returned to Tokyo. So unfortunately my input during these meetings was minimal.

OIST may very well become an international research facility that leads us into a new era. This type of approach qualifies as “going rogue” in Japan, but the OIST represents a hugely important project as we move into the future. This endeavor is, without question, deserving of our support.

I sat down in the afternoon for a talk with Dr. Robert W. Conn, CEO of the Kavli Foundation, Hitoshi Murayama of the IPMU at the University of Tokyo (which is a global research institute in the real sense of the word) and a few others. Dr. Murayama (Ref. 1) is one of only a handful of truly global leaders in opening new science frontiers. The IPMU is an institute which has become well known throughout the world over the past several year for its superior and, one could even say, unique approach, and has received the global “stamp of approval.” Dr. Murayama also gave a presentation at TEDxTokyo2010.

Drs. Kalvi and Conn are true “mavericks.” They had just met ten days before with President Obama at the White House with the 2010 Kavli Laureates.

Dr. Conn and I crossed paths at UCLA and he often reads this blog. We are kindred spirits and our conversations are quickly became very lively. Since the mission of the Kalvi Foundation is to provide backup for leading university research labs around the world and support research in the areas of space, nanoscience, and neuroscience, we had plenty to talk about. I really hope that we can work together here in Japan.

Dr. Maruyama is cut from the same mold as Joi Ito, the newly appointed head of the MIT Media Lab, whom I introduced on this blog, and I was pleased to be able to engage him, as he happened to be in Tokyo, in stimulating conversation.

I really hope that we can also send more graduate students from Japan to the Media Lab. Murayama-san and Ito-san are both Japanese mavericks of the global world. I think it is essential for the revitalization of Japan, that we see more of these mavericks in Japan.

 

Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government Visits GRIPS

I have written several times here on the Chief Science Advisors to the UK Government.  As the representatives of the scientists of the United Kingdom, they are well trusted by the science community and have great responsibilities to the government in giving advices in their policy makings.

This post is currently served by Sir John Beddington from three years ago, if I remember correctly.  He is a wonderful person.  I happen to be especially close to his predecessors Sir David King, and Robert May (later the President of the Royal Society, Lord May of Oxford); we trust each other and get along quite well.

This is one of the most highly respected positions in the British Government (Ref.1) (both links are in Japanese), and therefore a person is carefully and well selected to assume the responsibility.  This background is observed clearly in the healthy relations between the science community and legislators – particularly the Prime Minister (although the distance varies depending on the Prime Minister of the time.  Tony Blair, for example, is said to have been quite eager and used to have discussions with the Chief Scientific Adviser almost weekly… I think that, in the end, it is a matter of the level of insights of the top of the administration how they use these wonderful advisors….)

Taking the opportunity of Sir Beddington’s visit to Japan, GRIPS invited him to give a lecture and a panel, and the event was moderated by Mr. Akira Ikegami, a well known journalist/TV broadcaster. The main topic was “3.11 and Fukushima”.  It was a quite nice conference, with lots of participants, good Q&As from the audience and twitter.

I was invited to ask first question to Sir Beddington after his speech.  Its video record is uploaded on Youtube (part 1)(part 2) and summary document is available at these links (Ref.1 in Japanese) (Ref.2 in English) .

His presentation was very clear and good.  I understood very well that he was speaking with full sensitivity to political issues and process.  I hope you will learn a lot from his lecture on how to communicate/work with governments.  On the other hand, I think it would be interesting also to imagine what Japanese people in such a position would say or act if they were in a similar circumstance.

My question appears right in the end of Dr. Beddington’s presentation (I urge you to listen to this…), after a comment by Mr. Ikegami, the host.

Fukushima is a global issue and the lecture was given at the timing when we were waiting for the results of the investigations by the IAEA. Good questions were raised from the floor, too.

 

First Step Towards Structuring A New Japan: The Whole World is Watching

‘3.11’ disaster attracted global attentions not only by its huge impact but also by the importance Fukushima has in the world.

However, this attention lasted just for the initial 1 to 2 weeks.  Japan has exposed its strength and weakness clearly to the world, as I have pointed out for several times or in other media such as newspapers (in Japanese) (Ref.1)

News coverage of Japan is altogether minor in international media.  If you follow the world news, it is perfectly clear that any comment by Japanese government is taken as nothing but excuses.; that is to say the credibility and trust of Japanese government have fallen.

Then, how can we recover the international credibility of Japan?  This is the keypoint.  As far as browsing through the domestic news coverage, I could hardly find any opinions or comments by the Japanese ‘leaders’ on this issue.

At a time like this, when the nation is at the brink of losing its trust, it is good to learn lessons from the past.  However, that being said, the point is how much the leaders have profound insights, are capable of making good judgments, know what they must do.  Self-centered ‘pride’ means nothing here. The one and only thing that matters is how much you care about the people (of Japan).  It goes not just for the government but also for the major business enterprises like TEPCO.

This means, in case of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, that the government or the Diet must launch an ’International’ task force that is completely ‘independent’ from the government. I can assure you that unless this is done, the world’s trust in Japan will never even start to recover.

Such idea/reasoning is also presented in the document which the Natural Resources Defense Council submitted to President Obama dated March 25th.

Also, unfavorable rumors or misinformation about agricultural produce or industrial products, thus harming credibility of Japan, are difficult to tone down unless the steps I described above do not materialize. There are lots of lessons to be learned from the process of recovery of the reputation of British Government that took more than 20 years when the BSE started in 1886.

What we need is a special committee that is ‘independent’ and ‘outside’ (i.e. internationally trustable) of the government.  Equally necessary is a quick and total information disclosure.  This again, is very unsatisfactory at this stage.  Transparency is the foundation of trust and credibility.

Recently, I had an opportunity to present this idea using this figure at a meeting (open to media) organized by legislators of the Democratic Party of Japan.  I learned that many members of the Diet share this idea with me (in Japanese).

Mind you, the whole world is watching.  They are questioning whether Japan has no intention of turning the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster to lessons to share with the rest of the world.

 

The Risk Response Network of WEF: The World Is Paying Attention to Japan’s Reactions

The World Economic Forum (‘Davos’ Meeting), recognizing enhancing mutual dependence of the global world, have launched ‘Risk Response Network （RRN),  where the danger of expansion of various risks in the world is discussed so as to structure the system of addressing to those risks and responses to them.

I have bee participating in the processes, but this ‘3.11’ quakes, tsunamis, and the nuclear power plant crisis of Japan was precisely one of huge disasters we had been discussing about over the last few years.  The WEF-RRH meeting was held in New York in April, and then, on May 18th, a Workshop focusing especially on this mega disaster in Japan was held in Tokyo.

Many people gathered, and Mr Edano, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, among others, came to deliver a message. A summary by Kevin Steinberg, the COO of RRN, is also posted on the web site of WEF. How Japanese government reacts to this disaster is being watched by the whole world.

 

Dragon Cherry Blossoms: Encourage Students to Take Leave of Absence from School

The Dragon Cherry Blossoms which I have been reporting on every now and then was launched in action 3 years ago in December.  I advised them to take a leave of absence from school and go to Dhaka. My Saisyo seemed to have made up his mind right on the spot to take a leave. As they were leaving my room, I could see that everyone got my message feeling pretty confident about their next step..  After this, things started to move rapidly, and Mr Miyoshi with others organized Japanese side of the team, and later they created GCMP.

Overcoming many hardships along the process over almost two years, Dragon Cherryblossom made a big impact which quickly spread throughout Japan.

I assume that you have already heard about the book written by Mr. Saisyo; “Go Forward, Go Forward, Go Forward” (in Japanese).  Here, I would like to introduce the book to you again.  Mr. Saisyo, you are very diligent in pursuit of your dream and have shown the ability to get people involved.  Many youths see you as their “role model”.  However, I have to say to you that harder times are yet to come, but remember that I am always on your side and willing to support you just like many others do….

By the way, in connection with the “Encourage Youth to Take a Leave of Absence from School” which I so many times urge in this web site, I would like to call your attention to the fact that many private universities charge “fees” such as “tuitions” even while the students are on “the leave” – which is unimaginable policy for educational institutions.

However, the good news is that at the Meiji University, with strong actions on the students’ side, University Admisnitration decided to significantly reduce the amount of fee they charge to students during the period of leave.  I am very, very, pleased.  I would like to ask the university administration to make the amount they charged (during absence) part of the tuition due after their return to university.

I urge other private universities to follow the example of Meiji University.  To students, I urge you to unite and petition to the universities.

For it is about your right to build your future.

 

Turning the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster to Lessons to Share with the World

Hardships will continue for the people at Sanriku district, the area hit by the great tsunami disaster.  I earnestly hope that political measures will be taken swiftly to at least have their basic daily life recover soon enough although inevitably more time is needed for full recoveries.

In addition, we have to deal with the huge nuclear power plant disaster in Fukushima.  The whole world is paying attention to us.  This issue is not something that will end in a decade or so, but something much huge, that will last for much longer period of time.  Since the global trend was to increase the number of nuclear power plants, the attention from the world to Fukushima is accordingly much higher.

Here, I would like to introduce to you my interview (in Japanese) with Tetsuo Saito (in Japanese), Deputy Secretary General of the New Komeito, and former Minister of Environment.   This interview includes ideas on the ‘most important things to do’ NOW, so please take a look.

The title of our dialogue is; ‘Overcoming the Crisis and Changing Japan to a Nation Contributing to the World’, its subtitle is; ‘Turning the Nuclear Power Plant Disaster to Lessons to Share with the World’

The sub-sub titles are;
1. Truths of Japan Exposed
2. Fragile Leaders at the Time of Crisis
3. Blueprints of the Recovery
4. Japan in the Global World

« Previous Page — Next Page »