NEWSLETTER
14NO.

2008 . 9 . 20

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
東京大学公共政策大学院

INDEX

1

The 39th Public Policy Seminar : Public Panel Discussion

2

New Project Introduction : The Development of Technology Assessment Techniques for Assessing the Impact of Advanced Technology on Society

3

Faculty Research［Katsuhiro Yamaguchi］ ／ Graduate School Course Report No. 64Topical NewsThe 39 th Public Policy Seminar : Public Panel Discussion“Japanʼs Global Warming Strategy- What are the Repercussions?”
Assistant Professor

Masahiro Matsuura

The 39 th Public Policy Seminar featuring a publicpresented various perspectives in regard to the form

panel discussion on “Japanʼs Global Warming Strategy-that future developments should take in regard toWhat are the Repercussions?” took place on June 17

global warming strategic planning. Proposals were put

at Koshiba Hall in conjunction with the sponsoredforth by Mr. Yoshihiro Kageyama ( General Manager

lecture series “Sustainable Energy/Environment andof the Environmental Department of the Tokyo Electric

Public Policy”. Over 100 audience members comprisingPower Company ), Mr. Masayuki Sasanouchi ( Seniorboth students from the Graduate School of PublicGeneral Manager of Toyota Motor Corporation ), Mr.

Policy and members of the general public participated.

Naoyuki Yamagishi (Climate Change Programme Leader

The event included presentations on Japanʼs globalfrom the WWF ) and Prof. Tatsuyoshi Saijo ( Osaka

warming strategy by an assortment of stakeholders

University ). From the presentations through to thefrom various ﬁelds with the sub-plot of the discussion

ensuing Q& A session, all presenters candidly sharedfocusing on emissions trading.

their opinions on the intended goal of the emissions

The key note presentation was given by Mr. Takaya

trading system, methodological challenges andImai, former Director of the Economic Policy Unit

anticipated impacts of implementing such a system.

(currently Director of Policy Planning and Coordination
Division ) at the Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry, who presented a summary of the global
warming dilemma and touched upon recent trends
ensuing panel discussion that was introduced by Dean
Yoshitsugu Kanemoto, presenters spoke on the current
status of global warming mitigation eﬀorts andNEWSLETTER

in the development of mitigation strategies. In the1New Project Introduction:
The Development of Technology Assessment Techniquesfor Assessing the Impact of Advanced Technology on SocietyInnovation and Institutionalization of Technology Assessment (I2TA) in Japan

Visiting Professor

Tatsujiro Suzuki

Technology Assessment ( TA ) is a support tool for policy making

role in catalyzing a resurgence of political interest in such anwhich was pioneered in the 1960 ʼs in the US in order to compre-agency. Secondly, another facet of the project will build on thehensively assess the potential impact on society ( pros and cons )newest methodological developments for TAs in the United Statesof technology before it is introduced into society. Subsequently,and Europe to both construct and validate the eﬀectiveness of new

the technique became institutionalized in policy circles in Europe

TA approach. Using the nanotechnology ﬁeld as a technology focus,

during the reforms of the 1980 ʼs and 1990 ʼs. Compared to thetechniques designed to help anticipate the disparate problems ofcomprehensive nature of TAs conducted in the US and Europe

a diverse set of stakeholders ( problem structuralization ) will bewhich go as far as to assess societal impact, the necessary reforms

integrated into TAs for evaluation. In order to customize a TA for

have not been introduced in Japan to allow TAs to be used as policy

nanotechnology evaluation, participation will be sought fromsupport tools. Accordingly, it is amidst this backdrop that theresearchers, industry players, social scientists, consumer groups

current project has been proposed with the goal of institutionalizing

and other actors that are active in the nanotechnology ﬁeld. Thirdly,

the use of TA in Japan. Commencement of the proposed three andas the ultimate objective, the concepts, techniques and imple-a half year project began in October 2007 with public researchmentation framework of this new TA approach will be summarized

funding assistance provided by the Japan Science and Technology

in a proposal that concretely identiﬁes the reforms necessary inAgencyʼ s Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society.

order to institutionalize the new TA.

The aims of this project can be broadly divided into three areas.

The Science, Technology and Public Policy unit ( SciTePP ) of theFirstly, in addition to shedding light on the necessary conditions

University of Tokyoʼs Graduate School of Public Policy will servefor establishing a TA system, it is also necessary to clarify theas the host of the research collaboration which enlists the supportbarriers that have prohibited the institutionalization of TA as aof organizations such as the Kochi University of Technology, thetool for evaluating the impact of technology in Japan. From theCitizens Science Institute Japan and the National Institute for1970 ʼs through to the 1990 ʼs, there was political interest in theMaterials Science. The seven participating members from SciTePP

establishment of a Diet-controlled TA Agency modeled on the US

include Prof. Hideaki Shiroyama, Asst. Prof. Masahiro Matsuura,

Congressʼ Oﬃce of Technology Assessment but it did not come toSpecial Research Fellows Ms. Ayako Kamisato, Ms. Makiko Matsuo,fruition. Accordingly, a detailed analysis of the background to thisMs. Ryoko Hatanaka, Mr. Go Yoshizawa, and Visiting Prof. Tatsujiro

case will be carried out. It is thought that this project can play aSuzuki. The entire research team is comprised of specialists intechnolog y polic y, administrative studies,

Organization Chart

Legal Systems Group Leader
Medical Treatment
Legal Systems

Administrative Legal
System Planning

Foodstuﬀs Legal
Systems

Overseas TA
Investigation

AdviceEnvironmental Legal Systems ‒Environmental Impact Assessment System Comparison

AdviceCollaborativeInformation
Dissemination

Project Leader
Legal Systems

Overseas
Advisory
Board(1) Legal Systems Group

Technology Economics
Risk Assessmen
Coordinator
EthicsParticipative planning
as required(0) Multi- disciplinary
Project GroupTA Method Group Leader

technology ethics, riskassessment, technology

Consensus Building

management, consensus building and risk

Technology Management
Multi-facet Technology
Impact Analysis
Technology Ethics
Citizens

nanotechnology industry. Moreover, an advisoryboard comprised of four overseas specialists has
been established to provide comments andfeedback on all aspects of the project.

(2) TA Methods
Development GroupFor society, TA is an essential process forensuring a harmonious relationship between
Participative planning
as requiredNEWSLETTER

technology and the elements of society that aretouched by technology. In order to contribute to(3) Nanotechnology TA
Implementation Group

truly understanding the synergies which exist
between technology and society and to better

Nanotechnology TA-related
Overseas Bodies
including INSN
Information Provision2

added from virtually every applied corner of theProblem Structuralization

Nanotechnology
Communications

communication. Participants have also been

Nano TA Group Leader

Medical Care and Diagnosis Technology

Citizens ‒ Consumers

Energy Storage and Conversion Technologies

Food Processing and Production Technologies

Panel Operations

Risk

capitalize on this relationship, no eﬀorts will bespared during the undertaking of this project.

There are various ways to conceptualise research design. My
view is that it is essential that following three elements areeﬀectively integrated : appropriate policy agenda setting, adequate

Katsuhiro Yamaguchi
Senior Director for Logistic Policy, the Ministryof Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism(*Manuscript produced during tenure as Professor atthe University of Tokyo)

theoretical framework and sound data collection. My past works
include macro-economic impact analysis of inter-regional transport
accessibility in Japan and assessment of US “Open Skies” airtransport deregulation policy on international trade. I have also
attempted some policy simulations such as i ) the inﬂuence thatliberalization of air transport markets in Northeast Asia would
have on air passengers and airline carriers, ii ) whether it is moredesirable to establish an absolute or intensity cap for the future
airline transport global emissions trading scheme, and iii ) what

Since the 1990 s, growing importance of pursuing “value formoney” in public investment has triggered paradigm shift regarding

the competitive implications would be for the airline industry given
the service level of railway in inter-city transport in Japan.

the manner in which government inﬂuences and intervenes theEducation and research are two wheels on the same cart. In theprivate sector. Before the turn of the century, transport ﬁeld wasGraduate School of Public Policy, I was able to cultivate a great

encompassed by such a reform where cost-beneﬁt analysis anddeal of knowledge through lectures and applied research. Moreover,regulatory impact analysis have been introduced. My concern,

it can be said that superlative research activities are those which

however, was that theoretical advances in transport economics

are couched in writing papers. The feeling that one gets fromand industrial organization have not been suﬃciently utilized

empirically conﬁrming theoretical prediction is like that of striking

and applied in evaluating the impact of actual transport policies.

a vein of ore amidst the seams of a rocky mountain. I hope toAccordingly, the motivation for my research has been to try andcontinue writing papers that may be short in length but are

make contribution in ﬁlling the gap.

enlightening in substance.

Graduate School Course Report
No. 6 : War and Film ( Prof. Kiichi Fujiwara )By Kazuyo Hanai ( International Public Policy Course - Year 1)

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO

Faculty Researchdeclare “the sacriﬁces that were made in that battle, weremade so that the rest of us could live”, they are moved by themoment. However, it is important to note that these techniquesthat are used to connect with the audience have also comeinto use as a form of propaganda.
Film is also a media for expressing the common ideals ofsociety and ﬁlms also reﬂect the times in which they were made.
For example, hydrogen bomb testing gave rise to “Godzilla” andthe events surrounding 9-11 gave birth to numerous anti-terrorist
ﬁlms. In depictions of the Pearl Harbor attack there are stark
diﬀerences between ﬁlms made in America versus ﬁlms madeThe course “War and Film” is a research seminar whichin Japan or even such ﬁlms made in the 1940s versus thoseexamines how war is expressed in ﬁlm and the manner inmade in recent times. The analysis of ﬁlm is ineluctably

which the expression of war changes over time.

entwined with the analysis of society during certain periods.

As a mass art form, for a ﬁlm to be a hit, it must incorporate

Prof. Fujiwaraʼs presentation of the material is enthralling. Thoseelements that the viewer can connect with. Yet, how canattending the lectures are drawn into the mysteries encryptedviewers who have never had the type of experiences depictedin the ﬁlms eliciting moments of discovery and new insight.

in the ﬁlm be connected to and moved by the ﬁlm?

Starting in June, the course incorporated a series of “discovery”
presentations by the attending students. After being assigned tofrom ﬁlms to facilitate an analysis on why certain elements of

one of ﬁve themes, students took turns delivering presentations

a movie catalyze an emotional response in the audience. In

on ﬁlms dealing with war propaganda, the Holocaust, post-war

battle scenes, unsteady camerawork, the sound of bullets

Japan, spying and anti-terrorism. Every week, impassioned

resounding from the left and right speakers, and errant sprays

presentations and debates ensued. Through the eﬀorts madeof blood are all techniques that draw the audience into theto dig deeply into the topics for new insights, it was clear thatbattle and create a sense of being there. Therefore, in the

all the seminar attendees were infused with a passion for theclimax, when the audience hears the lone survivor tearfullyenquiry. War and ﬁlm has truly been an exciting course.

NEWSLETTER

In his lecture, Prof. Kiichi Fujiwara presents selected excerpts

3Topical News

Field Trip for Visiting Overseas Students
From June 5 until June 6, thirty-seven overseas students fromthe Graduate School of Public Policy and the Faculty of Law/
Graduate Schools for Law and Politics joined ﬁve staﬀ members
on an educational excursion to Nikko and Kinugawa. Arrivalin Nikko on the ﬁrst day began with a sumptuous yuba ( soyA six volume compilation entitlededited by Prof. Kazuo Ogushi,

milk skin) lunch. Then, after a guided tour of Toshogu Shrine,Prof. Toshiyuki Kanai, Prof. Hideaki Shiroyama, Prof. Susumu

everyone got to experience ﬁrst-hand the traditional Nikko craft

Takahashi, and Prof. Akira Morita is now being released byof wood engraving by embossing hand-held wooden mirrors.

the University of Tokyo Press. In addition to works from theDay 2 featured sightseeing tours to the Tobu World Squareeditors, the series includes insights by authors such as(world heritage building replicas scaled down to 1/ 25th ofAssociate Prof. Masaki Taniguchi, Visiting Prof. Tatsujiro Suzuki,original size) and Edo Wonderland (Nikko Edo-mura)(traditionalJST Research Fellows Ryoko Hatanaka and Makiko Matsuo.

Japanese village). For the overseas students who participated,
the trip left all with many memories, closer bonds of friendshipand deeper cultural insights.
( Kotoko Ogawa, International Student Advisor)

A Japanese edition ofby Lawrence

E. Susskind and Jeﬀrey L. Cruikshank that was translated by
Prof. Hideaki Shiroyama and Asst. Prof. Masahiro Matsuura
has been published by Yuhikaku Publishing.

A symposium on the Capital Markets and Public Policy will

NEWSLETTER

take place at the Tetsumon Hall on Friday, October 17.

4EditorʼsPostscript
This is our ﬁrst oﬃcial ﬁrst newsletter in English.
We welcome your commments on it.

NEWSLETTER

14［Editor+publisher］GRADUATESCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
THE UNIVERSIT Y OF TOKYONo.

東京大学公共政策大学院［date of publication］2008 . 9 . 20
［design］Masahiro ABiCo

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