K I ZU NA
Linking Japan and the World

Toward Carbon Neutrality

Autumn2021

KIZUNA

KANAZAWA SHOKO
Calligraphy Artist
Born in Tokyo in 1985, she started learning
calligraphy from her mother when she wasfive years old. One of the notable young
calligraphers of today, her solo exhibitions
have been held throughout the world,in cities such as New York, Singapore,and Prague. She was selected as one of theofficial poster artists for Tokyo 2020.

Welcome to KIZUNA, the official
magazine of the Government of Japan.
This bold work of calligraphy is
絆(kizuna) written in Japanese. Kizuna
means the enduring bonds between
people—close relationships forgedthrough mutual trust and support.
Originally describing the rope used
to tether domestic animals such as
horses and dogs, the meaning of
kizuna has evolved over the years. A
passage in The Tale of the Heike,compiled in the 13th century, uses theterm to refer to the bonds of love
between a father and his children.
More recently, kizuna has gone
beyond bonds tying together family
and close acquaintances; it is now
used in a broader sense of human ties
and connections. Of particular note is
the kizuna born among people during
natural calamities, which fosters
feelings of solidarity and serves as theunderlying strength to overcome
hardships.
Similarly, the kizuna cultivatedamong the countries of the world has
the power to deepen cooperation for abetter future. By reporting on a wide
variety of topics concerning Japan, we
hope that this magazine will provide
opportunities for Japan and the rest of
the world to connect and build
strong kizuna.

CONTENTSSUSTAINABILITY

04

Japan’s Green Growth Strategy Will Accelerate
Innovation

06

Harnessing Hydrogen to Realize a Carbon-Free Society

08

Zero-Carbon Cities Herald Carbon Neutrality

10

Japan and the Pacific: Generating Secure andSustainable Energy Solutions

PORTRAITS OF JAPAN

12

Discover the Gifts of Nature and the Flavors of the Season
POLICY & DIPLOMACY

14

New Digital Agency Pursues Inclusive Digitalization
PORTRAITS OF JAPAN

16

Stronger Together, for Safe and Secure Games
PORTRAITS OF JAPAN18

Exciting New Sports to Debut at Tokyo 2020
PORTRAITS OF JAPAN20

Embracing Inclusivity: A Spirit Rooted in theTokyo 1964 Paralympics
LIFE & CULTURE

22

Comradeship Brings Power to Para Athletes
HEALTH & WELFARE

24

Delivering 3D-Printed Prosthetics to All in Need
LIFE & CULTURE

26

Sharing Hope and the Joy of Living Through Music
PORTRAITS OF JAPAN28

New World Natural Heritage Site Shows Unique
Biodiversity
PORTRAITS OF JAPAN30

New World Heritage Sites Highlight the Charm of thePrehistoric Jomon Period
REGIONAL STRENGTH

32

Remote Work Brings People Together in a Northern City

Autumn 2021
Cover illustration by KATO Yutaka

03

SUSTAINABILITY

The Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field(FH2R), located in Namie Town in Fukushima
Prefecture, is one of the largest production facilities
of hydrogen from renewable resources in the world.

JAPAN’S GREENGROWTH STRATEGYWILL ACCELERATE INNOVATION

Japan has set out an ambitious plan to lead the world in decarbonization. What exactly is Japan’s Green Growth Strategy?
In October 2020, the Japanese government
announced its plans to achieve net zero carbon
emissions by 2050. Moreover, in April 2021, it raised
its previously set goal of reducing emissions by 2030
to an ambitious 46% from its 2013 levels, stepping
up its efforts to reach carbon neutrality. Tackling
global warming is no longer seen as a cost, but moreas a great opportunity whereby such proactive measures
will bring about strong economic growth. To createsuch a “virtuous cycle of economy and environment,”
the government launched the “Green Growth Strategy
through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050”.
“The pillars of Japan’s strategy for reducing carbon
emissions are twofold: decarbonization of the electric
power sector and electrification of other sectors,” says
KAWAHARA Kei, director, Environmental Policy
Division, Carbon Neutral Action Plan Promotion
Office, at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and04

Industry. For the electric power sector, the strategy has
proclaimed the goal of pursuing all avenues—including
renewable energy and hydrogen power—to promote thedecarbonization of power generation. For other sectors,
such as manufacturing, transportation and housing,
the strategy’s main approach is to further propel ashift in power sources toward electricity. To curtail thegrowing electricity demand associated with that shift,
however, the strategy also calls for the advancementof energy saving through digital technology, such as
the automated, optimal control of the power network,
along with a leaner, more efficient use of energy.
The Green Growth Strategy sets out 14 promising
fields (see chart) in which future growth is expected, andwhere efforts are essential for achieving the reductionof greenhouse gas emissions. All available policy
measures—from budget and taxation to regulatory
reform—will be called upon to stimulate innovation

Energy-related
Industries

14 Growth Sectors
Transportation/Manufacturing-related Industries

Home/Office-related
Industries

1. Offshore Wind/
Solar/
Geothermal Power

5. Automobile/
Battery

6. Semiconductor/
Information andCommunication

12. Housing and Building/
Next-generation
Power Management

2. Hydrogen/
Fuel Ammonia

7. Shipping

8. Logistics, People Flow,
and Civil Engineering
Infrastructure

13. Resource
Circulation-related

3. Next-generation
Heat Energy

9. Food, Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries

10. Aircraft

14. Lifestyle-related

4. Nuclear

11. Carbon Recycling/
Material

in each of the different fields. Notable among thesemeasures is the establishment of a 2-trillion-yen(18.2-billion-dollar) Green Innovation Fund, which will
provide continuous support for a series of efforts fromambitious R&D to social implementation over the next
10 years. “We will provide continuous supports, but at
the same time we can call on companies to aspire toward
high-reaching goals for 2030 and a strong commitment
to them. By introducing such supportive mechanisms,
and using 2 trillion yen of governmental funds as pumppriming, private companies are expected to increase
their R&D and capital investment,” explains Kawahara.
Concrete action plans have also been drawn up foreach of the 14 fields to demonstrate realistic pathways
toward their goal in 2050, thereby allowing steadyprogress to be realized in each field. For example, forthe hydrogen industry, the strategy lays out several steps.
It focuses first on increasing the volume of hydrogen
introduced in the society. Bringing hydrogen power
generation turbines and fuel cell trucks into marketableproducts are some of the urgent issues specified in
the strategy. It also puts emphasis on measures tostrengthen hydrogen supply including transportationand storage. Through these steps, the strategy aims tobring down the price of hydrogen and to expand thevolume of domestic introduction up to 3 million tons
in 2030 and 20 million tons in 2050.
To spread these new technologies and boost thecompetitiveness of Japanese industries, the Green
Growth Strategy also focuses on international
cooperation. Japan will encourage domestic companies
to collaborate with overseas firms, promoting bilateraland multilateral ties so as to lower the barrier to overseas
markets, while also actively working to formulateinternational rules. In 2021, separate agreements werereached with the United States and EU to create newframeworks to reinforce such cooperation. Meanwhile,
the Japanese government has proposed the Asia Energy
Transition Initiative, a support measure for the gradualreduction of carbon emissions in the region, to Asian
countries. The initiative encourages a realistic energy
transition through the use of a wide range of energy
sources and technologies in line with the industrial andsocial structures and geographical conditions of eachcountry where demands for energy are expanding.
“We should bring together the best technologies andmake the most of what they offer. While increasing
Japan’s industrial competitiveness, we will make ourcontribution to the world by spreading Japanesetechnology overseas,” says Kawahara.
With the Green Growth Strategy, Japan will
promote decarbonization, which is one of themost critical and global challenges for the future ofhumanity. Taking the challenge as an opportunity
for growth, Japan will push forward with efforts
to realize a truly sustainable society by promoting
innovation, fostering new industries, and sharing its
achievements with the world.

Top Left: The automated control of electric
power networks using digital technology has
reduced energy consumption in Kashiwa-no-ha
Smart City in Chiba Prefecture.
Top Right: Aichi Prefecture’s Toyota City
provides a car sharing service utilizing
ultra-compact electric vehicles.
Left: Film-type perovskite solar cells developedin Japan can potentially be installed on thesides of buildings.
Toshiba Corporation

05

SUSTAINABILITY

HARNESSINGHYDROGENTO REALIZE A CARBON-FREE SOCIETY

Hydrogen is garnering attention as a crucial energy resource in achieving carbon neutrality since it does not emit
carbon dioxide (CO2) when combusted as an energy source. As a global pioneer in utilizing hydrogen, Japan is
striving to achieve decarbonization by further promoting hydrogen energy.
With the effects of global warming-induced
climate change becoming an increasing threat, many
countries and regions are accelerating their efforts
toward carbon neutrality for the sake of sustainable
development. One of the keys identified for realizing
the important goal of achieving carbon neutrality isenergy produced through hydrogen, the combustionof which produces no CO2 emissions. In the “Green
Growth Strategy,” formulated in response to Japan’s
pledge to become carbon neutral by 2050, hydrogenuse was positioned as one of the top priorities. Up
to JPY 370 billion (USD 3.4 billion) of Japan’s
2-trillion-yen fund to support the development ofdecarbonization technology has been allotted tohydrogen projects.
In addition to producing no CO2 when combusted,hydrogen’s advantage is that it offers various
applications, including power generation and heating.

The Government of Japan has been an early mover inthe field, drawing up a hydrogen utilization roadmap
in 2014 and formulating the Basic Hydrogen Strategy
in 2017, the first of its kind in the world. Japan has also
backed the development of fuel cells, which generate
electricity and heat by combining hydrogen withoxygen. In 2014, Toyota Motor Corporation released
the Mirai, the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell
Left: The Toyota Mirai, the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle, wasreleased in 2014. Right: Fuel cells are also being developed for heavy-duty trucks,
which account for a high proportion of CO2 emissions by commercial vehicles.

Developing hydrogen carriers is critical to creating aninternational supply chain. Shown in the photo is the
Suiso Frontier, the first-ever liquid hydrogen carrier.

06

Hydrogen supply chain

Japan plans to produce inexpensive hydrogen from various sources
and to develop an international hydrogen supply chain.

Utilization
Transportation

Industrial application

Energy source
Hydrogenproduction
H2

Lo

g ist

ic s

Power generation
Household fuel cellvehicle. Further development will produce synthetic
fuels for use in aircraft and maritime vessels, which are
made by reacting hydrogen with CO2 captured fromfactories and elsewhere.
Although hydrogen is rarely found naturally on
Earth as an isolated substance, it can be produced
from various raw materials. One method is to makehydrogen from fossil fuels and capture the CO2
released as a byproduct. Another is to use renewableenergy to extract hydrogen from water throughelectrolysis. In addition, since liquefying hydrogenthrough ultra-low temperatures (below -253°C)
reduces its volume, allowing compact storage andtransportation, renewable energy could be widelydistributed if kept in that form.
KASHIWAGI Takao, a leading researcher onenergy systems and the chairperson of the Council for
a Strategy for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (establishedby the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry),has been involved in Japan’s hydrogen policymaking
for many years. Kashiwagi says, “It’s essential to makethe widespread shift to hydrogen by 2030, but todecarbonize thereafter, we need cleaner hydrogenproduced from renewable energy. At present, however,producing such hydrogen tends to be expensive, andthe issue is how to reduce its cost. Having acted early
to utilize hydrogen, Japan has the technical prowess tocreate solutions to this problem.”One possibility is the development of aninternational hydrogen supply chain. Kawasaki
Heavy Industries, Ltd. has developed the Suiso
Frontier, the world’s first liquid hydrogen carrier.
As early as this fall, Kawasaki Heavy Industries willconduct a verification test in which hydrogen—produced in Australia from the country’s affordable
and abundant lignite with carbon capture and storage
technology—will be liquefied and then carried to theport of Kobe, Japan. If hydrogen can be transported
by sea, then places that can generate large amounts ofaffordable renewable energy could supply hydrogenfor shipment across the globe. The use of hydrogenin sectors such as transport, industry, and power
generation would contribute to decarbonization.
Meanwhile, Kashiwagi says that community-levelapproaches to steadily promoting the local production
and consumption of hydrogen are also vital toaccelerating the creation of a hydrogen-based society. For
example, the town of Namie in Fukushima Prefectureuses solar power to produce hydrogen in a pilot project
to provide electricity to households in the area.
“No country can build a hydrogen society by itself,”
Kashiwagi said, adding, “Japan will work with theinternational community to build a global societythat can enjoy the benefits of hydrogen energy,
thereby contributing to the achievement of carbon
neutrality around the world.”
KASHIWAGI Takao,
emeritus professor at theTokyo Institute ofTechnology andchairperson of theCouncil for a Strategy for
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells,
says, “Because of its
powerful chemicalindustry, Japan could
become an energy
exporter by producing
carbon-free synthetic fuel.”07

ZEROCARBONCITIESHERALD CARBON NEUTRALITY
Zero-carbon cities, at the forefront of a vision
to make Japan carbon neutral by 2050,
are generating a wave of innovative changes acrossthe country. Taking advantage of its geographicalfeatures, Goto City is looking to reducecarbon-dioxide emissions while
Goto
revitalizing the community.

A floating offshore wind turbine off thecoast of Goto City. Utilizing its
favorable conditions—the strong windsthat blow throughout the year and thewaters’ depth—the city began Japan’s
first demonstration project for such aturbine in 2010. It was also the earliest
to operate the turbine commercially,
starting in 2016.
Hoichi Nishiyama

Every morning before going to work, thecommuter looks at her smartphone to check theamount of charge left in her electric car. Everythingin her home—from the air conditioning to the water
heater—is optimally controlled by digital technology,
reducing operating costs and making housework
easier. She then leaves for her office, driving along thestunning coast while gazing at an offshore wind farm.
Her office building, distinguished by a solar panel
facade, gets all of its electricity from local renewableenergy sources.
This is what the lives of the residents of Goto City,
consisting of more than 150 islands in Nagasaki
Prefecture, will be like in 2050.
Goto is one of Japan’s “zero-carbon cities” whose
governments have declared that they will reduce
their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

08

The Japanese government, which aims for the entire
country to achieve carbon neutrality by that year,
is providing various types of assistance to zerocarbon cities, including planning, capacity building,and equipment installation. The number of local
governments signing on to the initiative has been
increasing rapidly—from four in September 2019
to 444 by August 2021—representing 111.4 million
people, some 88% of Japan’s population. The aim is
to trigger a “decarbonization domino effect” in whichsuch local initiatives will catalyze similar efforts intheir neighbors, leading to a nationwide movement
toward carbon neutrality.
The way in which a particular municipality pursues
the zero-carbon city initiative will be designed carefully
to take advantage of its unique local characteristics.
Goto City is surrounded by ocean and has strong

SUSTAINABILITY
Left: The widespread use of electricvehicles is an inevitable step for Japanas it aims to decarbonize its
automobile industry. Goto plans to
introduce 200 such vehicles by 2030.
Right: A large tidal generator was
installed in the offshore waters of
Naru-Seto in January 2021. With an
output of 500 kW, it generated about
80,000 kWh of electricity in somethree months from the start of theexperiment, equivalent to themonthly power consumption of 360
ordinary households.
Kyuden Mirai Energy Co., INC.

offshore winds. These conditions made it ideal for thecity to become the first in Japan to introduce a floating
offshore wind energy system. While an offshore windturbine is usually installed at sea by driving a monopile
into the seabed, a floating wind turbine sits on thewater, much like a vessel, and is moored by three chains.
This makes it relatively easy to install and move, with aminor impact on the environment. Since the structure
can be set up in deep-water locations, there is muchanticipation regarding its introduction across parts ofAsia that are surrounded by deep seas. Another key
feature of the system is its resilience to typhoons. Evenif tilted significantly by strong winds, it is designed toreturn to its original position. “Although Goto is said
to lie directly in the path of typhoons, our floating
system has yet to be damaged by one,” says MURAI
Yasutaka, director of the city’s Renewable Energy
Promotion Office.
The single floating wind turbine currently inoperation in Goto has a maximum power output of
2,000 kW (equivalent to the annual power needs of
1,800 ordinary households). More than 51% of thecity’s electricity is already produced by renewableenergy sources, which include not only offshore wind
power but also others such as solar power. The city
plans to build the offshore wind farm by 2023 by
expanding the number of floating wind turbines toabout 10, which is estimated to result in over 80% of
the city’s electricity demands being met by renewablesources.
With the aim to decarbonize the entire region,
Goto is also pioneering demonstration projects fortidal power generation and a hydrogen fuel cell ship.
The city is also committed to raising the ecologicalawareness of its residents in order to promote the useof electric vehicles and reduce waste. These efforts

have already brought about some positive results:
renewable energy is often a topic when local issues
are discussed in high school classes, and students haveused drones to survey coastal marine litter.
Initiatives for carbon neutrality have already created
new employment opportunities in the renewableenergy field in Goto, invigorating the city. Recently,
many people in their 20s and 30s have been moving
to the city, resulting in a positive net migration rate
for two consecutive years since 2019. “I want to makea community where each and every industry thrives,
and where people will want to continue living, bothfor the job opportunities and for the sustainable
environment,” says Murai. Utilizing local strengths
and cutting-edge technologies to create societiesthat protect and nurture both the environment
and people, zero-carbon cities are on the cusp ofgenerating a wave of change across the country.

Goto regularly holds tours of thefloating offshore wind turbine andseminars on renewable energy forstudents and the public, in an effort
to raise awareness of the need to build
sustainable communities that care forthe environment.

09

SUSTAINABILITY

Left: Staff inspect a photovoltaic power generation facility
in the Cook Islands. Solar power is an efficient way togenerate electricity for the countries of Oceania locatednear the equator.
Bottom: Fiji installed a retractable wind power generation
system similar to the one on Okinawa’s Hateruma Island.

JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC:GENERATING SECURE AND

SUSTAINABLE
ENERGYSOLUTIONSJAPANThe shift to renewable energy in the Pacific island countries has progressed, withthe support of Japan, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and secure astable supply of energy.
PALAU

With climate change posing
a huge threat to sustainable
development worldwide, countries
around the globe are now
advancingefforts
towards
decarbonization through theintroduction of renewable energy.
However, various challenges are
faced in its adoption. The Pacificisland countries have long relied
on diesel generation, which incurs
high fuel transportation costs andcauses a substantial environmental
impact. Although those countries
have also been striving to
introduce renewable energy, they10

have been unable to stabilize theamount of power generated given
its vulnerability to the effectsof fluctuating seasonality andweather conditions.
In 2017, the Japan International
Cooperation Agency ( JICA)
launched the Project for
Introduction of Hybrid Power
Generation System in the
Pacific Island Countries tofind solutions to this region’s
problems. The project aims to
reduce emissions and secure astable supply of electricity byintroducing renewable energy

FEDERATEDSTATESOF MICRONESIA

PAPUA
NEW
GUINEAMARSHALL ISLANDSNAURUKIRIBATISOLOMON
ISLANDSTUVALUVANUATU

SAMOA
FIJI

NIUE

COOK
ISLANDS

TONGA

systems matching the climate
and environment of each area,
while operating existing diesel
generators efficiently and at theminimum level necessary. The
project is part of the Hybrid
Islands Initiative proposed by
Japan at the 7th Pacific Islands
Leaders Meeting (PALM7)
held in 2015, and was initiatedwith the participation of Fiji,
Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Federated
States of Micronesia (FSM),
and the Marshall Islands. “Weplace the highest importanceon the capacity developmentof local personnel, enablingthem to design plans themselves
and advance the project while
verifying its appropriateness,” says
OGAWA Tadayuki, JICA Senior
Advisor and the project’s chief
advisor. “The situations of eachcountry, along with the issues they
face, are diverse. The project has
progressed from the perspectiveof those local personnel who best
understand the circumstances.”
The project utilizes thetechnology
andexpertisecultivated in Japan’s Okinawa
Prefecture, which is made up ofnearly 160 islands situated in a
subtropical climate zone. The
shift to renewable energy on theislands has been advanced using
the surplus solar energy generated
during the daytime to power heatpump water heaters, as well as
groundwater pumping systems.
Okinawa has also adapted a wind
power generation system thatallows the wind turbine to befolded to the ground to prevent it

JICA’s OGAWA Tadayuki (far right) holds a training
session for government officials and electric power
corporation staff. The focus is placed on not onlyclassroom study, but hands-on training as well.

from collapsing or being damagedby typhoons. By combining thissystem with motor generatorsand storage batteries, Okinawa’s
Hateruma Island succeeded
in meeting its entire power
demand through wind-generated
electricity alone for about 10 days
last year.
The Pacific island countries
project shares Okinawa’s efforts
and knowledge through lecturesand hands-on instruction. At thesame time, the project provides
support for the planning of hybrid
power generation systems tailoredto each country’s particularpower facility situation andenvironment. As both the proper
maintenance and operation of
the power facilities significantly
affect their efficiency, the projectemphasizes on-site and online
guidance in that area. Accordingto Ogawa, “After participating instudy tours in Okinawa and seeing
how carefully the equipment wasmaintained, many said that theywanted to learn how to carry out
the same careful maintenance.”
The Marshall Islands reduced
its annual consumption ofdiesel fuel in 2020 by 360,000
liters compared to that of 2016,
through such improvements
in maintenance. A plan is also
underway to establish a regional
training center—located within
an existing training facility inFiji—for people across the Pacificto study, helping them overcome
the shortage of engineers who canoperate and manage the systems.
“Securing a stable supply ofsustainable energy is a prolonged
and daunting challenge. That’s

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, online training was
conducted in the technologies necessary for the management
and operation of power generation facilities with thecooperation of companies that had introduced hybrid power
generation systems in Okinawa.

why we want to support thepeople of the Pacific islands inbuilding a fully sustainable energy
system that they can maintain bythemselves. We also would liketo learn creative new approaches
from their initiatives, building a
win-win relationship,” says Ogawa.
“The share of power generated
from renewable energy sources isalready increasing in some otherisland nations, such as Tuvalu and
FSM. In Samoa, at the request of
the government, JICA has started
to provide technological support
for the efforts towards realizing
100% renewable energy. Goingforward, we would like to focus
on such initiatives as well.”
At PALM9, held online in
July 2021, Japan and the otherparticipating nations announced
a policy of promoting technology
and innovation to further reducegreenhouse gases. As part of a joint
action plan, Japan has pledged
to help achieve a stable andlow-carbon supply of power by
providing technical cooperation,building
renewableenergyfacilities, and developing energyefficient power grids, among otheractivities. As partners forging thepath to sustainable growth, Japanand the Pacific island countries
will continue to take on challenges
together.
Photos courtesy of JICA

11

PORTRAITS OF JAPANDISCOVER

THE GIFTS
OF NATURE

AND THE FLAVORS OF THE SEASON
Blowing through the streets, a cool breeze announces the arrival of a new season.
Autumn in Japan, with its pleasant climates, offers a variety of elegant scenery.
Appreciating the blessings of the earth and admiring its beauty, people find joy
in the workings of nature.

HARVEST MOON
The waxing and waning of the moon have been used in Japan as acalendar since time immemorial, so folkways attuned to the beautyof the moon have deep roots in the country. The Mid-Autumn
Moon, in particular, heralds a time for the grateful appreciationof the autumn harvest, and is enjoyed by many even in the presentday. In combination with another poetic icon of the fall—silver
grass—the scenery is imbued with an elegant Japanese sentiment.

CRIMSONFOLIAGEAs the heat of summer is gradually replaced bycool and crisp air, the Japanese archipelago turns
brightly hued in reds, oranges, and yellows. Since
ancient times, the Japanese have appreciated thedepth of autumn and admired the changing leaves,bidding farewell to the season. In the traditional
tourist mecca of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, theKegon Waterfall is an unforgettable sight, withits drop of nearly 100 meters surrounded by
mountains deeply covered in crimson foliage.

12

AUTUMN
DELICACIES“Autumn, the season of appetite,” is a famousphrase in Japan. Out of the four seasons, thefall is especially known as a time when people
can get their fill of abundant fresh fruits
and vegetables—squashes, sweet potatoes,
mushrooms, grapes, persimmons, and more—thanks to its relaxing cool weather. Not onlyis the season filled with such delicious flavors,
but the visual appeal of ripeness also stimulates
the appetite.

13

POLICY & DIPLOMACYThe Digital Agency
offices have a different
ambiance from that of
traditional Japanesebureaucracy: theoffices are colorful andprovide free-address
workstations.

NEW DIGITAL AGENCY PURSUESThe new Digital Agency began operation on September 1.
It will serve as a control tower of the country’s digitaltransformation, including the provision of administrative
services by the government online. HIRAI Takuya, on the right,
minister of Digital Agency, shown with ISHIKURA Yoko,
the first chief officer of the Agency.

INCLUSIVE
DIGITALIZATIONThe Japanese government has established a new Digital Agency with a view to overcoming inefficiency in public
administration. An expert with years of experience in promoting the ICT of governmental organizations talks about
the Agency and its mission.
It is frequently pointed out that Japan has
been laggard in digitalizing the governmental
administrative functions both at the national andlocal level. A specific example of this has been the
response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:
applying for cash benefits was felt to be unduly
complicated and payments were slow in arriving,highlighting the problems of a system that is unfriendly
to users and in which data is inadequately linked. The
Digital Agency came into being on September 1,
charged with the mission of fundamentally solving
such issues through the digitalization of public
administrative procedures, and promoting thestandardization and coordination of data systems.
“Japan is far from lagging behind other nationsin information technology since it is equippedwith the necessary infrastructure for nationwide
communication,” says ZAMMA Toshiyuki, whoworked for many years as an executive advisor to thegovernment CIO in both the Ministry of Financeand the Cabinet Secretariat. He has just assumed thepost of head of International Strategy at the Digital

14

Agency. “In fact, Japan ranked 14th last year in the
United Nations’ E-Government Survey, putting itin the ‘Very-High’ class. However, the story changes
when it comes to optimizing ‘digitalization’ in sucha way as to provide good administrative services by
the government, which often involves joint efforts
with the private sector. Even when individual systems
are competent, they will not be user-friendly unlessthey are properly linked, and it is also important
to coordinate with private services that are used ona day-to-day basis. The Digital Agency will play a
critical role in overcoming these issues,” he asserts.
Zamma himself was previously a systems engineer
from the private sector and a long-time consultant at
global consulting firms.
One of the missions of the Digital Agency is tobreak down silos (vertical segmentation) within
administrative systems. The Agency aims to strongly
improve data linkage across the boundaries ofseparate government organizations, leading toincreased efficiency in their services and operations.
It also focuses on capitalizing on expertise from theOne-stopmoving service outline

Moving portal

Public sector(Offered by private sectors)

Public service procedures
User database

Mynaportal

Registers
one’s information

The user who
plans to move

Online public service
procedures site

Providesmoving-related services

Guidancefor each procedure

Public sector
database• Moving-in/out registration• Updating address(National Health Insurance,
National Pension, etc.)

Private sector
Private service procedures• Arranging a moving company• Closing and opening
utility accounts• Updating address (telephone,internet, postal service, etc.)

Private sector
database*This service is currently under consideration.

private sector. By actively employing professionals,
it assumes a more flexible and speedy approach,including utilizing the agile methodology, than had
been done in the past. In that manner, the Digital
Agency is expected to function as a “lubricant” and anengine of reform to push the government forward—
both nationally and at the local level—and improve
its performance.
Zamma declares that the focal point of the Agency’s
agenda lies in “improving people’s day-to-day lives.”
He says, “Let’s say you are moving house. This
involves a great deal of work, such as de-registeringand registering at various offices, signing up forelectricity and gas, and engaging a removal service.
You are obliged to write the same address over andover and the whole procedure is very inefficient. We
are aiming for a one-stop service that involves lesseffort and improves citizen’s experiences.”
The idea of a one-stop moving service draws on asimilar method, Service Design Thinking, promoted
earlier in the U.K. “We are eagerly referencing foreign
experiences and methods where we can. Singapore
introduced something similar to a digital agency five
years ago, and we have also learned from countries
such as Finland, Denmark, Estonia and more. But

ZAMMA Toshiyuki, thenewly appointed head ofInternational Strategy, hails
from the private sector. By
relaying information to theworld about Japan’s experiencein digitalization, he hopes to“pay back” those countries that
presented him with knowledge
and insights, contributing tointernational discussions.

different countries have different problems andsocial settings, so simply copying solutions from
elsewhere will not work. We must understand Japan’s
needs correctly, pick and choose cases and methods,
and then make further improvements to provide
feedback to the rest of the world. That is international
collaboration in digital age.”
In some instances, however, foreign nations arelooking to Japan as the leader. The Earthquake Early
Warning System is one such example. Japan has aunique system whereby every cellphone carrier is able
to emit an earthquake alert with remarkable speed
when a quake occurs. Also highly regarded is the useof real-time hazard maps—which are being improved
every day—to aid in times of disaster.
This year, the Vaccination Record System (VRS),
which was developed based upon continuous
feedback from municipal governments, the system’s
main users, made progress in streamlining processes
by data linkage. The Digital Agency bears the
responsibility of abolishing inefficient practicesof the past and thoroughly focuses on the value of“improving people’s day-to-day lives.” Guaranteeing
the security of data and systems while providing aplatform for collective administrative endeavors,
the Agency aims to speed up digitalization in a userdriven manner.
The Digital Agency has just begun the challengeof getting the message out regarding solving social
problems through digitalization, and that will
eventually help realize a society where all can enjoy
the benefits of digitalization in a way that best fits
everyone’s individual needs.

15

PORTRAITS OF JAPANSTRONGER TOGETHER,FOR SAFE AND
SECURE GAMESThe Tokyo 2020 Games are being held under the unprecedented circumstancesof the COVID-19 pandemic. With many people worldwide facing enormous
hardships, these Games strive to bring the world together as one.

The Olympic and Paralympic
Games—said to be viewed on
television by 4 billion people
around the globe—have thepower to unite the hearts of people
the world over. To send out themessage of the world’s potential tocome together and of being able toovercome the enormous hardshipof COVID-19, the Tokyo 2020
Olympic Games commence at laston July 23.
The context of the COVID-19
pandemicpresents
anunprecedented challenge tothis year’s Games, setting themapart from those held until now.
However, that is exactly why all
involved in Tokyo 2020 have been
striving to succeed in holding safe
and secure Games, and bring tofull fruition a historic event thatgives hopes and dreams to thechildren of today who will be thepillars of the future.
Under the guidance of theWorld Health Organizationand scientific experts, Olympic
officials have come together toformulate safety measures, known
as the “Playbooks,” representing
the culmination of the efforts
of all those involved in realizing
Games that are safe and secure.
The Playbooks for each group of
stakeholders contain specific rules
for the safety and health of all theparticipants and host-country
The Australian women’s softball teamwas the first group of overseas athletes
to arrive in Japan.

16

The Playbook
aThleTes andofficials
Your guide to a safe
and successful Games

June 2021
Version 3

residents alike.
To prevent infection via
droplets, all participants in the
Games are to wear masks at
all times, except when eating,drinking, training, competing,and sleeping. Furthermore,thorough infection control
measures have been put in place tominimize interaction with otherpeople. These include avoiding
the Three Cs—closed spaces,
crowded places, and close-contact
settings—along with frequent
handwashing and ventilation, as
well as the maximum avoidance ofusing shared items.
Participants from overseas are
required to submit a certificate ofa negative COVID-19 test before
coming to Japan, and are subject
to retesting upon arrival in the
country. Routine testing is also
carried out during the Games. A
smartphone app “OCHA” hasbeen created to manage daily
reports on a person’s physicalcondition and trace instancesof close contact with infected
persons. In addition, athletes
and other personnel, insteadof using public transport, mustuse dedicated Games vehicles
operated according to hygiene
protocols.
These strict rules also apply to

The Playbooks containrules for infection control
measures. In addition to
the Playbook for athletes
and officials, othereditions have been
designed specifically forbroadcast and media
personnel, the general
Olympic workforce, andother groups, includinginternational federations.

broadcast and media personnel,
as well as all other people involved
with the Games, with separate
rules for each group. Minimizingthese individuals’ movements
also ensures the safety of all theparticipants and the people of thehost country, Japan.
According to the International
Olympic Committee as of June
15, over 80% of athletes andpersonnel staying at the Olympic
Village are expected to be fully
vaccinated, as will 70% to 80% of
broadcast and media personnel.
Japan’s vaccination rollout has
similarly
been
accelerating
rapidly, with 71.9 million doses
administered as of July 19, which
will certainly lead to safer, moresecure Games.
The whole world’s attention thissummer is focused on a festival ofsport that is being conducted inaccordance with thorough safetymeasures. It has been decided thatmost of the competitions are to
be carried out without spectators,
making it difficult for the public
to show their support for theathletes by cheering directly fromthe stands. However, the featsof the dauntless athletes, whohave continued to train underchallenging conditions, are being
broadcast on live TV and online
streaming, serving as a beacon ofhope for 4 billion viewers across theglobe. By all means, heartily shout
out your support to the athletes thisyear remotely, be it through yourtelevision or other device.

While the athletics test eventin May was held without
spectators, it was carried out
successfully, and top athletesparticipated with excitement.

17

SURFING
IGARASHI Kanoa, who represents Japan at the Tokyo 2020
Games. Surfing is a unique sport in which athletes ride the waves inan ever-shifting natural environment. Watch how the surfers display
their skills so effortlessly that they seem to be one with the wave.

EXCITING
NEW SPORTS
TO DEBUT AT TOKYO 2020

Four new events have been added to the Tokyo 2020 Games,
all of them showcasing the power and grace of movement. The Japanesemartial art of karate and the aquatic sport of surfing are two of
the additions bringing a fresh sparkle to the Summer Games.
Starting with the Tokyo 2020
Games, a new policy has been
inaugurated that allows hostcities to propose additional
sports for the Olympic programs.
At this year’s Games, karate,
sport climbing, surfing, andskateboarding will make their
Olympic debuts. All four of these
sports feature graceful agility
and dynamic maneuverability.

18

KarateSpectators will be dazzled by theskateboarders’ spectacular aerial
moves and the physical prowess ofthe climbers.
With the splash of rolling waves
comes the feel of summer. The
sport of surfing involves athletes
riding waves on shortboards 170 to
190 cm in length, competing with
one another on such criteria astechnique and originality. Surfing

Skateboarding

Sport
Climbing

Surfing

is not only a sport, but an entire
culture of beach music, art, andfashion, and is especially popularwith the younger generation.
The surfing event at the Tokyo
2020 Games has athletes in thewater for 20 to 30 minutes, during
which they catch as many as 10
waves or more. Points are scoredfor each wave caught, with the best
two performances determining

PORTRAITS OF JAPANthe winners. The waves are foreverchanging with the wind and tides,
so no surfer ever rides the samekind twice. In addition to showing
off their skillful maneuvers atop
the board, surfers also have to pickthe right wave to seize, a talentthat requires a winner’s instincts.
The event at the Tokyo 2020
Games will have a four-person heatstructure, where four surfers ride
it out in the water at a time andthe best two of each heat advanceto the next round. As only one
rider can ride a surge at any giventime—a common rule among
surfers—a big highlight of theevent is watching the surfers jostle
for position to catch the best wave.
While surfing is all about
maneuvering a surfboard on awave, karate fascinates audienceswith its impressive control of the
body. This Japanese martial art isthought to have originated from theself-defense techniques developedby the warrior class of the Ryukyu
Kingdom, which ruled over the

Okinawa Islands until the end of
the 19th century. Today, karate
is practiced in more than 190
countries. A key element of karate
in Japan, reflecting its origin as aform of self-defense, is its focus on
training the mind. For this reason,taking karate lessons is popular as
an extra-curricular activity.
Remarkable for its mental
toughness is the discipline of kata,a set of offensive and defensive
movements. Competitors, orkarateka, choose the kata theywish to demonstrate from amongthe 102 that are recognized by
the World Karate Federation.
The karateka then demonstratethese kata as if they are fighting
an adversary. Their punches andkicks are judged on a range of
criteria, from conformance andtiming to strength and speed. The
fluid motions of the karateka are athrill to see.
For those who want to see
karateka actually fighting it
out with each other, the more

KARATE

competitive discipline within
karate is that of kumite. Whilein kata, the two competitorsscore points for the quality of
their movement, in kumite,they gain points when landing
punches, kicks, or strikes on theiropponent, and win by amassing
more points than their adversary.
Karate at the Tokyo 2020 Games
is based on a traditional style thatobserves sundome (non-contact)
rules, which impose penalties
if a karateka should make fullcontact with his or her opponent.
The speedy exchanges of blows
attempting to catch one anotheroff guard, as well as the stunningagility of their high kicks andother bold moves, are a sight not
to be missed.
New events brimming withyouthful energy and traditional
skills should bring a fresh breathof air to the Olympic spectacle
and take it to a new stage. Alleyes will be on these exciting
competitions.

SHIMIZU Kiyou (left), representing Japan in kata,and SAGO Naoto (top, on the right), representing
Japan in kumite. Karate features two disciplines; kata
is a choreographed pattern of moves against an
invisible adversary, while kumite involves two fighters
sparring with one another to decide the winner.

19

PORTRAITS OF JAPAN

Top: The Opening Ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games in which para athletes from 21 countries
participated. The Japanese team proceeded into the stadium by wheelchair.
Right: When he visited a hospital in England in 1960, NAKAMURA Yutaka learned how sports can be
integrated into rehabilitation. After he returned to Japan, he put this knowledge into practice. In this photo, he
is with Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, who organized a sporting event for physically impaired athletes that became thepredecessor to the Paralympics.

EMBRACING
INCLUSIVITY:A SPIRIT ROOTED IN THE TOKYO 1964 PARALYMPICS
With the Paralympic Games opening on August 24, Tokyo is the first city in the world to host the Games twice. The
ideas of a Japanese physician, who spared no effort to organize the 1964 Paralympics, have lived on as a legacy ofinclusivity, aiming for a society where everyone can express their individuality and lead a full life.

20

Sustaining the excitement of the Tokyo 2020
Olympic Games, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
begin on August 24. This year the Games, hosted by
Tokyo for a second time, convey the spirit of “barrierfree.” They contribute toward bringing about an
inclusive society in which everyone, regardless of age
or ability, can help one another and live in harmony.
Even as the compelling nature of sport captures ourattention, what moves us is the para athletes’ courageand tenacity.
One physician who helped make the first
Paralympic Games in Tokyo a reality in 1964
also laid the foundation for progress toward an
inclusive society in Japan. NAKAMURA Yutaka,
an orthopedic surgeon from Oita Prefecture inwestern Japan, traveled to England in 1960 to study
rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. There,
he witnessed spinal injury patients engaging in sport
as part of their therapy. After half a year, many ofthese patients had reintegrated into society. Morethan anything else, Nakamura found it refreshing to
see the enthusiastic smiles of the patients who hadregained their self-confidence through sport.
Nakamura decided to create an environment where
physically impaired people in Japan could also receive
rehabilitation through sport. While there werecritics who said the patients should rest, Nakamura
convinced his peers to put sports therapy into practice.
In 1962, he took two wheelchair athletes to theInternational Stoke Mandeville Games in England, amulti-sport competition for athletes with disabilities.
Japanese para athletes had now participated in aninternational competition. Nakamura then recruited
supporters to help organize an international sporting
event for physically impaired athletes after the Tokyo
1964 Olympic Games, which led to the holding of
the International Stoke Mandeville Games outside ofEurope for the first time, in Tokyo. This international
sports event for disabled athletes, held in the same
year as the Olympics, was later recognized as thesecond-ever Paralympic Games, the first having takenplace in Rome in 1960.
Even after the Games were over, Nakamura didn’t
stop his endeavors. He devoted himself to helping thephysically impaired reintegrate into society, and in 1965
he established Japan Sun Industries, where disabled

people can work and become
members of their local
community. Enlisting aid The “Asuchalle” Challenge for Tomorrowis an educational program for children
from companies, Nakamura School
to experience sports with para athletes.
created many employment Awareness of diversity is the first step toward
opportunities for physically fostering a barrier-free spirit.
impaired people across Japan. Today’s parasports andthe accompanying progress toward an inclusive society
would not be possible without his conviction and effort.
Nakamura’s hope for a society that is inclusive ofphysically impaired people continues to have an
impact today and has inspired new ingenuity. Tactile
paving, or braille blocks, for the visually impaired
is one example. Laid on sidewalks, at train stations,in public facilities, and elsewhere, tactile paving
provides visually impaired people with an essential
tool for safe mobility. It was a Japanese inventor,
MIYAKE Seiichi, who came up with the idea, and in1967 the first tactile paving was laid at a crosswalk in
Okayama Prefecture.
Another example is the “Asuchalle” Challenge
for Tomorrow School. Sponsored by The Nippon
Foundation Paralympic Support Center, which
promotes parasports, it was started in 2016 and provides
para athletes as instructors for classes where children can
try out these sports. Through a simulated experience ofphysical impairment, children gain an understanding of
those conditions and learn to respect diversity. In thefive years since the classes began, over 1,000 schools haveparticipated. Children who have taken the classes haveoffered feedback that is suggestive of their broadening
mindsets: “A physical disability is not the impairment.
It is society and people who create the impairment.
We learned that people can take action to remove
impairments.” These changing attitudes lead to theunderstanding an inclusive society needs and cultivate abarrier-free spirit in people’s hearts.
The zeal of a single physician helped create the1964 Paralympic Games, whose legacy today is the
progress being made toward an inclusive society. The
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games carry us another stepfurther on the path toward social inclusion.
Tactile paving, or braille blocks, which
guides people with visual impairments
as they walk, was created by a Japanese
inventor. It can be found on sidewalks,
at train stations, in public facilities,
and elsewhere throughout the world.

21

LIFE & CULTURE

COMRADESHIP BRINGS POWER TO

PARA ATHLETES
A gold medalist for Germany in para athletics,
Heinrich Popow now serves as a technical coachto the Japanese team for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
With extensive experience and knowledge
as a para athlete, he has been striving to support
Japanese athletes for the event.
At the World Para Athletics Championships
held in Dubai in 2019, the Japanese long jumpteam delivered outstanding performances. Heinrich
Popow—who won a gold medal in the 100-meter
sprint at the London 2012 Games and another one
in the long jump at the Rio 2016 Games—supported
their success. As a technical adviser, he has beenworking alongside Japanese athletes as they aim for
the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Popow had his left leg amputated above the knee
as a result of osteosarcoma (a bone cancer) at the ageof nine. A very sporty child, he began playing parasports after the amputation, and achieved remarkablesuccess, including breaking world records in boththe long jump and 100-meter sprint. However, as
an amputee, he was disheartened by the lack of
prosthetic products available for sports use. That
is why, after retiring in 2018, he became a qualified

GERMANYJAPAN

prosthetist. He says, “I am always looking for ways tocreate an environment in which we can play sports
without any worry about prosthetic products.”
Popow’s decision to accept the role of Japanesenational team coach in 2019 was driven by his
friendship with Japanese para athlete YAMAMOTO
Atsushi. The 39-year-old Yamamoto won silver medals
in the men’s long jump at both the Beijing 2008 Gamesand the Rio 2016 Games, and is going to compete in
the upcoming the Tokyo 2020 Games as well. Popow
says, “Atsushi and I shared our experiences as para
athletes, giving advice to each other after competitions.
Rather than rivals, we were fellow professional athletes.
We both still have a responsibility to keep pushing thedevelopment of the Paralympic movement.” Since the
COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from visiting
Japan to coach players in person, Popow has continued
to actively give the Japanese athletes technical advice

Left: Popow adjusts prosthetic
legs to fit the athletes’ bodies ata running clinic: “My job is toadjust the prosthesis to the muscle
mass that changes with training,
so that athletes can use theirbodies to their maximum ability.”
Right: In order to spark an
interest in prostheses, when
visiting Japanese elementary
schools, Popow tells thechildren to feel free totouch his own prosthesis.

22

HEINRICH POPOW
Born in Kazakhstan in 1983, Popow
moved with his family to Germany at
the age of seven. He competed in his
first Paralympic Games in 2004
(Athens), and has since won two gold
medals. He started working as aprosthetic limb manufacturer in 2007,
and in recent years, began holding
running clinics around the world.

by watching videos of their performances via theInternet and giving them feedback. Through thoseendeavors, he has been teaching the athletes tomaintain their individual performance goals while
helping each other out, just as he and Yamamoto havedone. “Unlike any other team, the Japanese team is
one in which everyone tries to support fellow teammembers who may be in trouble.”
Another mission Popow has committed to with
passion is the running clinics he holds around theworld. At those clinics, he teaches amputees how
to run using sports prostheses. “Sports helped me
to accept my disability and live positively. I wantother people to have that experience.” Popow himself
also often learns from the participants. “In Japan,
people of all ages—even those in their 70s—actively
participate in the clinics. Thanks to those older
participants, I have come to realize that sport is open
to everyone, regardless of age or ability.”
The Tokyo 2020 Games are fast approaching.
While Popow has high hopes for his athletes andis looking forward to meeting them directly andsupporting them in their competitions, he is also
envious that they will experience the Games in their

At a running clinic, Popow
teaches people how to run
using prosthetic legs. Most
participants do not believe
they are able to run at first,
but after the clinics, they
discover that they can.

home country. “Participating in the Olympics orParalympics in your home country is a wonderfulexperience and they will go down in history.” Though
the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten
the world, limiting the freedom to take part insports, Popow believes that sports are needed now
more than ever. “Sports have immeasurable power,and during such difficult times, there is a profoundsignificance in sharing joy and passion through them.
I look forward to seeing that happen at the Tokyo
2020 Games.”

Comradeship with YAMAMOTO Atsushi (left) encouraged Popow tostart coaching the Japanese team. They continue their efforts to develop the
Paralympic movement.

23

HEALTH & WELFARE

DELIVERING

3D-PRINTEDPROSTHETICSTO ALL IN NEEDA Japanese startup is using 3D printing to develop
high-quality prosthetic legs at a lower price, contributing toquality-of-life improvements for amputees living in the Philippines.
With Tokyo as the first city ever to host theParalympic Games for a second time, Japan seeks
to create an inclusive society and remove obstacles
that prevent people from demonstrating their fullpotential. However, many people worldwide whohave lost a leg due to illness or an accident, have
had to put up with their disability as they cannot
afford prostheses, which tend to be high priced.
In the Philippines, for example, where diabetes isprevalent owing to a sugar-rich diet, countless poor
people, unable to pay for a hospital visit, suffer fromincreasingly severe symptoms that force them to havea leg amputated. According to a survey commissioned
in 2017 by the Japan International Cooperation

A verification test was conducted in 2018
in collaboration with the University of
the Philippines General Hospital. Shown
here with the hospital staff,
TOKUSHIMA Yutaka, the CEO, is in
the middle of the front row. On his left isprosthetist KOBAYASHI Yoshiaki.

24

Agency ( JICA), there are 1.23 million people in thePhilippines who need a prosthetic leg.
TOKUSHIMA Yutaka, CEO of the Japanesestartup Instalimb, Inc., founded his company to give
disabled people—including those in the Philippines—
affordable prosthetic legs through 3D printing. Aftera career working for manufacturers of IT components
and medical devices, Tokushima joined the Japan
Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. When he visitedthe Philippines at that time, he noticed many people
who had lost their hope along with a leg.
Because a prosthetic leg must be manually fitted,
mass production is difficult. Hence, prostheses
become expensive, and the poor have no choice but

to go on living without one. Since many such people
are manual laborers, they may lose their jobs, making
them even more impoverished.
Tokushima then had an idea: “I believed that
if I leveraged my knowledge, I could change thesituation. I wanted to give prosthetic legs to thepeople who needed them.” He developed 3D design
software for prosthetic legs, and in 2018, started up
Instalimb basing it in Tokyo. After several attempts
developing various prototypes, the company finallysucceeded in designing a prosthetic leg costing
only 20,000 Philippine pesos (PHP), equivalent toabout USD400—the average monthly salary for a
recent college graduate in the Philippines—or just
one-tenth the normal price. Instalimb was also able
to significantly reduce the time needed to produce
prosthetic legs, which typically take more than three
to four weeks to make. According to Tokushima, a
3D printer, carrying out production overnight, canperform the whole process, from measurement tocompletion, in as little as 24 hours.
In 2019, Tokushima established a local subsidiaryin the Philippines, where he began selling his
company’s prosthetic legs. The production process
begins by taking a cross-section 3D scan of thecustomer’s leg, based upon which Tokushima’s selfdeveloped 3D modeling software then corrects theshape before printing. Once a preliminary mold iscreated, the next step is a test fitting. If any parts hurt,or any other problems arise, a prosthetist makes thenecessary adjustments and applies them to the data.
The finalized data is then sent to the 3D printer toMany people in the Philippines have suffered amputations
owing to such diet-related diseases as diabetes.

Top left: On a street in Manila, a patient who was fitted with a prosthetic leg says he has beenable to return to his normal life.
Top right: Instalimb’s prosthetic leg, made from polylactic acid carbon—a reinforced material
consisting of plastic mixed with carbon—is both lightweight and comfortable to wear.
Bottom: 3D printers have significantly shortened the time needed to complete a prosthetic
leg tailored to each person.

create a mold.
To provide prosthetic legs to those people whoneed them, Tokushima thought up his simple
process for creating custom-made prosthetics thatare nevertheless affordable and quick to produce.
Speaking about the advantages of 3D-printed
prosthetic legs, KOBAYASHI Yoshiaki, thecompany’s prosthetist, says, “Because we canproduce the item in a short time, the patient canstart relearning how to walk soon after their leg isamputated, before the muscles begin to atrophy. This
allows them to return to society early.”
Instalimb is now focusing on developing automatic
designs with AI. If data on a prosthetic leg can bedigitized after a prosthetist has made adjustments, thecompany might be able to create designs in the futureeven in locations where there are no prosthetists.
With the COVID-19 pandemic making it difficultfor people to move around and contact each other,
AI offers greater promise in such cases. Henceforth,the company is considering expansion to otherdeveloping countries facing similar issues, as well as
to conflict areas where many people have lost legs.
Instalimb’s policy is to “create a world where
everyone in need can access prosthetics.” Tokushimasays, “I hope more people will be able to newly dreamof returning to their former lifestyle by obtaining a
prosthetic leg and regaining their independence.”25

LIFE & CULTURE

SHARING HOPE AND
THE JOY OF LIVING
THROUGH MUSIC

Pianist TSUJII Nobuyuki has enchanted audiences worldwide ever since his triumph at the 13th Van Cliburn International
Piano Competition in 2009. He also has continued to take on new endeavors in the face of hardships through music.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic
Games are set to start on August
24. Audiences across the world
will watch in fascination aspara athletes compete for top
honors in 539 events in 22 sports
categories. Meanwhile, the worldof music is graced by the presenceof a Japanese pianist who also
overcame a disability to performin venues across the world,bringing hope and heartfelt
moments to many listeners.
TSUJII Nobuyuki, who was born
blind in 1988, first encountered
music when he was eight months

TSUJII NOBUYUKI
Born in Tokyo in 1988, Tsujii showed
great promise at the piano from an earlyage despite his disability, and decided atage 10 that he wanted to playprofessionally. In 2005, he became theyoungest person to compete in theInternational Chopin Piano
Competition, where he was granted thecritics’ award. Since winning the top
prize at the Van Cliburn International
Piano Competition in 2009, he has
performed on stages the world over.

©Yuji Hori

26

old. His mother noticed that heenjoyed listening to Chopin’s“Heroic” Polonaise, and began
to play the CD for him everyday. Applying himself to musicwith extraordinary fortitude andpassion, his talents bloomed at an
early age and he won the top prizeat the 13th Van Cliburn Piano
Competition at the age of 20,
playing masterpieces including
Chopin’s 12 Études op.10. In thedozen years since then, he has
toured the globe, maturing as aperformer. And this year, he took
the great step of undertaking atour in which he once again played
Chopin—this time all 27 of thecomposer’s Études, an impressive
feat. “It was an enormous
challenge. But I decided to take

Left: When Tsujii triumphed at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, he received
the gold medal from Cliburn himself (left front). The encounter is one of his most treasured memories.
©Van Cliburn Foundation
Right: Many maestros and world-class musicians, including russian conductor Valery Gergiev (center),have praised Tsujii and opened doors to him as a performer (photo taken in St. Petersburg, Russia, 2012).

advantage of this stasis (imposedby the pandemic) to work on the
Études more thoroughly thanever,” Tsujii reflects.
Tsujii is revered both forthe purity and beauty of hisnotes and for his outstanding
playing technique, but rather
than allowing his own musicalpersonality to dominate, hefaithfully seeks to express theenticing depths and complexitiesof whatever masterpiece he isplaying. More than anything,he finds joy in sharing the musicwith his audience, and this truly
comes across in his performances.
This straightforwardness makes
him so beloved by audiences of allnations. “I loved to perform forpeople when I was very young,and that passion has never once
wavered. Whenever I play, I try
my best to be as one with theaudience.”
In his programs, Tsujii
generally includes well-known
pieces that everyone can enjoy,

and experiments eagerly with new
ideas, such as concerts that pairmusic with projections of worldfamous masterpiece paintings.
This attitude was driven in part bya conversation that he once hadwith Van Cliburn, the legendary
American pianist who gave hisname to the competition inwhich Tsujii won the top prize.
“I met with him shortly before hepassed away, and he said to me:‘Be a pianist who can draw in an
audience of those even without
any knowledge or interest inclassical music.’ That is what I
keep in mind every time I play at
a concert.”
During the decade that Tsujii
climbed to the heights as a concert
pianist, Japan and the world faced
enormous predicaments, such as
the Great East Japan Earthquakeof 2011, and the current
COVID-19 pandemic. Distressedby these events, Tsujii exploredways to contribute with hismusic. In 2012, he participatedin the production of “Lights ofJapan,” a video message to theworld regarding Japan’s postearthquake reconstruction. He
performed with a piano that had
been restored after serious damage
from the tsunami. Transmitting
hope and determination for thereconstruction, the video message
was shown to world leaders
assembled at the Davos Forum.
In 2020, in the midst of the
COVID-19 pandemic, Tsujiipresented a new composition,
entitled “We will smile together
again,” in hopes of offering comfort
to others through music. He has
also experimented with new ways
to communicate through music,
including launching a YouTube
channel and giving his first online
concerts. “I feel that we needmusic the most when times are
hard. Music knows no nationalboundaries and has magnificent
power. I myself would not be
where I am today without it,” hesays. Keeping these thoughts in
mind, Tsujii will continue to meet
new challenges. “I will work harderthan ever to be a pianist who stays
in people’s hearts. To always playwith joy—that is something I will
never forget.”

Top: A scene from Tsujii’s first online concert in 2020. “Throughonline streaming, people can watch my hands as I play, and theycan enjoy music in the comfort of their own homes. These areadvantages that live performances lack,” he says.
Right: Since 2016, Tsujii has been regularly holding concerts
where audiences can enjoy a fine selection of impressionist,ukiyo-e, and other art projected onto giant screens during theperformance. ©Hikaru

27

PORTRAITS OF JAPANNEW WORLD NATURALHERITAGE SITE SHOWSUNIQUEBIODIVERSITYAs of July 26 this year, a new site in Japan has been
added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The islands inscribed as Japan’s fifthWorld Natural Heritage site support
a diverse array of life that has evolved along
a unique path within timeless forests.
Iriomote Island has incredible undulating
terrain. The many forest waterfalls of varying
size create impressive scenery.

The Ryukyu Islands are located at the southern end of the Japanese Archipelago, which arches from thenortheast down to the southwest, covering a wide range of climate zones. Japan is already one of the world’s
invaluable biodiversity hotspots, but these islands are particularly known for that trait. The region, which is
influenced by the warm Kuroshio Current and subtropical high-pressure systems, is warm and humid yearround. Evergreen broadleaved subtropical rainforests stretch across the islands. With a thick growth of giant
trees, stepping into the rainforests feels like entering the age of the dinosaurs.
The islands’ magnificent trees are treasure troves of biodiversity. Because of their unique biota, which includes

28

The vast virgin mangrove forest on Amami-Oshima Island.
People can enjoy activities such as canoeing in the forest.

numerous rare endemic and threatened species, “Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern partof Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island” have been inscribed as UNESCO World Natural Heritage site as ofJuly 26, 2021.
The islands were created millions of years ago when they split from the Eurasian continent. Over the longintervening years, the life here has evolved along its own path. The result is that the islands, which account for
only 0.5% of Japan’s total land area, are home to an incredibly large share of the plant and animal species that
inhabit the country. For example, one can see over 60% of Japan’s entire range of bird species on these islands.
The isolated environment on the islands has also led to the evolution of numerous unique species. There arenearly 2,000 such species, including over 1,600 insects and 71 vertebrates. Also, over 80% of the frogs and otheramphibians inhabiting the islands are found nowhere else. Furthermore, 144 of the islands’ plants and animals
are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, which
is 40% of all such species in Japan. The islands originally separated from the continent around 12 to 2 million
years ago, and some of the species still retain their original appearance. A notable example is the Amami rabbit
with its short ears and legs, which is one of the world’s oldest rabbit species.
Local governments and residents have joined together to safeguard those rare species as part of continuing
efforts toward environmental protection and biotic conservation. Their initiatives to protect irreplaceable
nature will be widely publicized through the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15)
to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) summit, scheduled for thisOctober, and will drive the global trend toward a sustainable planet in the future.
Some of the unique species on the islands.
From left: Iriomote cat, Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle,
Okinawa rail, Iriomote locust, Amami rabbit.

29

Sannai Maruyama is the site of a settlement that wasmaintained for two thousand years. Diverse facilities
including large, pillar-supported buildings and roads
were arranged methodically to form the infrastructureof a large-scale community.

NEW WORLD HERITAGE SITES HIGHLIGHT
THE CHARM OF THE

PREHISTORICJOMON PERIODOn July 27, several valuable prehistoric sites were newly added to the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
They bear a unique testimony to the development over millennia of the pre-agricultural yet sedentary Jomon culture.
The northern end of theJapanese archipelago is a verdantregion abundantly blessed bynature. It is also the location ofmany valuable archaeologicalsites, indicating how people
settled and lived in the area morethan 10 thousand years ago. In
July 2021, a number of these sites
were registered as a UNESCOWorld Heritage cultural property
under the title “Jomon Prehistoric
Sites in Northern Japan.”Japan’s Jomon Period lasted
for more than 10 millennia, fromapproximately 13,000 B.C.E. to400 B.C.E. That lengthy span of
Photos courtesy Jomon Archives

30

time coincides with the period
in Europe stretching from theend of the Paleolithic age to theestablishment of the Roman
Empire. The Jomon Prehistoric
Sites comprise 17 excavations
scattered across four prefectures:
Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, andAkita. It is a region of abundant
water sources in the form of lakes,
marshes, and rivers, with richforests covering the terrain. In abountiful land with stable foodsources amenable to gathering,fishing, or hunting, people began
to live together in communities andestablish permanent settlements.

One reason that the remains ofJomon settlements were deemedworthy of recognition as World
Heritage sites is the rare evidence
they provide of the developmentof non-agricultural sedentarysocieties.
Professor Simon Kaner, executive
director of the Sainsbury Institutefor the Study of Japanese Arts andCultures in the U.K., where he also
heads the Centre for Archaeology
and Heritage, and director of theCentre for Japanese Studies at the
University of East Anglia, speaksof the appeal of the Jomon sites. “Aremarkable thing about the Jomon

PORTRAITS OF JAPANA large cemetery is believed to lie under thestones of the Oyu Stone Circles. Numerous ritual
implements such as stone daggers have beenunearthed at the site.

Simon Kaner is executive
director of the Sainsbury
Institute for the Study ofJapanese Arts and Cultures in
the U.K., where he also heads
the Centre for Archaeology
and Heritage, and director of
the Centre for JapaneseStudies at the University of
East Anglia. His choice ofJomon culture as a researchsubject began with the dogu
clay figures that havefascinated him since he joined
an archaeological dig in Japan
during his college days.

Period is the diversity of its pottery
culture, from its earliest stages to
its last. Pottery shards have beenfound at the Odai Yamamoto Site
in Aomori Prefecture that dateback 16 thousand years, whichmakes the site one of the mostancient pottery-using places in
the world.” The pottery found in
Africa, the second most ancientpottery-using area in the world, isfrom approximately 11 thousand
years ago.
Professor Kaner continues,“Why was pottery made fromsuch an early time in the Jomon
Period? Scholars all over theworld are looking for a reason,
but unfortunately, we have not
yet arrived at an answer. Burnt
food residue has been discoveredon some of the shards, suggestingthat Jomon people were interested
in cooking. There is a great deal
to tickle the imagination, whichmakes it fascinating.”
Professor Kaner is particularly
attracted to stone circles, a numberof which are part of the culturalproperty at the sites, including
the Oyu Stone Circles and the
Isedotai Stone Circles, both in
Akita Prefecture. Numerous
implements thought to have beenused in rituals have been foundat the same sites, suggesting thatvarious rites and ceremonies
were conducted across multiple
generations during the Jomon
Period. The Oyu Stone Circles is
one of the clearest example of thisidea, for they are composed of two

rows of regularly spaced stones insundial formation, with buildings,
storage pits, and graves arranged
around the circular setting.
Professor Kaner is conducting
a comparative study between the
Jomon circles and the various
circles found in Britain. He says,“It is quite rare to find stone circles
among non-agricultural societies.
Not only did the societies of the
Jomon Period build permanent
settlements despite them being
fisher-gatherer-hunters; it seems
likely that their societies wereclosely associated with particularplaces, or landscapes, too. Burying
people who were destined to
become your people’s ancestors
in monuments is an effective
way of ‘staking your claim’ oversuch places and landscapes, andperforming rites in particularseasons was as important for themas it was for agriculturalists.”
A visitor to these sites is sure togain a sense of how life was lived inthose days, so many millennia ago.
Professor Kaner says with a smile:“They say that contemplating
beautiful scenery contributes to aperson’s well-being. What betterway to travel than to nourish yoursoul by seeing an archaeologicalsite surrounded by beautiful
scenery, and then enjoying somedelicious Japanese food!”

Left to right: A large“goggle-eyed” clay figure
excavated at the Kamegaoka
Burial Site in Aomori
Prefecture; a decorated
cylindrical earthenware pot
from the Goshono Site in
Iwate Prefecture; a wide
variety of pottery from the
Korekawa Site in Aomori
Prefecture.

31

REGIONAL STRENGTHREMOTE WORK
BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHERIN A NORTHERN CITY

Already blessed by the rich natural environment of eastern Hokkaido,
the city of Kitami has determined to attract IT businesses and build
a robust teleworking environment. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic,
teleworkers from diverse fields have come together
to create a new community beyond their professional backgrounds.
Kitami, Hokkaido Prefecture,
is a city of approximately 115,000
inhabitants. Looking out on the
Sea of Okhotsk, the city boasts
a thriving farming and fishingindustry and proudly produces
more onions and scallops thanany other place in Japan. Close to
Memanbetsu Airport, itself only a
90-minute flight from Tokyo, thecity is easily accessible from thecapital. Satellite Office Kitami—
which opened in the city center in2017—is a facility that provides
workspace for a total of 3,000
teleworkers every year. In addition

to programmers and engineersfrom various firms based in theoffice itself, a wide variety ofprofessionals—web media writers,
manga artists, web designers, andmore—take advantage of thevenue and its facilities. Corporate
workers who drop in duringbusiness trips are also on the rise.
One of the Office’s regular users
is NISHIMURA Takako, who
was born in Kitami’s neighboring
town of Bihoro and now works
remotely for a Tokyo accounting
firm. After attending a university
in Tokyo and pursuing her careerin the capital for a number of years,
she moved back to the area lastsummer with her two children to
seek a better living environment.
She is doing the same job as
before, but online. “This city isvery well balanced with regard toits urban functions and naturalenvironment. One of its biggest
draws is this satellite office, where
people can work together. I’m not
Satellite Office Kitami is a place where
teleworkers from myriad sectors cometogether. They communicate with eachother on a daily basis, opening up newvistas for their work. NISHIMURA
Takako, who moved to Kitami from Tokyo
last year, now enjoys a satisfying lifestylecombining work with parenting.

32

Opened in 2017, Satellite Office Kitami boasts anincreasing number of workers utilizing it. *The number
decreased in 2020 when the Office was closed to the
public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

alone here, and have the chanceto speak with other teleworkers,
which sometimes helps me toease my stress,” she explains. Local
businesses have begun to consult
her as an accountant, and she iseager to contribute more to theregion in her professional capacity
in the coming years.
Kitami is the home of theKitami Institute of Technology,
Japan’s northernmost national
university. However, like mostprovincial cities in Japan, it has
been plagued by the outflow ofyoung graduates toward Tokyoand other large metropolitan
areas once they have finishedHIRATA Kosuke stands in front of
the new curling rink that opened justlast year. His ambition is to bolster
Kitami’s fame as a “Curling City.”

their studies. By collaboratingwith IT firms, Kitami has been
implementing a unique scheme
to recover those human resources.
The city extends support to people
who wish to return after working
for IT firms in large metropolitan
areas for a number of years, having
gained various skills and expertise.
By providing such workers witha setting to which they cansmoothly make the move backwithout any hesitancy, the city has
already begun to attract numerous
people with earlier connections.
That, in turn, has led to therevitalization of the city itself.
One of the first people to takeadvantage of Kitami’s humanresource recovery plan was
HIRATA Kosuke, an Olympic
athlete who played on theJapanese curling team at the2018 PyeongChang WinterGames. After finishing a graduate
course at the Kitami Instituteof Technology, Hirata took a
job at a Tokyo IT firm that hada partnership agreement withthe city of Kitami. He worked
as a programmer there while
continuing his activities as acurler. After achieving his dreamof participating in the Olympic
Games, he moved back to Kitami
while keeping his job with the IT
firm. Hirata continues to work
even as he trains for a second
chance at the Winter Olympics,
and Kitami has proved to be theperfect place for him to do that.
Last year, the city opened asecond curling facility, whichis equipped with an advanced
system to analyze the motions ofboth the athletes and the curlingstones. Hirata has been able tocontribute data in his capacity
as a top-class player, and he has
also been working as the IT firmengineer with Kitami Institute ofTechnology Professor MASUI
Fumito, his former mentor, todevelop a system to improvecurling performances.
“Very few athletes havesuccessfully managed dual careers.
I worried about this in the past,
but Kitami provides me with anenvironment where I can achieve
it, and there are also people
around me to help. Though Ilive in a small municipality far
from metropolitan areas, I wantto prove that even someone in
my situation can be a world-classathlete while working in cuttingedge technology. I would like verymuch to be a good role model for
local kids who want to compete in
the Olympics,” says Hirata.
Kitami is surrounded by placesof great natural beauty, including
the World Natural Heritage Siteof Shiretoko, and it is also theperfect place to both work andenjoy your days of leisure. Added
to this is the bonus of the area’s
wide array of fresh seafood. Oncethe pandemic is over, what could
be a more wonderful idea thanvisiting—and perhaps working
in—this charming city andmeeting its people.

Kitami produces more onions and scallops than any
other place in Japan. The city is famous not only for
its fresh seafood but for its grilled meat (yakiniku)
as well, making it a great place to enjoy food.

33

Autumn 2021

Published by

Edited by

Public Relations Office, Cabinet Office
andOffice of Global Communications, Cabinet Secretariat
1−6−1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
100−8914, Japan

Available in electronic format.
https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/

We would be delighted to have your feedback.
Please send us your comments.
https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html

Links to the websites of ministries
Cabinet Office
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Reconstruction Agency
Nuclear Regulation Authority

https://www.cao.go.jp/index-e.html
https://www.maff.go.jp/e/https://www.mod.go.jp/e/https://www.meti.go.jp/english/
https://www.mext.go.jp/en/
https://www.env.go.jp/en/
https://www.mof.go.jp/english/index.htm
https://www.mofa.go.jp
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/
https://www.soumu.go.jp/english/index.html
http://www.moj.go.jp/EN/index.html
https://www.mlit.go.jp/en/
https://www.reconstruction.go.jp/english/
https://www.nsr.go.jp/english/©Copyright 2021 Cabinet Office of Japan. No article or any part thereof may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office.
All inquiries should be made through a form available at: https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html

JapanGov (https://www.japan.go.jp)
is your digital gateway to Japan.
Visit the website and find out more.
JapanGov, the official portal of the Government of Japan,
provides a wealth of information regarding various issues that Japan is tackling,
and also directs you to the sites of relevant ministries and agencies.
It introduces important policies that the government is addressing , such as economic growth,
innovative technology, and diversity, among others, with many videos and infographics.

https://www.japan.go.jp

You’ll also find the official web magazine “KIZUNA ”(https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/).

Follow us to get the latest updates!
JapanGov

JapanGov / JapanPMOJAPAN

The Government of Japan

K I ZUNA
https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/