K I ZU NA
Linking Japan and the World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 has been selected as one of
the Tokyo 2020 official poster artists.

Welcome to the inaugural issue of
KIZUNA, the official magazine of theGovernment 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.

CONTENTS
PORTRAITS OF JAPAN04

Seasonal Beauty in Japan
POLICY & DIPLOMACY

06

Speech of the Prime Minister
at His Inauguration Press Conference
POLICY & DIPLOMACY

08

Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide’s Personal Timeline
POLICY & DIPLOMACY

09

Summary of the Major Policy Outlook
from the First Policy Speech
HEALTH & WELFARE

10

Avoiding the Three Cs:
A Key to Preventing the Spread of COVID -19
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

12

Aiming for a Digital Society for Diverse Happiness
SUSTAINABILITY

14

Japan’s Green Innovations forAchieving Carbon Neutrality
REGIONAL STRENGTH

16

Creating Vibrant Communities
by Expanding Agricultural Exports
RESILIENCE

18

Innovation and Interaction Drive
Fukushima’s Revitalization
POLICY & DIPLOMACY20

Toward a Free and Open Indo -Pacic
HEALTH & WELFARE

22

COVID-19 Testing Robots Protect Healthcare Workers
LIFE & CULTURE

24

Revolutionizing Sake from Paris with Love
LIFE & CULTURE

26

1980s Baseball Star Bridges Japan andthe United States
LIFE & CULTURE

28

Promoting Kizuna Between Viet Nam and JapanCOVER
For the inaugural issue of KIZUNA,
calligrapher KANAZAWA Shoko
writes the Japanese symbol
絆 (kizuna).

03

春
Yamanashi 山梨
Spring. Delicate pink hues
spread throughout the islands
under gentle sunbeams—it’ssakura! The cherry blossoms
appearing on the shores of
Lake Kawaguchi add color
to another symbol of Japan’s
unique seasonal beauty: themajestic splendor of Mount
Fuji.

Hokkaido

SEASONAL

Kyoto

Yamanashi

BEAUTYIN JAPAN

Okinawa

夏
Okinawa 沖縄
Summer. Under the dazzlingsun, the sparkling blue ocean
enchants the eye. The islands of
Okinawa showcase the magicof the Japanese summer. The
waters of Kabira Bay on Ishigaki
Island, home to abundant coral
reefs, glitter in emerald green,with a transparency that takes
everyone’s breath away.
04

秋

PORTRAITS OF JAPANKyoto 京都
Autumn. In the cool, crisp air,trees blaze forth in the brightest
of reds. The colorfulness of
Kyoto, the ancient capital withover 1,200 years of history,changes along with the flaming
tree leaves. Even, the threestory pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera
Temple wears an aura uniqueto this time of year.

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter—blessed with a wide variety of changes in nature, Japan looks
absolutely different with every passing season. Each of them authentically expresses the soul of the country.
Every one of the seasons captures the hearts of visitors and never let them go.

冬
Hokkaido 北海道
Winter. A silvery world appears andenvelops everything with silence andserenity. An amazing variety ofnatural wonders make Hokkaido,
Japan’s vast northern island, a treasure
trove of life. Beneath the frost-covered
trees of Kushiro Marsh, a group of
red-crowned cranes elegantly wades
through the still waters, epitomizing
the marvelously bountiful habitat.
05

SPEECH OF
THE PRIMEMINISTERAT HIS INAUGURATION PRESS CONFERENCE(AN EXCERPT)SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
FULL TEXT: https://japan.kantei.go.jp/99_suga/statement/202009/_00001.html

I am SUGA Yoshihide and I have been designatedas the 99th prime minister.
Up to today, as Chief Cabinet Secretary in thesecond Abe Administration, I have worked on criticalissues affecting the future of this country, namely
reviving the Japanese economy, reconstructing Japan’s
diplomacy and national security, and realizing asocial security system oriented to all generations. In
addition, since the beginning of the year, I have beentackling head-on the spread of novel virus infections
and the greatest economic downturn in the postwar
period, an unprecedented situation Japan has neverfaced before.
In order to overcome the crisis and enable all
citizens to restore their daily lives with peace of mind,
we must thoroughly carry on with the initiatives the
Abe Administration has promoted and advance themfurther. I recognize that as the mission given to me.
Right now, the highest-priority issue we must takeon is responding to the novel coronavirus. We will
absolutely prevent an explosive outbreak andthoroughly protect the lives and the health of the
public. On top of that, we will aim to balance thesemeasures with socioeconomic activities. We will
streamline our countermeasures, strengthen our
screening structures, and secure medical treatment
structures.
At the same time, it is extremely important that,amidst economic conditions that remain severe, we
protect employment and ensure that businesses areable to continue their operations. To those in need,
we will extend our economic measures.

06

Economic revival will continue to be the matter ofthe highest priority of the administration. We will
carry on with Abenomics, with its three pillars ofmonetary easing, fiscal investment, and the Growth
Strategy, and we will continue to advance further
reforms.
We will first overcome this crisis, and afterwards,
we will undertake intensive reforms and makenecessary investments towards a “post-corona”
society. By doing so, we would like to restore a robust
economy once more.
Above all, the novel coronavirus has revealed thenecessity of digital transformation and the review ofsupply chains. Going forward, we will move up what
we can do in this area and establish an agency incharge of digital transformation as a structure tocoordinate related policies that are divided acrossmultiple ministries and agencies and press forwardwith them vigorously.
Also, even in the “post-corona” age, we willcontinue to work hard to realize environmental
measures and a decarbonized society as well as astable energy supply.
I was born the eldest son in a farming family in
Akita. The desire to cherish local communities andrestore the vitality to all of Japan’s communities flows
consistently and ceaselessly in me.
When I assumed the position of Minister forInternal Affairs and Communications during the first
Abe Administration, I established the “hometowntax” system. People coming to Tokyo from outside
want to contribute in some fashion to theirhometowns and want to maintain their ties withthem in some way. There is no doubt that they feelthat way. So that is how, from what I myself thought,
I proposed the “hometown tax” system and made it
into a reality.
As Chief Cabinet Secretary, I worked to bringvitality back to communities, in particular thoseoutside the major cities. What brought me the mostjoy is that last year, for the first time in 27 years, land
prices in areas outside the major cities switched toincreasing in value. That was an impact of visiting
foreign tourists, so-called inbound tourism, which isa trump card in our efforts for regional revitalization.
When the Abe Administration was inaugurated, thenumber of foreign tourists was 8.36 million. Last
year, that number was 32 million. Agriculture too has
seen exports of agricultural, forest, and fisheryproducts expand from 450 billion yen to 900 billion
yen last year. I want to continue to work hard on
policies that bring vitality to local areas.
It is children who will hold the future of Japan in
their hands. Addressing the declining birthrate has
been a longstanding challenge for Japan. We havepressed forward with making kindergartens, day-care
centers, universities, and vocational schools free ofcharge as well as with male national civil servants
taking a minimum of one month ofchildcare leave. I would also like to build asocial security system oriented to all
generations through which young people
are able to have peace of mind about the
future as well.
In order to provide wide-reachingsupport for households hoping to havechildren and lower the hurdles as much as
possible, we will have insurance coverfertility treatments. A society in whichpeople can bear and raise children withpeace of mind and a society in which
women can stay healthy and be actively
engaged -- I intend to thoroughly develop
such an environment.
In the field of diplomacy and national
security, the environment surrounding
Japan is becoming increasingly severe.
Against that background, I intend to

deploy policies that place a well-functioning JapanUS alliance as their linchpin. In order to defend ournational interests to the end, I intend to strategically
implement the free and open Indo-Pacific while alsobuilding stable relations with neighboring countries,
including China and Russia.
I will aim for a total reassessment of our postwar
diplomacy, doing my very best to resolve theabductions issue in particular. I will closely collaborate
with the United States and other relevant countries
and continue to make all-out efforts to realize thereturn of all of the abductees as early as possible.
I have always thought that our society still has atremendous amount of unusual things that standsignificantly apart from the common sense held by
the public. I will never overlook them and, listening
to voices on the ground and carefully looking at what
is in line with common sense, act boldly. That is mybelief. I will continue to do this, never wavering.
Self-help, mutual help, and public help and “kizuna”(bonds) are the vision of society I aspire for. To begin
with, we must try to do things ourselves. Then we should
assist each other within our families and communities.
Then beyond that, the government will provide
protection with a safety net. I aim to create this kind ofgovernment that the public trusts.

07

PRIME MINISTER SUGA YOSHIHIDE’ SPERSONAL TIMELINE
December 6, 1948

2002

Born in Akinomiya Village, Ogachi-gun (currently Yuzawa
City), Akita Prefecture

Named Parliamentary Secretary for Land, Infrastructure andTransport

Born the Son of a Strawberry Farmer
SUGA Yoshihide was bornthe eldest son of a strawberry
farmer in Yuzawa, a town in Akita
Prefecture in northern Japan. The
region lies under snow for fourmonths of the year, but is rich innatural beauty with forests of fine
Akita cedar.

2003
Named Parliamentary Secretary for Economy, Trade andIndustry

2006
Named Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications,
Minister in charge of Privatization of the Postal Services, andMinister of State for Decentralization Reform

1966
Graduated from Akita Prefectural Yuzawa High SchoolStudent Days Filled with Karate
Suga moved to Tokyo after high school andworked at a factory to save up for tuition andthen entered university. During his student
days he trained in karate. Hard work and thediscipline of karate are the foundations uponwhich he built his career as a politician.

2012
Named Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister in charge ofStrengthening National Security

2014
Named Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister in charge of
Mitigating the Impact of U.S. Forces in Okinawa

2018
1973
Graduated from the Faculty of Law, Hosei University (in Tokyo)

Named Chief Cabinet Secretary,
Minister in charge of Mitigating the Impact of U.S. Forces in Okinawa,
and Minister in charge of the Abduction Issue

1987

April 1, 2019

Elected to the Yokohama City Council, serving two terms

Announced the name of the new imperial era “Reiwa” as
Chief Cabinet Secretary

1996
Won his first election to the House of Representatives

September 16, 2020
Becomes 99th Prime Minister of Japan

Political Career
Suga served two terms on the Yokohama
City Council before being elected to the
National Diet in 1996 (photo). As Minister ofInternal Affairs and Communications, he led
the establishment of a hometown tax systemthat provides a deduction for taxpayers whomake donation to the local government of
their choice. He was the longest serving Chief
Cabinet Secretary (from 2012 to 2020) in Japanese history,
holding press conferences twice a day, almost every day, which
totaled more than 3,200 occasions during his tenure.

08

Loves Morning Walks and Sweets
No matter how busy he may be on agiven day, Suga has made a routine oftaking early-morning walks to clear hishead. He is not a drinker but has a sweet
tooth, enjoying Japanese confectionery
made from red bean paste, or Westernstyle pancakes, which he particularly
loves.

SUMMARY OF
THE MAJOR POLICYOUTLOOK FROM THE
FIRST POLICY SPEECH
Prime Minister Suga outlined eight major policies in his
first policy speech to the Diet on October 26, 2020.
THE NOVEL
1 TACKLING
CORONAVIRUS
Balance novel coronavirus countermeasures andeconomic activities, protect employment, and ensurethat businesses can sustain their operations while
preventing explosive outbreaks through measures toprevent infections.

2 DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION
Carry out regulatory reforms under an agency incharge of digital transformation while heading
towards a “with corona” and post-coronavirus society.

3

BECOMING CARBON
NEUTRAL BY 2050

Aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero.

VIBRANT
4 CREATINGCOMMUNITIESAreas outside of Greater Tokyo account for 70% ofconsumption. Increase incomes in these areas
through agriculture, forestry, and fisheries industry
reforms and restoration of tourism demand.

NEW FLOWS
5 CREATING
OF PEOPLE
Aim to create new flows of people from urban torural areas and between companies, including tosmall- and medium-sized enterprises and startups,
opening up a path for future growth. Welcome
finance-sector professionals from overseas, aiming to
be a global financial center.

6 REFORMING
SOCIAL SECURITY
Aim to eliminate the number of children who must
wait to receive childcare arrangements, promote thetaking of childcare leave by male employees, makefertility treatments covered by public healthinsurance, and allow online medical consultations on
a permanent basis, among other initiatives.

RECONSTRUCTION

THE GREAT EAST
7 FROM
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE
Aim to undertake reconstruction and revival of
Tohoku with an even greater sense of speed. Advancethe development of national land structures that areresistant to natural disasters.

PROACTIVE
8 PROMOTINGDIPLOMACY
Aim to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific based on
the rule of law; promote proactive diplomacy at thesummit level.

“We will get rid of bureaucratic sectionalism, vested interests,
and the notorious habit of following past precedents and make ourutmost efforts to advance regulatory reforms with a sense of speed.”
From the next page onwards, some of the topics related to these policies are introduced.
09

HEALTH & WELFARE

AVOIDING THE

The Japanese government has urged
the public to avoid theThree Cs. A key finding of thegovernment’s retrospective tracing
approach is that these three
conditions facilitate transmissionof the virus.

THREE CS:A KEY TO PREVENTINGTHE SPREAD OF COVID -19

Japan has been preventing an explosive outbreak of COVID-19 by focusing on avoiding the so-called“Three Cs” (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings), key findings of its unique approach of
tracking back infection routes, while seeking to revive the economy without locking down.
As the long fight against COVID-19 continues,
Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide, in his first policy
speech, stated that the Japanese government would
do everything it could to continue preventing an
explosive outbreak and thoroughly protect the
lives and health of the public. He also spoke about
advancing the recovery of the economy through theresumption of socioeconomic activities.
Since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic
in 2020, the Japanese government has taken a socalled “cluster-based approach,” which has focused on
finding the source of infection clusters (outbreaks) inorder to prevent large-scale spread. That approach
was adopted because the public health authority

Wearing masks and washing hands, which
are effective means of preventing the spreadof COVID-19, have been customary inJapan since before the pandemic.

10

discovered early on that much of the transmissionof the virus that causes COVID-19 is propagated by
an exceedingly small proportion of people carrying
it. By tracking past activities of multiple patients so
as to identify the common sources of infections, andexhaustively surveying and monitoring close contacts
associated with those sources, further spread of
infections can be minimized and delayed.
At the end of February, the Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare established the Cluster-Response
Task Force comprising of experts on infectious
diseases in Japan to develop and implement thecluster-based approach. Working with local
governments where clusters had arisen, the task

COMPARISON OF CONTACT TRACING IN JAPANAND IN OTHER COUNTRIESRetrospective tracing

JAPAN

Common sourceof infection

Retrospective tracing
In addition to prospective tracing based on the“Characteristics of COVID-19 transmission,” past
activities of multiple infected people are investigated inorder to identify common sources of infection.
Close contacts associated with those sources are thenmonitored closely to prevent the spread of infection.

Prospective tracing
MOST OTHER COUNTRIESProspective tracing
When a case is newly confirmed, close contacts are
identified and monitored for symptoms.

force gathered and analyzed data for use in planninghow to combat the pandemic. At the frontline,
municipal health centers carried out not only
“prospective tracing,” which aims to identify close
contacts of patients to prevent further spread, butalso “retrospective tracing,” which surveys patients’behavioral histories by conducting thoroughinterviews.
“One of our focuses has been retrospective contact
tracing, which tracks past activities of infected people
to discover possible sources of infection and thereby
identify clusters,” SAITO Tomoya, director of the
Department of Health Crisis Management at the
National Institute of Public Health, recalls. “Thisinvestigation revealed that the ‘Three Cs’ (closed
spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings)
are the major risk factors that could lead to theoccurrence of clusters.”
Since this finding, the Japanese public has been
repeatedly reminded to avoid places and situations
where these three conditions overlap. By declaring
a state of emergency in April and May and callingon the public to voluntarily refrain from leaving thehome unnecessarily, the government successfully
encouraged the wider public to avoid the Three Cs.
Later on, the World Health Organization (WHO)began circulating a global message through social
media encouraging people to avoid the same Three
Cs.
Another notable tool for stopping the spread of
COVID-19 is the wearing of masks. Fugaku, theJapanese supercomputer that has taken the top spotin two consecutive global performance rankings, has
run simulations of the effectiveness of face masks andof how airborne droplets spread in high-risk places
and situations such as restaurants and elsewhere.
Publicly released findings of the research show thatwearing a mask can significantly mitigate the danger
posed by these high-risk settings. In Japan, hygienic
practices such as wearing masks and washing hands,
which are effective means of preventing infections
from spreading, were customary prior to thepandemic, allowing Japanese society to smoothly
adjust to life under the “new normal.”
The fight against COVID-19
is not yet over. In the meantime,
Japan will continue to take thenecessary steps to combat the
pandemic, striking a balance
between preventing the spread of
the infection on the one hand andkeeping the economy going on theother.
The simulation using supercomputer Fugaku shows that not wearing a mask (left) fails to suppress theextent to which airborne droplets are spread during actions such as coughing compared to when
wearing one (right).

11

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AIMING FOR A

DIGITAL
SOCIETY
FOR DIVERSE HAPPINESSWith one of the world’s leading broadband
networks (connecting 98.8% of households withFTTH internet lines) and mobile phone service
covering 99.99% of the population, Japan offers
nationwide access to fast data transmissions.
Meanwhile, in the industrial sector, there is
growing utilization of digital technology, such as
ICT solutions that reduce workloads and raise
productivity at manufacturing sites. However, in thewake of the COVID-19 pandemic a major issue has
been brought to light: the particularly slow pace ofdigitalization in administrative services, exemplified
by complicated procedures and slow benefit
payments.
In response to this situation, the Sugaadministration, inaugurated in September 2020, hascharacterized the “realization of a digitalized society”
as a policy matter of utmost importance and is quickly
moving to develop policies for bold deregulation.

Top: There is an increasing demand for telemedicine, which is expected
to play a major role in preventing infections during the COVID-19
pandemic.
Right: While closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an elementary
school was able to keep in contact with students through online classes.

12

Through the use of digital technology,
Japan is rapidly advancing digitaltransformation that is human-centered andleaves no one behind, contributing to thehappiness of every individual by allowing
diverse citizens to choose digital services
suited to their needs.

In his first policy speech, Prime Minister SUGA
Yoshihide made a powerful declaration about creatinga new society in which citizens can complete a variety
of procedures without visiting government offices,and where those living in rural areas can do the same
work and receive the same medical care and education
as those residing in large cities. Additionally, theadministration has pledged to establish an agency
in charge of digital transformation that, with the
involvement of exceptional digital professionals fromthe private sector, is set to become a powerful force
for vigorously carrying out the digital innovation
policy of the administration.
So as to bring greater convenience to the lives ofcitizens, the digital agency will be newly establishedin 2021. The new agency will proceed withcombining and integrating the national government’s
information systems, and will take an integrated,user-oriented approach to reforming administrative
services and operational systems. In addition,
the government will make arrangements so thatcitizens can use their My Number Social Security
and Tax Number Cards as a comprehensive tool forcompleting administrative procedures.
Not only will this digital agency create moresophisticated administrative service systems, but it
will also simultaneously encourage digitalization

in areas of the quasi-public and private sectors thatare essential to the lives of citizens, such as medicalcare, education, and disaster prevention, thereby
improving fundamental aspects of everyday life.
Ensuring interconnection among information
systems is essential to providing better digital
services—especially in areas where the jurisdiction ofmultiple ministries and agencies overlaps. However,given the current lack of standards for interconnecting
different information systems, the government will
first focus on establishing such standardization.
For example, in the transportation sector, thegovernment is working to establish an environment
where all transportation-related data, including
timetables, routes, fares, and real-time data on
delays, is interconnected, aiming to realize mobility
as a service (MaaS), which, in its essence, provides
customers with seamless transportation services
over multiple transportation modes such as railways,
buses, and taxis.
The Japanese government will make a unitedeffort to digitalize the whole of society by deepening
partnerships and cooperation among ministries,
agencies, local governments, and enterprises.
Specifically, the government will actively promote

the concepts of “human-centered digitalization”
and “digitalization with no one left behind,” bothof which aim to add value to various services byengaging in reforms that prioritize the perspective of
the public, while simultaneously allowing people toparticipate in society at the time and place of theirown choosing, enabling them to demonstrate theirfull creative abilities. These two concepts will thus
form the basis for the administration’s digital policy,
seeking to contribute to the creation of a “diverse
happiness.”

Haneda Innovation City commenced full-scale autonomous bus operationsin September 2020. Similar initiatives to run autonomous buses are startingup across Japan.

13

SUSTAINABILITY

JAPAN’SGREEN
INNOVATIONSFOR ACHIEVING CARBON NEUTRALITY
Japan will forge ahead with innovative research and development tosolve global environmental problems.
Dr. YOSHINO Akira, director of the Global Zero
Emission Research Center (GZR), is driving innovation
toward solutions to global problems.

14

In an October 2020 policy
speech, Prime Minister SUGA
Yoshihide declared that Japan
will aim to reduce nationwide
greenhouse gas emissions to netzero to realize a carbon-neutral
society. He further stated that
addressing climate change is nota constraint on economic growth
and that proactive climate change
measures will lead to major
economic growth for the country.
Based on this conception, whichbrings a paradigm shift at themindset level, Japan will do its
utmost to realize a green society.
The key to achieving thisambitious goal is to further rollout innovative technologies, soJapan will encourage accelerated
researchanddevelopment
toward realizing the utilizationof such technologies. The Global
Zero Emission Research Center(GZR), established by the
National Institute of Advanced
Industrial Science and Technology
in January 2020, will play a

The GZR’s new research facilities, slated for completion in
March 2021, will become a center of Japanese innovation in thefield of the environment and energy technologies.

central role in that effort. The
GZR brings together numerous
research projects related tothe environment and energy
technologies to enhance themby generating synergies among
them, while leading cutting-edge
research in cooperation withlaboratories around the world.
The director of the GZR is
Dr. YOSHINO Akira, the 2019
winner of the Nobel Prize in
Chemistry, who has been hailed
for his many accomplishments,
particularly his
pioneeringresearch
intolithium-ion
batteries. Dr. Yoshino expresses
his enthusiasm when saying,“Japan has long made progresswith many research projects on
zero-emission technology. I want
to bring these research topics
together at the GZR to turnthe institute into a national andinternational hub for research on
zero-emission technology.”
One of the most important

Multi-junction solar cells, which can generate power more efficiently, are expected to be
applied in vehicles and elsewhere.

research topics at the GZR is
next-generation solar cells, thetechnology for which Japan has
been a leader in terms of researchand development. For example,
Japan has enabled the productionof ultra-lightweight solar panels
by using a thin film made fromperovskite, a new material.
In addition, the GZR has
been developing multi-junction(tandem) solar cells consistingof layered materials, which boast
vastly better conversion efficiency
than conventional cells, allowing
for more power generation in asmaller space. If those technologies
are made feasible, they would
facilitate installation in locations
where placing conventional

The GZR is also conducting research on solar cells with organic thin films using materials other than perovskite.
Since that could enable a solar cell to be produced by simply applying a layer of coating on flexible film, it would
allow for power generation on curved surfaces.

solar cells has traditionallyposed a challenge, such as thewalls of buildings or the roofsof factories or warehouses thatcannot support heavy loads.
Furthermore, the cells are
expected to have an even wider
range of usage, including being
installed in vehicles and used as
power sources for IoT devices
such as stand-alone sensors. By
developing various technologies,
the GZR is exploring further
possibilities for solar cells andworking to expand their adoption.
Dr. Yoshino says, “Addressing
global environmental problems
presents a golden business
opportunity for creating major
brand-new industries. Leading theworld in that field and spurringinnovation will make a major
contribution to Japan’s national
interests as well.” Following the
new government’s bold policy of
advocating a virtuous cycle of theeconomy and the environment asa pillar of the country’s growthstrategy, Japan will contribute to
the future of humanity and theEarth.

15

Japan’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports have an excellent reputation.
Clockwise, from top left: rice and sake, tea fields, strawberries,
and cattle used in wagyu production.

CREATING

VIBRANTCOMMUNITIESBY EXPANDING AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS

Spreading quality, appealing Japanese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and food around the world
will revitalize local economies and further encourage Japan’s growth.
16

REGIONAL STRENGTH

With its bountiful natural environment on bothland and sea, Japan boasts agricultural, forestry, andfishery products with an entrenched popularity
in Asia and beyond. The annual value of Japan’s
agricultural exports exceeded 900 billion yen in
2019, a figure that is forecast to grow further. At thesame time, these agricultural exports hold increasingpromise to boost the Japanese economy further
through the revitalization of local economies thatraises incomes in areas outside of Greater Tokyo,
which account for approximately 70% of domestic
consumption.
Under the new Japanese administration led byPrime Minister SUGA Yoshihide, the government
is working with relevant ministries and agencies toprovide a powerful push to expand those exports.
In April 2020, when Prime Minister Suga was
Chief Cabinet Secretary, the government arrangeda system for expedited procedures by setting up
a headquarters at the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries to supervise negotiations
with countries of destination and the certificationof establishments in Japan. That has significantly
improved export operations, which previously had
involved cumbersome requirements for companies,
such as regulations that varied by countries ofdestination. The government has set new export
value targets of 2 trillion yen by 2025 and 5 trillion
yen by 2030, promoting a national effort to reformthe country’s agriculture, forestry, and fisheries so as
to deliver the industry’s products to the world.
Many companies have already produced positive
results in expanding exports. One such company,
Henta Seicha Co., Ltd., manages 25 ha of tea fields
at the foot of Mt. Kirishima in the southern Kyushu
prefecture of Kagoshima. The company produces
pesticide-free, organic green tea leaves and sells
powdered tea and other products. They began

exporting in 2015 inaccordance with a mottothat advocates providing
overseas markets withenvironmentally friendly,
delicious, and reassuring
Kirishima tea. Riding thepowdered-tea boom in
the West, the company
has grown at a rapid pace,and is forecast to export
14 tons of products in
2020, primarily to the
Top: Henta Seicha is aggressively courting overseas
United States, the EU, buyers. The company invites them to visit its tea
fields to build trust in the product’s quality, aiming
and Asia.
for an increase in steady demand.
An important issue Bottom: Higher levels of health consciousness
that comes up with worldwide have fueled the global popularity ofJapanese tea. In response to that demand, theorganic farming, in Japanese government has become involved inaddition to inconsistent promoting more exports.
yields, is how to prevent
agrochemicals from floating over from neighboring
farmland. Henta Seicha’s response was to establish
a method to prevent such flows by purposely
developing tea fields surrounded by forest. Thatallowed the company to make the transition toorganic farming that is pesticide-free, and to receive
organic accreditations recognized in Westerncountries, where health consciousness is high.
The company’s president, HENTA Koichi, said,“Organic farming involves constant work, such as
improving the soil. But if we can keep on making
good products, then I believe the demand willdefinitely be there.”
Henta Seicha has meanwhile acted to further
expand tea leaf exports, such as popularizing organic
farming among nearby growers and working withthem to run promotions outside Japan. President
Henta said, “By expanding exports like this, I truly
feel that we can create jobs in the local community
and revitalize towns. That is our mission.”
Japan’s quality agricultural, forestry, and fisheryproducts and foods are made possible by the hard
work and ingenuity of local producers. Growers’
efforts to expand agricultural exports will show theworld the appeal of Japanese food, while creating
vibrant local economies throughout Japan.

Henta Seicha has benefited the entire local community by successfully
expanding its exports. President Henta (middle of front row) is eager todouble the production of organic farming.

17

RESILIENCEAt Futaba Future Lab, located at Futaba Future School and run by anapproved specified NPO (nonprofit organization), Katariba, many
activities are offered to enhance interactions among people.
University students provide support and advice for local school
students, who in turn run a café for local residents.

INNOVATION AND INTERACTION DRIVE

FUKUSHIMA’SREVITALIZATIONAs the 10 th anniversary of the Great East Japan
Earthquake approaches, Fukushima finds renewed
hope as recovery picks up pace.
Left: A variety of demonstrations are conducted at this robot test field. In thephoto, physicians from Bokutoh Hospital in Sumida City (Tokyo) are conducting
a test to determine whether blood for a transfusion can be transported via a drone.
Right: A summer school, run by a university from outside the prefecture, teaches
local children about agricultural science.

18

Almost 10 years have passed since March 11, 2011,
when the Great East Japan Earthquake inflictedmassive damage on eastern Japan. In a policy speech,
Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide said, “Without
the reconstruction of Fukushima, there will be
no reconstruction of Tohoku. And without thereconstruction of Tohoku, there will be no revival ofJapan.” Today in Fukushima, great progress is being
made toward overcoming the destruction wreaked by
the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident.
One project moving Fukushima’s reconstruction
forward is the Fukushima Innovation Coast
Framework. To bring back industries lost to thedisaster, the project is setting up research centers andother facilities seen as key to creating cutting-edge
industries in coastal areas of Fukushima. Companies
and students are being encouraged to take on new
challenges in such fields as energy and reactor
decommissioning, as well as agriculture, forestry,
and fisheries. In March 2020, the Fukushima Robot
Test Field opened fully to serve as a hub for thedevelopment and testing of robots on land, sea,
and air. It is one of the world’s largest robot testing
centers, with various facilities, including a runway forlaunching unmanned aerial vehicles, an indoor tankfor testing robots running on and under water, andan urban field for emergency search and rescue drills.
Furthermore, the following September saw the
opening of the Great East Japan Earthquake andNuclear Disaster Memorial Museum to share thememories and lessons of the earthquake and nuclear
accident with future generations. The museum iswelcoming numerous visitors from Fukushima
Prefecture and beyond.
Meanwhile, the region is cultivating its future
leaders. Futaba Future High School, which openedin 2015, is collaborating with other communities
to provide a unique type of problem-solving based
curriculum to students. Its
students will develop thetalents needed to carry out
the region’s reconstruction
and bring innovation tosociety. In addition, theregion is inviting figuresfrom universities within

the prefecture and beyond to engage in a wide rangeof educational research and networking, aiming topool together the country’s knowledge in Fukushima
to revitalize local communities. University
instructors run an agricultural science summer
school for local children, while university students
work with local residents to add further value totheir agricultural products by promoting primary
producers’ diversification into processing anddistribution. Those and other new ideas are helping
to solve problems in industrial reconstruction, urban
development, and other fields.
Since the earthquake, over 360 companies havecome to coastal Fukushima to run their business. ITO
Yasuo, executive managing director of the Fukushima
Innovation Coast Promotion Organization, said,“The local residents and children who are actively
working toward Fukushima’s reconstruction havecollaborated with highly motivated young people
and companies from across Japan to make Fukushima
a leader in solving problems. The exchange is enabling
further revitalization in Fukushima and injecting a
fresh stimulus.”
The avid interactions of people and their activities
taking place in Fukushima are making the region’s
future more and more promising.
Right: The Namie roadside restand service area opened in August2020. Among the items for sale
are locally produced vegetables
and seafood. Additionally,hydrogen produced at the
Fukushima Hydrogen Energy
Research Field is used for thearea’s electricity.
Bottom: The Great East Japan
Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster
Memorial Museum opened in
September 2020. Before its firstmonth ended, the museum had
already attracted 10,000 visitors.

19

POLICY & DIPLOMACYTOWARD A

FREE ANDOPEN
INDO-PACIFICAs the balance of power in the world becomes increasingly complex, Japanaims to promote peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region
by establishing a free, open, and rules-based international order in the region.
While the Indo-Pacific region
has been the engine of theeconomic growth of the entire
world, it has faced a variety of
threats in recent years including
piracy, terrorism, and illegal
fishing. To ensure the stability
and prosperity that the region has
enjoyed, it is important to firmly
uphold fundamental principles

NOHARA Masako (left) completed the MSP
program, and YOSHIOKA Yu (right) works
with the MCT. Yoshioka became the first female
dispatch officer, and shares her experiences
gained in the field with participating countries.

of the international community,
such as free trade, freedom ofnavigation and the rule of law.
Guided by this philosophy, Japanworks together with other likeminded countries to achieve afree and open Indo-Pacific. Japanplaces great importance on afuture international order in the
Indo-Pacific region that is free
and open.
Located in the center of the
Indo-Pacific region, ASEAN isthe cornerstone of those efforts
to achieve a free and open IndoPacific. Based on this recognition,
Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide
visited Viet Nam and Indonesia in
October 2020 as his first overseas
visit after assuming office. ASEAN
and Japan are together aiming torealize fundamental principles
such as the rule of law, openness
and transparency in the IndoPacific region, and Japan, as an
Indo-Pacific country, announced
that it will work steadily toward
a free and open Indo-Pacificwhile acting in close cooperation
with Viet Nam, Indonesia andthe other ASEAN countries.
Earlier in the same month, theSecondJapan-Australia-IndiaU.S. Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
was held in Tokyo. There, the four
Ministers concurred on further
developing practical cooperationin various areas such as quality
infrastructure, maritime security,
counterterrorism, humanitarianassistance, and disaster relief. The
Ministers also reaffirmed their

Record of countries involved in MCT
dispatches and the master’s degree
program in JapanCountries to which the MCT has
been dispatched
Countries enrolling students in the
MSP program
Both of the above

20

The MCT is a group of professionals with specialist
skills. The team provides customized training basedon the requests from recipient countries.

Speedboat training for the Philippine Coast Guard
in 2017 (the white hull was provided by Japan).

strong support for ASEAN’s
centrality and unity as well as theASEAN-led regional architecture,underlining their full support
for the “ASEAN Outlook on
the Indo-Pacific.” They also
welcomed proactive efforts byother countries including Europe
toward a free and open IndoPacific.
Playing an important role incollaborating with countries
to build a free and open rulesbased international order is, forexample, the Japan Coast Guard( JCG), established in 1948. After
providing assistance over several
decades to improve coast guard
capabilities based on the requests
from other countries, the JCG
established a specialized team
named the Mobile Cooperation
Team (MCT) in October 2017.
MCT members with expertiseand skills in such areas assearch and rescue, maritime law
enforcement, and environmental
disaster prevention are dispatched

to Indo-Pacific countries to giveintensive training.
The JCG also set up the
Maritime Safety and Security
Policy Program (MSP), a master’s
degree program for junior coast
guard officers from coast guards
across Asian countries that helps
develop human resources for
those countries. In this one-year
program, junior coast guard
officers, together with juniorofficers from the JCG, takecourses in international law,international relations, maritime
police policy, and other relevant
subjects at the National Graduate
Institute for Policy Studies andthe Japan Coast Guard Academy.
A total of 47 officers haveenrolled in the MSP since theprogram started in 2015. Glen
B. Daraug, one of the first
generation alumnus from thePhilippine Coast Guard, says, “InJapan, I was able to develop theskills of decisiveness, dynamism,
and advanced knowledge. We
can continue to safeguard the sea
that links us together and ensure
the maritime order in accordancewith international law.”
A single country alone cannot
deal with cross-border crimes at
sea and maintaining worldwide
maritime order is a difficult task.
Through cooperation with othercountries, Japan will continue
to promote the vision of a free
and open Indo-Pacific with thegreatest priority on realizing thevalues of “free and open.”

Prime Minister Suga visited Viet Nam and Indonesia on his first overseas visit. Japan concurred with both countries towork together toward a free and open Indo-Pacific region for a peaceful and prosperous future of the region.
Left: Met with H.E. Mr. NGUYEN Xuan Phuc, the Prime Minister of Viet Nam.
Right: Met with H.E. Ir. H. Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia.

21

HEALTH & WELFARE

Top: Robots conduct every step of the PCR testing process, protecting healthcare workers from the risk of infection.
Right: The technical capabilities cultivated in the development of industrial robots enable such actions as opening a lid
with a mechanical arm.

COVID -19
TESTING ROBOTSPROTECT HEALTHCARE WORKERS

An automated PCR testing system, based on Japanese robotic technologies,
will contribute towards resolving problems hindering healthcare.
22Top: Medicaroid is part of the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster,where innovative medical technologies are developed to serve the global
community.
https://www.fbri-kobe.org/kbic/english/movies/#movie02

Right: The robotic PCR testing system can be loaded into a truck
container and taken where needed.

As the COVID-19 pandemic
rages on, all eyes are on an
automated polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) testing systemdevelopedbyMedicaroid
Corporation, a Kobe-based
company that produces robots
for medical use. Kobe city ishome to Japan’s largest clusterof biomedical technology, withmore than 360 research facilities,
hospitals, manufacturers, anduniversities concentrated in one
area, where government, industry,
and academia work together todevelop state-of-the-art medical
technologies. The PCR testing
system is the fruit of publicprivate cooperation between thecity of Kobe and Medicaroid.
Medicaroid is a joint venturecompany established by Sysmex
Corporation, which deals inclinical testing equipment andreagents, and Kawasaki Heavy
Industries, Ltd., a leader inindustrial robot technology.
PCR testing faces the difficultyof procuring enough personnel
to perform complex procedures,
while also needing to protect
those workers from infection.
Combining the know-how of
the two companies has made it
possible to create an innovative
system that uses robots to provide
a stable testing regime, whileshielding healthcare workers fromthe risk of infection at the sametime.
The system automates all theprocedures required for PCR
testing, such as inactivating
samples, extracting their nucleic
acid, and subjecting them to
PCR inspection. The industrial
robot technology developedby Kawasaki Heavy Industries
enables robots to accomplish
those precise motions.
“Robots are useful for solving
medical problems, but making
them work is not as easy as it
sounds. Using a robotic arm
to open a specimen container
Hinotori, Japan’s first surgical robot system, wasalso developed by Medicaroid. “We believe thatsuch excellent robot technology can contributeto the betterment of medical care,” says President
Asano.

Transportable by Trailer: Easy to installinvolves a complex series of precise
motions, and that requires a highlevel of technology,” says ASANO
Kaoru, president of Medicaroid.
The robotic system also
contributes to greater efficiency.
In existing methods, tests arenormally conducted in batches of
96 samples, but the new system iscapable of handling eight-sample
batches, one after the other. The
time it takes from accepting asample to reporting the result is
reduced to 80 minutes, one-third
the time it takes now. One system
can perform 2,000 tests per day(16 hours), making it particularly
suitable for venues where speed isimportant, such as international
airports. The goal is to introduce
the new system in 2021. It is alsoa space-saving unit that can beloaded into a 40-foot container
and transported to large events,
where it can be set up for testing.
If robotic testing systems
become ubiquitous and test
results are made rapidly available,
air travel and public events can beenjoyed again without anxiety.
“We will continue to contribute tosocial solutions with our robotic
technology,” declares President
Asano.

23

Imai (left), master brewer at Kura Grand Paris, and Inagawa (right),
CEO of WAKAZE. Both received guidance on brewing techniques
in France from Nadine (middle), an oenologist in Burgundy.

WAKAZE
Founded in 2016 with the idea to turn Japanese sake into aworldwide alcoholic drink, WAKAZE established the Kura
Grand Paris sake brewery in 2019. It won the Platinum
Award in the junmai (pure rice) category of the Kura
Master 2020 sake competition, as well as the Silver Awardat the International Wine Challenge 2020 for the “C’est lavie” sake produced in Paris. The sake brewery uses local
ingredients to produce sake that defies conventional norms.

REVOLUTIONIZINGSAKEFROM PARIS WITH LOVE
Producing sake in France, a young venture company
from Japan is attempting to share the great taste
and potential of sake with the world.

24

FRANCEJAPAN

LIFE & CULTURE

Under the new administration
led
by
Prime
Minister
SUGA Yoshihide, the Japanese
government is working to
expand exports of the country’s
products from farms, forests,
and fisheries. Sake is one of theimportant products involved inthis endeavor. However, whileawareness of Japanese food culture
is gaining pace around the world,
there is increasingly the mistaken
notion that sake simply is a drinkwith a high alcohol content
and is not pleasing to the taste
buds. In order to overcome thesemisconceptions, WAKAZE Inc.,a Japanese venture company, is
attempting to produce a morevibrant food and drink culture forthe world.
The CEO of the start-up
company, INAGAWA Takuma,
once stumbled across some
exceptionally fine sake, enabling
him to dispel his preconceptionthat the drink equated simply
to strong liquor. Passionate
about expressing his love of saketo the people of the world andespecially in France where he had
previously studied, Inagawa set up
WAKAZE in 2016, together with
IMAI Shoya, who himself comesfrom a family of sake brewers andwas trained at Japanese breweries.
The company then went on toestablish the Kura Grand Parissake brewery in the outskirts ofParis in 2019.
“I want to produce sake that is
loved by the local people,” asserts
master brewer Imai. It is extremely
difficult to produce sake in acompletely different environment
with different ingredients, suchas French rice, water, and yeast.
Yet, with all sorts of information
at his disposal—from Edo-period
literature to the latest theses andarticles—Imai is constantly on
the lookout for ways to produce
sake that suits the region. What
the company is really aiming to
do is to make sake brewing “opensource.” By making sake-brewing
techniques available to the world,
the start-up hopes that everyone
can enjoy sake that is—like beer
and wine—tailored to their
specific part of the globe.
The types of sake WAKAZE
produces are popular with local
people not just for their reasonable
prices, but also because, due
to their versatility, they can beenjoyed on any occasion. As wellas pure rice sake, WAKAZE offers
other craft varieties, including
sake brewed with locally sourced

WAKAZE also produces craft sake using Frenchlemons and herbs.

citrus fruits, and a sake matured
in cognac casks. Each of thesake variations comes with arecommended pairing and fresh
cocktail ideas, making sake moreaccessible for everyone. “Ourmission is to get more people
into sake and dispel the mistaken
notions surrounding the beverage.
We want to expand the sakemarket and create opportunities
to learn more about the diversityof not only sake, but Japanese foodtoo,” reveals Inagawa.
Breathing such new life intosake brewing, WAKAZE will
no doubt go on to expand thepossibilities of the drink andrevolutionize Japanese cuisine
around the world.

Left: The rice used is from
Camargue in southern
France. WAKAZE
employees themselves visit
the growing region to
discover the particularcharacteristics of theingredients they use.
Right: Kura Grand Paris is
one of the largest sakebreweries in Europe. The
brewery receives inquiries
from all over the world on
their techniques for
producing sake from local
produce.

25

RANDY BASS
Born in Oklahoma in 1954, Bass has beena sports enthusiast since beginning to play
baseball at a young age. First drafted by the
Minnesota Twins in 1972, he later playedfor other MLB clubs, including the Kansas
City Royals and the Texas Rangers, before
coming to Japan in 1983, where he joined
the Hanshin Tigers. With a powerfulswing and excellent bat control, his successat the plate helped lead the Tigers to theirfirst Japan Series championship in 1985.
After leaving the Tigers and returning to
the United States in 1988, Bass ran a farmin Oklahoma. In 2004, he began a 15-year
stint as a Democratic state senator.

Randy Bass reunites with former teammatesat an event commemorating the Tigers’ feats in the 1985 season.

Professional baseball enjoys
immense popularity in Japan, and
the American Randy Bass may
be the most famous foreign-bornplayer in the history of the sport
here. After playing for several
major-league teams in the UnitedStates for 11 years, he signed with
the Hanshin Tigers, by far one of
the most beloved teams in Japan.
In 1985, his third year in Japan,
Randy Bass belted 54 home runs,
helping to catapult his team to its
first league championship in 21
years. He blasted home runs inthree straight games during theJapan Series, as the Tigers went on
to claim their first championship

1980s

BASEBALLSTAR
BRIDGES JAPAN AND
THE UNITED STATESIn the 1980s, American professional baseball player
Randy Bass became a legend of the sport in Japan. Even today,long after retirement, he retains a close connection to the country.
26

JAPAN

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

LIFE & CULTURE

Top: Even though he has retired, Japanese baseball fans havenever forgotten what Randy Bass accomplished.
Right: After retiring, Bass kept himself busy as a member of
the Oklahoma Senate.

in franchise history. Today,
whenever a new foreign-bornplayer joins the team, fans wonder
whether he will be “the next Bass.”
He says, “It’s just a humbling
experience to be able to know
they put everything on me.”This slugger beloved by Tigers
fans, now 66, is still so enamoredwith Japan that he “could go
and live there right now.” Bass
was amazed by the Shinkansen,
which the team rode to away
games. Praising the high-speed
rail network that connects farflung cities in a matter of hours
while maintaining astounding
punctuality, Bass said, “It’s justso efficient, and it’s a wonderful
way to travel.” The place heloved the most on the road wasTokyo, where he would often get

together downtown
with foreign-bornplayers from otherball clubs. While
Tokyo is renowned as a city witha bustling nightlife, it is alsosurrounded by abundant nature.
Bass recalled, “It was beautiful
up in the mountainous partsof Tokyo. You just never forgetthat. So peaceful and so quiet.”
He said that on one day off, hewent to catch fish in a river inthe mountains, pitched a tentwith friends, and enjoyed an
unforgettable day of rest.
After retiring from baseball in
1988, Bass returned to his home
state of Oklahoma, where he ran
a farm and, beginning in 2004,
he served as a member of the
Oklahoma Senate for 15 years.

There are still plenty of natural
surroundings outside of Tokyo,
Bass’s favorite place toplay on the road.

More than 130,000 Shinkansen trains travel between Tokyo
and Osaka annually, running with an average delay of under
20 seconds.

Despite his busy schedule, he has
found time to visit Japan several
times a year for events such as anall-star game for retired ballplayers
from Japan’s professional league.
Wanting to give something backto all the people who helped him
during his time in Japan, Bass has
been actively engaged in exchanges
with the country, participating in
events such as those organized by
the America-Japan Society. He
says that Japanese children—noteven born when he was playing
baseball in the country—still
come to visit him in Oklahoma,
asking him for a handshake or
autograph because of what they
have heard from their parents. “Itis really a cool thing that Japanesepeople come over and interact
with people in Oklahoma.” Bass
believes that “baseball has thepower to unite people.”
He may have hung up his
spikes after making the dreams ofJapanese baseball fans come true,
but Randy Bass is still building
bridges between Japan andOklahoma.

27

LIFE & CULTURE

PROMOTINGKIZUNA BETWEENVIET NAM
AND
JAPAN
Active as a Coordinator for International Relations in Japan, Nguyen Bui Anh
Thy works valiantly day after day for the future of Viet Nam and Japan.
Transmitting information toforeign residents of the city, giving
presentations at schools, andoffering introductory lessons in
Vietnamese culture and language
at the international exchange
association; Nguyen Bui Anh
Thy puts tremendous energy into
her activities. With three years’
experience as a Coordinatorfor International Relations,she continues to cheerfully
strengthen bonds between Japanand her home country of Viet
Nam. “In Viet Nam, many people
are familiar with Japan because
our education includes learning
about the country’s history
and geography.” Nguyen adds,

Mount Ishizuchi is the tallest peak in westernJapan and has been revered from time
immemorial. Blessings continue to flow fromits heights down to the people of Saijo.

28“I am one of those people.” Incollege she majored in East AsianStudies, which included time as
an exchange student in Japan.
Hoping to help Vietnamese
people who work in Japan, sheapplied to the JET Programme.
She is particularly involvedin facilitating relations between
Vietnamese people who live
in Saijo and the local Japanese
residents. Saijo has become afriendship city of Hue in Viet
Nam, with nearly 400 Vietnamese
people currently living there.
Although many of them workin the city, opportunities to
speak Japanese are fewer than
expected. Here, Nguyen seeks to

Ehime (JAPAN)
VIET NAM

get them involved in events that
introduce Vietnamese culture,
or Vietnamese language classes.
“These events and classes are
popular with both the Vietnameseparticipants and the locals who
have had few interactions with
Vietnamese people and are
unfamiliar with their culture.
Through such occasions, theVietnamese participants cantell the local residents that theycame to Japan not only to earnmoney, but also to provide for
their families and see their dreams
fulfilled. This leads the locals tofeel sympathy and respect for
the Vietnamese residents andto become more willing to offer
support.”Nguyen also puts great effort
into
encouraging
medicalpersonnel to describe treatment
options in easy-to-understandJapanese, as many foreigners
especially struggle with thelanguage barrier during timesof illness. Although the recent
COVID-19 crisis has limited her
activities, she has been perseveringin every way possible. She evenmade a video, featuring interviews
with several dozen people,
including foreigners living and

In addition to assisting foreign residents, Nguyen also
plays a role in conveying the attractions of Saijo City to
the rest of the world. At an event held in Hue, dressedin a yukata, she informs Vietnamese people about life
in Saijo.

working in Saijo, the companies
that have hired them, and otherlocal citizens, asking about thecharm of the city and theirthoughts about international
exchanges. “I believe that having
everyone share their feelings
frankly will enhance mutual
understanding.” Her enthusiasm
for building bilateral ties stops at
nothing.
According to Nguyen, thecharms of the city of Saijo are its

ABOUT THE JAPANEXCHANGE AND TEACHING(JET) PROGRAMMENGUYEN BUI ANH THY
Born in Binh Duong Province of Viet Nam, andhaving visited Japan twice as an exchange student,
Nguyen found work upon her return to her homecountry in the Consulate General of Japan in Ho
Chi Minh City, and was also involved in a projectof the Japan International Cooperation Agency( JICA). Wanting to become more involved incultural exchanges between the two countries, sheapplied to the JET Programme, and was assigned
to the city of Saijo in Ehime Prefecture. She isa big fan of sumo wrestling.

abundant bounty of nature andthe warmth of its people. “Saijo
has really delicious water, and ofcourse the vegetables and fruit
cultivated using such pure water
are wonderful. There is evensomeone who grows crops offood used in Vietnamese cuisine,such as lemongrass, just for me!
I’m impressed by how thoughtful
everyone is.”Nguyen, who talks about her
desire to introduce Japanese
ways of craftsmanship to people
in her homeland, is hoping foreven stronger relations between
both countries. “I feel thatboth Vietnamese and Japanesepeople share a strong sense ofaltruism, and naturally want to dosomething for others. Japan has along history of supporting Viet
Nam. I hope that the relationshipbetween the two countries will be
more equal and that cooperationand exchange will become deeper
and broader, going beyond the“After returning to Viet Nam, I would like tosupport Japanese people seeking newopportunities and challenges in business, work,and academia in the country.”

economy and culture to coverother fields such as education anddisaster prevention. I sincerely
believe that, by building a deep
partnership
betweenbothcountries and joining forces, wewill find solutions to many global
problems.”
Saijo City has many springs of subterranean wateroriginating from Mount Ishizuchi. The water is available toall, including people who come from outside the city.
Nguyen’s beloved daughter is a big fan of the water.

The JET Programme began in 1987 with the goal of promoting grassroots
international exchange between Japan and other nations, and is now one of the world’s
largest international exchange programs. In 2019, the JET Programme welcomed
5,761 participants, and there are currently more than 70,000 alumni from 75
countries living in all parts of the world.

The JET Programme official website >> http://jetprogramme.org/en/

29

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

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