K I Z U NA
Linking Japan and the World

Summer2021

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.

CONTENTS
TOKYO 2020 & BEYOND

04

Keep Your Eyes on the Other Side of Tokyo 202006

Tokyo 2020: A Beacon of Hope08

New Hope for South Sudan Through Sports

10

A Twenty-Year Kizuna:
Fortifying Japan and Croatia’s Friendship
PORTRAITS OF JAPAN

12

Japanese Traditions Cool Summer
Pleasantly with Colors
POLICY & DIPLOMACY14My Vision for the Japan-U.S. Alliance
POLICY & DIPLOMACY

16

Advancing Japan’s Status as a
Global Financial Hub
REGIONAL STRENGTH

18

Farm and Fishery Producers in Tohoku
Winning Back Consumers’ Trust
LIFE & CULTURE

20

Broadcasting the Unknown Japan to the WorldSUSTAINABILITY

22

Transforming Food Systems
for a Sustainable Planet and People
SUSTAINABILITY

24

Shedding Light on Social Responsibility
in Supply Chains
REGIONAL STRENGTH

26

The Distinguished Island Producing the“World’s Beloved Yellowtail”
SUSTAINABILITY

28

A Small Town Asks “Why?”:
Toward a Zero-Waste WorldSCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY30

ICT in Schools Equips Students with Life Skills
for Digital Era
LIFE & CULTURE

32

Bringing Japanese Technologies to the World
Through Cross Border Open Innovation

Summer 2021

COVER
The Olympic Stadium, the main venue
for Tokyo 2020, was designed byworld-renowned architect KUMA
Kengo under the concept of “Stadium
in Forest.” Built using plentiful woodfrom across the country, the stadium
exists in harmony with thesurrounding greenery in the midst of
metropolitan Tokyo.

03

TOKYO 2020 & BEYOND

KEEP YOUR EYES ON

THE OTHER SIDE OF
TOKYO 2020
The Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020are finally approaching, set to open on July 23.
With sustainability as an important theme of the Games,
there is growing attention surrounding the various
initiatives being put into practice under the concept of“Be better, together – for the planet and the people.”
The Olympic symbol has been installed at the summit of Mt. Takao, a popular tourist spot in Tokyo. Visible in the distance is a well-known symbol of Japan: Mt. Fuji.

After a one-year delay, Tokyo 2020 is finally about
to begin; all the eyes of the world will soon focus on
the largest sports festival on the globe. In addition to
the highest level of performance by elite athletes, itwill also highlight a variety of themes that present key
values by bringing together cutting-edge technology,
traditional wisdom, and diverse people. Following atheme of sustainability, the Games are packed withideas and technologies for the future of society.
The Olympic Stadium will be the main venue,
hosting the opening and closing ceremonies as wellas the athletic competitions. It is a “Stadium inForest,” located in a lush, green environment thattakes full advantage of the benefits of nature to
produce a pleasant setting. Particularly noteworthy
is a structural innovation that allows both athletes
and spectators to stay comfortable, even in the hotsummer. The Grand Eaves of the Wind and the
Terrace of the Wind are designed to facilitate the flowof seasonal winds into the stadium. The incoming
breeze can carry away the arena’s heat and humidity
over the field and toward the exterior, riding on the04

updraft created by the sunbathed ground. That makes
for an ecological stadium obviating the need for
installing air-conditioning equipment in the stands.

The National Stadium was built to host the Olympic Games. The construction of
the large, eye-catching eaves of the stadium features the extensive use of wood,emphasizing the Japanese approach of establishing symbiosis with nature. (Design
Works and Construction Works of Taisei Corporation, Azusa Sekkei Co., Ltd.
and Kengo Kuma and Associates JV/Courtesy of JSC)

The medals that the athletes will vie for also
represent the sustainability concept of Tokyo 2020.
All the approximately 5,000 medals prepared for the
Games have been produced from metal extracted fromunwanted mobile phones, small household appliances,and other devices collected from across Japan.
Discarded electronics form a reservoir of resources
known as an “urban mine,” because of the many
valuable metals such as gold, silver, and copper, as wellas precious minor metals, contained within them.
With massive civic participation, the project gathered
32 kg of gold, 3,500 kg of silver, and 2,200 kg ofcopper to make the medals. This initiative continues
today as a new project with a partnership between
the government and companies to encourage thecollection and recycling of small household appliances.
Furthermore, no less than 24.5 tons of used plastic
was collected from the public to construct the

The Village Plaza, which serves as the gateway
to the Olympic and Paralympic Village, is anotherdeliverable created with the help of people from all
across Japan. Though many Games in the past haveused tents that were taken down afterwards, thestructures of the Village Plaza are constructed fromreusable materials. The temporary facility, built withthe wooden architecture so distinctive of Japan, wasalso designed to provide a place of rest and relaxation
for the athletes. Sixty-three municipalities acrossthe archipelago, which stretches from north tosouth, provided a broad assortment of unique local
woods that were assembled like a puzzle. The design
resembles the checkered pattern of the Tokyo 2020
logos representing “Unity in Diversity.”
After the Games, the wood will be returned toeach municipality, where it will be reused for such
public amenities as benches and gazebos for parks
and bookshelves in schools. The recycled objects
are expected to promote the appeal of wood as theGames’ legacy. Wood naturally captures CO2 fromthe atmosphere, storing it as carbon long after being
processed. Increasingly used as a steel and concrete
substitute, it will help to reduce CO2 levels in theatmosphere.

©Tokyo 2020

The medals (left) and the podium prepared for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad. The
fact that these remarkable symbols of Tokyo 2020 are made from recycled materials will
likely linger in people’s memories as a significant legacy of the Games.

podiums. These will be the first medals and podiums
in Olympic history to be made from recycled materials
that were collected with public participation.

Innovative efforts to create a sustainable society will
be found throughout the Olympic and Paralympic
Games Tokyo 2020. They present an excellent
opportunity for people in Japan and around the world
to become instilled with the mindset of sustainability.
The huge summer events that will lead society to amore innovative future are almost here.
The aroma and warmth of wood
fills the air around the Village
Plaza at the Olympic andParalympic Village. This woodcollected from across Japan will
greet the athletes before and after
their competitions. The Village
Plaza is one of the facilities thatsymbolizes the sustainability
concept of the Games.

05

TOKYO 2020 & BEYOND

TOKYO 2020

A BEACONOF HOPE
With thorough COVID measures in place, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
Torch Relay kicked off on March 25.
With the whole world
watching, the Tokyo 2020
Olympic Torch Relay waslaunched on March 25. Startingfrom the three prefectures in the
Tohoku region that are rebuilding
a decade since the catastrophic
Great East Japan Earthquake ofMarch 11, 2011, the torch relay
passes by some of Japan’s mostspectacular sights over a 121day period, until it reaches its
final destination at Tokyo’s Japan
National Stadium in July.
Conceived by one of the top
Japanese designers, YOSHIOKA
Tokujin, and forged by thehands of five technologically
gifted companies, the beautiful
and resilient torch has been
shaped to resemble the crest of
the traditional Japanese cherry
blossom. Its body is partly
made from recycled aluminumoriginally used to build temporary
housing in the aftermath of theGreat East Japan Earthquake. It
encapsulates a sincere desire to see
the region rebuild and epitomizes
a hope for peace.
In charge of manufacturing thetorch’s body was UACJ Extrusion©Tokyo 2020

06

Corporation, a world leader inaluminum processing technology.
The company was able to takeadvantage of an aluminum
extrusion technique used in the
manufacture of Japan’s bullet train
to overcome the difficulties ofmolding the metal into a delicate
cherry-blossom shape. At just 1.2
kg, the result was a lightweight,
seamless, and incredibly gracefulform.
Meanwhile, Shinfuji BurnerCo., Ltd. was in charge of the

A beautiful cherry-blossom shape appears when
the torch is viewed from directly above.

The Olympic “Sakura Gold” (left) and Paralympic“Sakura Pink” torches. The Paralympic torch relay
will be held over 13 days, from August 12 to 24.

The relay started in Fukushima
Prefecture. Along the route, local
residents, who had taken precautionary
measures against infection, applauded
instead of cheering. HASHIMOTO
Seiko, president of the organizationcommittee, said at the ceremony, “Wepray that the flame that embarks today
will send out a ray of light into thedarkness, reaching the national
stadium as a big light filled with thehopes not just of Japan, but of
everyone the world over.”combustion mechanism. Given
the significant climatic variation
across the Japanese archipelago
from north to south, and withthe relay lasting for so long—almost four months—keeping
the flame alight is no mean feat.
That said, after repeated tests on
the color of the flame and seeing
how well it burns in wind andrain, the company managed to
produce a flame strong enoughto withstand wind speeds of up
to 17 m/s (61 km/h) and rainfall
of up to 50 mm/h, and which canalso maintain its height despite
fluctuations in temperature.
In addition to adhering to
COVID-19 guidelines, organizersof the event have developed
thorough measures to keep
everyone involved—torchbearers,
spectators, staff, and the generalpublic—safe against infection
during the torch relay. People areasked to take every precaution,
including avoiding the “Three Cs”
of closed spaces, crowded places,
and close-contact settings, as well
as sanitizing properly and looking

after their health. The torch
relay will also be live streamed sothat people can enjoy the eventfrom afar. Moreover, organizers
have been given the flexibility toalter schedules according to theprevailing COVID-19 infection
situation in regions along the relay
route.
All these determined efforts
have been made to bring the world
together as one through sports. As
a symbol of hope, the torch lights
our way toward the Tokyo 2020
Games. 

THE FLAME OF RECOVERYIn March 2020, after the kindling of the Olympic flame in Greece, the beacon of hope made its way to Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima
prefectures, the areas hardest hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. Dubbed the Flame of Recovery, the Olympic flame
made its journey around the region, shining its light as a symbol of hope to the people who have worked so hard to rebuild their local
communities. This year as well, the journey started again from Fukushima Prefecture—this time as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch
Relay—to deliver hope to everywhere in the world.
For Japan, the Tokyo 2020 Games is an event of huge importance, having been nicknamed the Recovery and Reconstruction Games. It
will serve as a chance for the country to show its gratitude to those around the world who gave tremendous support following the 2011
earthquake and tsunami. At the heart of the Games is a strong determination to make great strides forward, and to show the people of
the world the success of the efforts taken to rebuild the areas devastated by disaster.

Left: The Olympic flame on display in the Ishinomaki Minamihama Tsunami Recovery Memorial Park in Miyagi Prefecture gives hope to the local people in theirrebuilding efforts. Center: Transporting the flame along the coastline of Iwate Prefecture is the Sanriku Railway, a lifeline for local residents now completely restored
after eight years. Right: The Aquamarine Park in Fukushima Prefecture lost over 90% of its fish and animals in the tsunami. “We hope the Flame of Recovery will
arrive safely at the Olympic Cauldron,” say local residents.
©Tokyo 2020 (left and center photos)

07

TOKYO 2020 & BEYOND

NEW HOPE FOR

SOUTH SUDAN
THROUGH SPORTS

Even after its independence in 2011, long-lasting ethnic conflicts
still persist in South Sudan. National Unity Day, a sports festival for“Peace and Social Cohesion” that began in 2016 with the supportof the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has been broadening
the mindset of the country’s young generations toward bridging
the differences in ethnic backgrounds.
While the Olympic and Paralympic Games
provide a stage upon which the world’s top athletes
can compete at the highest level, they are also an
opportunity to bring cohesion and hope to countries
through sports. South Sudan provides a good example.
After conflict that lasted more than half a century, thecountry won independence from Sudan in 2011. But
there have been repeated domestic ethnic conflicts
since then, and even now there are over 3.8 million
refugees inside and outside the country. Despite suchcircumstances, four athletes from South Sudan will
be heading to the Olympic and Paralympic GamesTokyo 2020. The athletes found it difficult to train in
NUD draws athletes from across South Sudan
to compete in a variety of events including
athletics, volleyball, and wheelchair basketball.
(Photo taken at NUD 2020)

08

JAPAN

SOUTH SUDAN

their own country, but they discovered a way aroundthat impasse thanks to support from the Japanese cityof Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, which organized along-term pre-Olympics camp for them beginning inNovember 2019. Guem Abraham Majok Matet, whowill compete in the men’s 1,500 meters, says, “ForSouth Sudan, which has long suffered from a civil
war, the opportunity to appear in the festival of peace[represented by the Olympics] has great significance.
I want to give the kind of performance [at the Games]that will encourage people in my home country.”
The future Olympians and other athletes fromSouth Sudan had lacked the opportunity to train andcompete domestically amid their country’s instability,
but eventually they got the chance through the annual
National Unity Day (NUD) sports festival, launchedin the capital city, Juba, in 2016 with the assistanceof the Japan International Cooperation Agency( JICA). Athletes aged 19 or younger gather fromaround the country to compete in athletics, football,volleyball, and other sports, with the tournament
providing a springboard for outstanding talents toadvance to international competitions, and then on
to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As the only
official sports tournament in the country, NUD gives
the young South Sudanese athletes the chance to win
glory in their chosen fields, and attracts more than
60,000 spectators.
Another major goal of NUD is to promote peaceand social cohesion through sports. JICA fully
supported the South Sudanese government at thetime of the tournament’s founding, with the aim ofproviding an opportunity for young people—who
will lead the country in the future—to get to knoweach other and overcome the barriers of ethnicity.
The wide-ranging support included funding andarranging preliminary events across the country andconstructing competition grounds. Since then, JICA
has continued to support and work together withthe government and international organizations todevelop NUD further by formulating various creative
projects, one example of which is the peacebuilding
workshop during the tournament, where athletes
from different ethnic groups can interact with each

Four South Sudanese athletes representing their country have been training
at a long-term pre-tournament camp ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic
Games Tokyo 2020. Guem Abraham (middle), who will compete in the
men’s 1,500 meters, joined a middle-distance race in Tokyo in April, in
which he placed second, recording a personal best.

Left: During NUD, a tug of war event takes place where athletes from different states formteams. The tournament staff, including KANAMORI Daisuke from the JICA South Sudan
Office, have a team, too.
Right: There is also a workshop to learn about peace, at which the athletes express their own
pro-peace messages.

other by learning together. In addition, the NUD
participants are also able to deepen their exchange
during the tournament just by living together. As
KANAMORI Daisuke of the JICA South Sudan
Office says, “We assign dorm rooms so that athletes ofdifferent ethnic backgrounds share rooms together.
By eating and sleeping in the same place, they get toknow each other, becoming friends and staying intouch through social media after the tournament.” In
a 2019 questionnaire, over 95% of athletes responded
that they had become friends with a participant fromanother part of the country.
After the tournament, the athletes serve as peace
ambassadors throughout the country by sharing theirexperiences at NUD with their local communities.
The way they do so varies, from organizing sports
events for children of different ethnic backgrounds
to talking about their NUD experiences on theradio. Still, the athletes have something in common.
“Many of them try to form deeper friendships incommunities and teams, with an awareness that they
are serving as role models,” Kanamori says.
In addition to being an Olympian, Guem Abraham
Majok Matet is an ambitious yet kindhearted peace
ambassador. He says, “I think that NUD contributes
to peace in South Sudan in a way that is hard todescribe in words. By letting us directly interact withothers in the country with different backgrounds, thetournament has enabled us athletes to let go of thevarious preconceptions that we might have had andhas helped us learn to understand each other.” At the
Olympics and Paralympics as well, his aim is to turn the
Games into an opportunity for greater cohesion thatbridges ethnic divides. “I want to put smiles on the facesof many people in South Sudan. I want to do that notjust through my running but by actively engaging in any
activity that leads to peace. My hope is that by doing so I
will bring smiles to my fellow South Sudanese.”

Photos courtesy of JICA

09

TOKYO 2020 & BEYOND

A TWENTY-YEAR
KIZUNA:FORTIFYING JAPAN AND
CROATIA’S FRIENDSHIPCROATIA

Niigata(JAPAN)

The city of Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture has cultivated a close relationship with Croatia through enthusiastic
exchange since the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Sven Bjelan, a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) on Japan’scultural exchange program, JET, is actively striving to further deepen that friendship at the Olympic and Paralympic
Games Tokyo 2020.
The seeds of the friendshipwere first sown during the FIFA
World Cup cohosted in 2002
by Japan and South Korea. For
their pre-tournament camp, theCroatian national team visited
Tokamachi, a regional city in
Niigata Prefecture. The local
government and residents gave theteam an enthusiastic and heartfelt
welcome during their two-week
stay, in which team members
happily participated in a soccer
workshop for children and othersupporting events. On the day of

the team’s departure, thousandsof citizens lined the streets to bid
farewell to the players, as they
were reluctant to see the beloved
athletes leave. Team captain
Davor Šuker said, “No other town
has ever made such an effort totruly get to know Croatia. It wasa wonderful camp.”
Since then, Tokamachi has
actively engaged in exchanges
to cultivate its 20-year close
relationship with Croatia. Sven
Bjelan, a Croatia-born CIR in the
JET Programme, said, “Anyone

SVEN BJELAN
Born in the Croatian capital of Zagreb,
Bjelan developed an interest in Japan after
joining a calligraphy seminar when he was
21. He studied Japanology at the
University of Zagreb and came to Japan to
study on two separate occasions, in Tokyo
and Osaka. When searching for work inJapan after his return to Croatia in 2016,he learned that the JET Programme wasrecruiting Croatians for a CIR position in
Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture. His
bridge-building activities began in 2017.
Croatia Pitch (background),where a pre-tournament camp
was held before the 2002 FIFA
World Cup, is a symbol of theinternational exchanges that
Bjelan works on.

10

visiting from Croatia is surprised
at how welcoming Tokamachi
is to them.” Even beyond 2002,
large crowds of Tokamachi
locals have continued to join live
public screenings of Croatia’s
big matches in the FIFA World
Cup. The field where the 2002
camp was held has subsequently
become fondly known as Croatia
Pitch. Now it hosts the Croatia
Cup Soccer Festival, a local soccer
competition, as well as a camp for
the U-17 Croatian team during
their regular visits to Japan forTop: Bjelan served as an interpreter at a 2017
meeting between SUZUKI Daichi, a gold medalistat the Seoul Olympic Games and the then head of
the Japan Sports Agency, and the then State Secretaryof the Central State Office for Sports, Janica Kostelić.
Bottom: Bjelan also teaches at a cooking class for
Tokamachi residents.

the International Youth Soccer
in Niigata tournaments. The
city’s Croatia-related projects
extend beyond sports, including
Croatian cooking classes and film
screenings, among others.
With Tokamachi serving as ahost town for the Olympic andParalympic Games Tokyo 2020,
Bjelan hopes to further fortify
the ties that the city has createdwith Croatia, and has beenquite busy with preparations
to make that happen. When he
first started working as a CIR,
his knowledge of the city andexperience regarding exchanges
with Croatia were limited;nevertheless, he took on his newrole with vigor. Now his various

ABOUT THE JAPANEXCHANGE AND TEACHING(JET) PROGRAMME

duties cover everything fromproject proposals to exchanges
with and interpretation for
Croatian visitors. The work hasoften been hard, however, onesight that has remained in his
mind is that of local childreninteracting with top athletes fromhis country in 2019, during test
events for a pre-Olympics camp
for judo, karate, and taekwondo.
Bjelan said, “Although it is not
yet certain whether they will beable to interact directly during
the Olympics, I hope that thechildren will be inspired by the
Croatian athletes and that theygain an interest in their sports.”
Tokamachi is a city surroundedby beautiful nature. The snowfall
is heavy in winter, while thesummer is pleasantly cool anddry. Those are some of the many
similarities to Croatia, especiallyregarding the country’s inland
areas. Bjelan said, “A rich foodculture of such staples as soba
noodles and sake has taken root

At a pre-Olympics test event held in 2019 to prepare for Tokyo
2020, Tokamachi children interacted directly with Croatian
Olympians competing in judo, karate, and taekwondo.

in the region, and the lifestyle ismore relaxed than in urban areas.
Through these qualities one canfeel the real charm of Tokamachi.”
Even though his tenure as a CIR
will end someday, Bjelan is willingto provide support for exchange
projects whenever needed. Oneof his future goals is to invite
Tokamachi children to events in
Croatia such as sports camps, andto create opportunities for handson interaction with his country’s
people and culture. He would also
like to help Japanese companies
to start business in Croatia. Even
after the Olympics, his bridgebuilding activities are sure to
expand further.

Left: Kiyotsu Gorge, one of “the three great gorges of Japan” and home to a tunnel that allows visitors a close-up view ofthe precipitous, majestic cliffs, attracts many tourists. Right: Some of the major draws to Tokamachi include its richtraditional culinary culture, such as hegisoba, a buckwheat noodle dish served on a wooden square plate called a hegi.

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/

11

PORTRAITS OF JAPANJAPANESE TRADITIONSCOOL
SUMMER

PLEASANTLY WITH COLORSFrom time immemorial,
Japanese people have devised inventive
and ingenious ways of making life pleasantduring the hot, humid summers.
Today, that ancestral wisdom continues
to create refreshing summer moments
and soothing scenes.

花火
HanabiSpectacular fireworks (hanabi) brighten up evening skies, a seasonal
tradition that brings flowery colors to the Japanese summer.
Tokyo is known as the home of Japan’s oldest fireworks maker,
with over 360 years of history, and hosts many prominent events.
With pyrotechnics ranging from traditional fireworks to modern
ones utilizing the latest know-how, the intricate designs of master
artisans burst into magnificent rings of breathtaking beauty.

打ち水
Uchimizu

The “heat of vaporization” effect, in which water
absorbs heat energy from the atmosphere as it
evaporates, has recently drawn attention as a way
to lower air temperature. The custom of sprinklingwater (uchimizu) on streets, which has been passed
down by Japanese households from ancient times,
is a form of inherited of wisdom that also takes
advantage of that effect. The tradition has beenenthusiastically embraced as a method to cope withmodern urban heat, with attempts to bring coolness
to entire cities being carried out nationwide.
12

風鈴
Furin

Gentle jingling in the wind—refreshing tones thatappear during the summer months. Wind chimes!
The wind sails of small bells (furin) dangling fromthe eaves and window frames of houses respondto the slightest breeze by ringing out their peal.
Transparent glass wind chimes cool even the eyes,
adding another dimension to the refreshing effectfelt in our ears.

13

POLICY & DIPLOMACYMY VISION FOR THE
JAPAN-U.S. ALLIANCESPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER SUGA AT THE
CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONALSTUDIES (CSIS)
AN EXCERPTAPRIL 16, 2021
Video link: https://www.csis.org/events/my-vision-japan-us-alliance

On April 16, Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide held a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting with President Joe Biden of
the United States of America. Prime Minister Suga was the first foreign leader to visit the U.S. during President
Biden’s presidency; it was their first face-to-face meeting. The two leaders shared the view on strengthening theJapan-U.S. Alliance at the summit meeting. They also confirmed that Japan and the United States will strengthen
their unity and cooperation while partnering with like-minded countries toward the realization of a “Free andOpen Indo-Pacific.”
On the same day, Prime Minister Suga gave a speech on the basic strategies of Japan’s foreign policy at the CSIS.
A transcript excerpt (as interpreted) from the CSIS’s video is as follows.
＊＊

The Indo-Pacific reality
Turning our eyes to the Indo-Pacific where Japanlies, we find a reality where change in the power balanceaccompanying the rise of China and unilateralism thathas become prevailing in the course of responding to
the pandemic has led to increased uncertainties. At
the same time, the regional security environment has
become more severe.
Last month, North Korea again went ahead withthe launch of ballistic missiles. We must persistently
seek the CVID (Complete, Verifiable, Irreversible,
Denuclearization) of all weapons of mass destruction
and ballistic missiles of all ranges possessed by North

14

Prime Minister Suga and President Biden held a Japan-U.S. Joint Press
Conference after the summit meeting and issued a U.S.-Japan Joint
Leaders’ Statement titled “U.S.-Japan Global Partnership for a New Era.”

＊

＊

＊

Korea.
Through close partnership with the United States
and trilateral collaboration between Japan, the U.S.,
and the ROK (the Republic of Korea), we will proceed
toward full implementation of relevant Security
Council resolutions aiming for the denuclearization of
North Korea.
In solving the issue of North Korea, it is China who
holds the key. That very country is rapidly gaining
influence in recent years, politically, economically,
and on the military front, while continuing unilateralattempts to change the status quo in the East andSouth China Seas.

I have no intention whatsoever to concede inmatters related to sovereignty or fundamental values,
such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Japan’s basic policy on pending issues caused by China
is to firmly assert what should be asserted and strongly
request China to take specific action.
At the same time, we must work to establish a stable
and constructive relationship with China and keep inclose partnership with the United States and otherlike-minded nations. That is my basic philosophy.
The bonds of the Japan-U.S. Alliance
The strengthening of the Japan-U.S. Alliance isneeded more than ever in the Indo-Pacific of which
Japan is also a part. Our Alliance has never been as
rock-solid as today, thanks to efforts made over theyears by both sides.
Elevating the Japan-U.S. Alliance to new heights
is an important part of my responsibility in steering
Japan’s foreign policy.
I look forward to making progress in Japan-U.S.
cooperation in such areas as COVID-19 countermeasures,
green growth, innovation, and science and technology,
as well as in harnessing economic security.
Shaping a post-COVID world order
In terms of the diplomatic strategies of Japan, we
promote a strong Japan-U.S. Alliance, but extremely
emphasize multilateral approaches at the same time.
Through multilateral coordination and collaboration tosolve the challenges that the international community is
faced with, we will strive to realize such a united world.
As Japan promotes such multilateral approaches,what we always have in mind is not force or coercion
but our firm belief that a rules-based free and open
order. This is what brings peace and prosperity to theregion and the world.
By now, this vision of our country has garnered wide
support by the U.S., Australia, India, ASEAN, andEurope, and by the international community.
Japan will proactively implement concrete projects
such as maritime-security-related law-enforcement
capacity building or provision of support for quality
infrastructure, including ports and harbors or power
supply networks.
The expansion of a free and fair economic zone that

Top: Prime Minister Suga received a courtesy call from Vice President
Kamala Harris before the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting.
Bottom: At the summit meeting, Prime Minister Suga and President Biden
discussed a wide range of topics including regional situations, climatechange, and economic cooperation.

Japan promotes is also part of such efforts. Japan has
concluded the Japan-EU EPA, Japan-U.K. EPA, and
RCEP, and has consistently served as a flag bearer offree trade.
By the accumulation of these concrete actions, I am
determined to strategically promote a free and open
Indo-Pacific.
Lastly, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19,
authoritarianism might be more successful thandemocracy. This kind of thinking is rising recently,
and therefore I wish to mention the importance of
democracy.
A democratic society is where each and every person
can exert their maximum potential, and where freedom
and ingenuity and creativity, as well as diversity andfundamental human rights, are respected.
In order to ensure that freedom, fundamental
human rights, and the rule of law are protected in all
countries and regions, Japan is determined to continue
to proactively contribute to international discussions
and endeavors.
The top priority of my administration is the serious
human rights issue of abduction. We will do ourutmost to realize the return of all abductees as soon as
possible.
It is my sincere wish that Japan and the U.S., that
believe in the resiliency of democracy, will exert strong
leadership, and together with like-minded countries I
wish to create a future full of hope.
Thank you very much.

15

POLICY & DIPLOMACYADVANCING JAPAN’S STATUS AS A

GLOBALFINANCIAL HUB
A cross-ministerial effort for reform is underway to boost the attractiveness of the country’s financial and capital markets.
Here, an expert well-versed in the Japanese market speaks about her expectations toward Japan.

A dedicated website has been launched to enhance theprovision of information in English. It offers necessary
information on the improved procedures for opening abusiness and acquiring residence status.

Japan’s financial and capital markets are now in
the global limelight. That newfound centrality canbe attributed to the Suga administration’s crossministerial policy package, launched in order to create
Alicia Ogawa previously
lived and worked in Japanfor 15 years. “Japan was awonderful place to live in.
It’s safe, beautiful, and thetransportation is amazing.”

16

an international financial center—a goal raised in thegovernment’s Action Plan of the Growth Strategy
announced last year. Japan has the strengths to standout as a financial center, including political stability,
legal systems, public security, and a favorable living
environment. In addition, its sizeable domestic
economy, with a GDP of JPY 560 trillion (about USD
5.15 trillion), and financial assets held by households
worth more than JPY 1,900 trillion (about USD 17.5
trillion), also strengthens Japan’s appeal within thePolicy package through cross-ministerial collaboration

Foreign firms interested in entering Japan are already using
the services of the recently launched Financial Market
Entry Office, which communicates with foreign asset
management companies and helps them with theregulatory process. (ASO Taro, Minister of State forFinancial Services, on the left, and AKAZAWA Ryosei,State Minister for Financial Services, on the right)

Tax policy

Revision/clarification of corporate, inheritance, andincome tax

Regulatory
policyOne-stop English service for application and registration
for newly entering overseas asset managers
Introduction of simplified market entry procedures foroverseas asset managers

Residence
statusSpecial immigration measure for newly entering asset
managers as a temporary visitor to commence businesswithout returning to their home country
Relax employment requirements for domestic helpers
and increase convenience for working spouses forHighly-Skilled Professionals

Company setup andlivelihood support

One stop company setup support for free
Livelihood support such as international school hunting,medical matters, and housing

Information
sharing

Collectively share related policy measures information
through a dedicated website and contact points of
diplomatic missions

asset management business.
Alicia Ogawa, director of the Project on JapaneseCorporate Governance and Stewardship at Columbia
Business School, who worked at a Japanese financial
institution for 15 years, and is an expert on the Japanese
economy and Asia’s financial markets, says, “Japan has
been saddled with issues such as language barriers—
particularly in terms of offering administrative services
in the English language—as well as high tax rates and ashortage of workers with professional skills. Many past
initiatives have attempted to tackle these issues, but I
believe that the earnest efforts Japan is currently making
are different. We can see that Japan is now seriously
committed to becoming an international financial
center. Expectations toward Japan’s financial and capital
markets are also growing among foreign investors.”
The government is actively working to resolve theissues that she mentions through its cross-ministerial
policy package. Initiatives are underway to remove
regulatory and taxation-related bottlenecks in order tomake it easier for foreign businesses and professionals
already engaging in asset management business abroad
to do the same kind of business in Japan. Other
initiatives include improvements in the residence-visa
application process and the provision of comprehensive
support for those wishing to set up companies and ease
into life in Japan. Ogawa especially commends the
Financial Market Entry Office, which was launched
in January 2021. This office serves as a single pointof contact for newly entering asset management
firms that require English communication withrespect to pre-application consultation, registration,and supervision. In March, a dedicated website waslaunched that provides information on businesssetup, related policy, and daily life support for foreign
financial businesspeople considering entering Japanor establishing a life there (https://www.fsa.go.jp/
internationalfinancialcenter/en/).
According to Ogawa, “There has been a majorchange regarding better dialogue between investors
and companies on account of broad acceptance of thecorporate governance code compiled by the Financial
Services Agency and the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Interest in Japan as an investment destination is
growing significantly; that is due to expectations
surrounding the growth of the Japanese economy
and innovations, as well as to the rise of young andambitious talent.”
She also proposes ways in which the country
can aim even higher. “Japan needs to make further
advancements in digitalization—an area that theSuga administration is stepping up efforts to promote.
And, above all, it is essential to raise public sentiment
for society as a whole to welcome foreign asset
management companies and financial talent. To that
end, disseminating information both within andoutside Japan is an important endeavor for related
ministries and agencies.”
Initiatives to realize an international financial
center have just begun. Japan will actively implement
each measure designed to boost Japan’s economy andstrengthen its presence in the global financial market.

17

REGIONAL STRENGTHFARM AND FISHERY PRODUCERS IN TOHOKUWINNING BACKCONSUMERS’ TRUSTThe agricultural and fishing industry of the Tohoku region was devastated by the giant earthquake of March 2011,
but joining forces post-disaster, a robust network of producers is successfully promoting the appeal and safety of theregion’s food to consumers in Japan and abroad.
Tohoku—the northeastern part of Honshu,
Japan’s largest island—is a region abundantly blessedby nature and has long been a stronghold of the
agricultural and fishing industries. Farmlands andfisheries were devastated by the Great East Japan
Earthquake and subsequent tsunami of 2011, andthe hardship was prolonged by reputational damage
caused by nuclear incidents at the Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS). But theregion has gradually recovered, with agricultural
production already surpassing pre-disaster levels in
the prefectures of Miyagi and Iwate.
TAKAHASHI Daiju has devoted himself to therevitalization of the Tohoku food industry throughout
the intervening years since the earthquake. “Science cantell us if something is safe or not, but only humans canrelay a sense of safety,” he says. “Scientific guarantees ofFisherman’s League, which was formed
in 2016, is a group of fishing-industry
leaders who came up with the inspired
idea to create fishery brands that would
be popular around the world. Heroes likethese are helping to win back of trust of
consumers.

18

safety are essential, but guarantees won’t get consumers
to actually eat the food. It was only after producers
tirelessly spread the word about how delicious Tohoku
products are, and how much care goes into theircreation, that we were able to win back consumers’
trust. These producers are no longer victims of disaster.
They are true heroes in the way they faced down thesituation with such great determination.”
In June 2011, three months after the earthquake,
Takahashi took part in the founding of “Eat, andEnergize the East”—a group of like-minded individuals
determined to save the food industry of eastern Japan,
and became bureau chief. He resigned from his job ata major consulting firm later the same year. The group
established a platform to link food producers of theregion with retailers all over Japan, and in the first five
years, succeeded in generating sales amounting to JPY

Left: Fishermen
unloading mackerel at a
fishing port in Ofunato,
Iwate Prefecture
Right: Takahashi
carefully considered thenaming and productdesign for “Ça va?”—canned mackerelfrom Iwate that became
a hit item.

15 billion (USD 136 million). Takahashi also focusedon the creation of regional brands. “Ça va?”—a punon the word saba (Japanese for mackerel)—is one
such example: canned mackerel with a stylish package
design. “Ça va?” became a hit product and more than
10 million cans have been produced to date.
But Takahashi thinks the greatest success of thepast decade lies in the emergence of numerous“heroes” of farm and fishery production. This is theculmination of the group’s strategy to put more focus
on the development of expertise. “Eat, and Energize
the East” has been organizing training sessions
on a regular basis since 2013, in order to improvethe business skills of food producers. Enthusiastic
participants of the sessions began to link up witheach other across the different segments of the foodproduction value chain, such as fishing, seafood
processing, and wholesale marketing. Producers
also started to connect directly with consumers,
and to convey their enthusiasm and personal stories
effectively enough to generate a nationwide surge indevotees of Tohoku food products.
Unfortunately, there is still some hesitancy aboutbuying products from Fukushima, which suffered thebrunt of the nuclear plant accident, and it may take time
for this wariness to dissipate. Moreover, a basic policy
was announced in April 2021 to discharge ALPStreated water—purified of all radioactive content tobelow the regulatory standard, except for tritium—from
the Fukushima Daiichi NPS into the sea, following
a preparation period of two years. The water will be
diluted to keep the concentration of tritium under onefortieth of the national regulatory standard applied to“Eat, and Energize the East” is making efforts to open up markets overseas.
Here, prospective business partners are offered a taste of Tohoku at an eventin Paris. (Photo from 2019)

As hesitancy still remains over consuming Fukushima’s
agricultural and fishery products, the recovery of the region issome distance away.

the country’s nuclear power plants. Although all due
precautions for safety will be taken, the discharge may
again damage the region’s image. “But we think this canbe overcome,” says Takahashi. He reiterates, “After all,while passing on information about safety is necessary,
I believe that people play a critical role in imparting a
sense of safety.” In March, Takahashi and colleagues
invited French chefs based in Tokyo to Fukushima for
a tour of production venues. They responded favorably
to the tour and showed particular interest in sagohachi, apickling sauce made with fermented rice. Some of themeven devised new recipes for dishes and sweets making
use of fermented marinade made with koji, rice and salt.
In April, Takahashi moved to Namie-town,
Fukushima Prefecture situated in close proximity to
the Fukushima Daiichi NPS; the town office is about
8 km from the power station. The entire town had
to evacuate after the nuclear accident, and althoughpeople are now allowed to live in part of the town,
only one-tenth of the former residents have actually
returned. This may sound like grounds for pessimism,
but Takahashi says he has some interesting ideas
for the town as it renews itself from point zero.
“Fukushima still has many culinary treasures thatcan be proudly shared with the rest of the world. I
hope to bring them into the spotlight and build up
a new food industry,” he says. “The future opens its
doors only to those who approach it positively,” headds. Today, and in the years to come, Fukushima’s
food producers and their supporters will direct theirpositive energy toward bringing the culinary delightsof the prefecture to the rest of the world.

19

LIFE & CULTURE

BROADCASTING
THE UNKNOWNJAPANTO THE WORLDUNITED KINGDOMJAPAN

Ordinary scenes and culture in Japan have kindled a fire in
the creative spirit of an Englishman, Chris Broad. A YouTuber
who arguably knows the country more deeply than most Japanese people,
Broad regularly broadcasts videos of his real-life experiences.
The YouTube channel “Abroadin Japan” is operated by Chris
Broad. After moving to Japan in2012 as a high school English
teacher, he fell in love with thebeautiful scenery and peacefullifestyle of Sakata City, in rural
Yamagata Prefecture. Having long
dreamed of becoming a filmmaker,
Broad began regularly posting
YouTube videos from this land.
“At the time, not many foreigners
were introducing videos on Japan,
so it was a great chance for me.”
Sharing what it feels like to be“A-Broad” in Japan, his channel
quickly gained subscribers—now
numbering 2.1 million—jumping
to the top spot of channels
introducing the country.
The setting for most of his
CHRIS BROAD
Originally from the United Kingdom,
Broad has lived in Japan since first arrivingin 2012 as a high school English teacher
on the JET Programme. He has produced
more than 200 videos introducing theattractions of Japan. His YouTube channel“Abroad in Japan” boasts 2.1 million
registered subscribers, with 267 million
views as of March 2021.

20

At one of Japan’s three most scenic spots,
Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. “It’s becauseof scenery like this that I live in Tohoku.”

Top: A guided tour of Tsurugajo Castle in
Fukushima Prefecture, wearing yukata.
Upper Right: Broad traveled across the
Shimanami Kaido, which links small islandsin the Seto Inland Sea, by bicycle.
Right: Broad enjoying yakitori, his favorite
Japanese food, at a morning market in Aomori
Prefecture.

videos is not Tokyo, Kyoto, or
other major cities, but thoseplaces that can be best describedas “provincial.” Beginning withthe rice-paddy landscape of Sakata
City, where he first lived, he thenmoved on to the vast northern
island of Hokkaido Prefecture,
which can appear as if an entirely
different world each season. He
has also introduced Aomori
Prefecture, home to Japan’s biggest
morning market and boasting
deep local colors, as well as Miyagi
Prefecture, where he now resides in
the city of Sendai. Taking a trip bybicycle, he has also presented the
Shimanami Kaido route that runs
through the islands of the azure
Seto Inland Sea in western Japan.
All in all, Broad has filmed acrossthe country, especially focusing on
the Tohoku region of northeasternJapan.
Introducing
local
attractions through features suchas scenery, people, and food, witha style that ranges anywhere fromsober documentaries to comedies
filled with British sarcasm, Broad’s
videos abound in variety. Trueto his aspiration to become afilmmaker, his reputation foraccomplished video techniques
improves year by year. His viewers
especially appreciate the way that
he introduces genuine aspects ofJapan not featured in guidebooks,
from a unique, admiring point ofview.
Particularly garnering praiseare Broad’s documentaries on theareas affected by the Great East
Japan Earthquake of March 2011,
including Fukushima Prefecture,
which suffered greatly from anuclear reactor accident, as wellas the tsunami-ravaged Miyagi
coastline. The videos that hemade on location, capturing boththe heartbreaking sorrow of thedisaster victims and the hopefulsteps being taken towards recovery,
have resonated profoundly withhis viewers. “Although there arelots of misconceptions about
Fukushima, I found almost
everywhere in the prefecture to
be safe, with people energeticallyrebuilding their lives. WhenI reviewed the footage I tookin Miyagi, I was struck by thepowerful, unbreakable bondsthat people have formed with
their hometowns. Even having
suffered tremendous losses, they
all love their hometowns, andstrive to build their future there.
I wanted to tell the real stories of
the cheerfulness of the people inthe disaster-affected areas, theirforward-looking attitude, and theway they have encouraged eachother.”
There is more to Japan thanjust Tokyo. Shedding light on
the stories of people living inother corners of the country
is what Broad is all about.
An unknown Japan, witnessed
through the medium of YouTube
and presented through Broad’s
powerful communication skills, is
now attracting new interest fromviewers worldwide.

From a documentary showing the disaster-affected areas. Broad visited a flower grower (left) in Fukushima Prefecture, who is reviving the soil to make flowers
bloom again. In Miyagi Prefecture, he rode a fishing boat at dawn (center) and visited a guesthouse owner (right) who reopened her business despite losing her
family. Conducting direct, in-depth interviews, Broad conveys people’s true feelings, thus drawing viewers from all over the world.

21

While economic development has made the livesof human beings more convenient, the pressure thathuman activity places upon the Earth is at a tipping
point. According to research on “planetary boundaries,”
published in 2009, human beings have crossed fourof the nine boundaries within which humanity candevelop and thrive. These four boundaries are climatechange, biosphere integrity, land system change, andnitrogen and phosphorus flow. Agriculture, forestry,and other land uses (AFOLU) account for 24% of
greenhouse gas emissions, and are a major factor in
the loss of biodiversity, consequently having a severe
impact on the Earth’s environment. As these emissions

Source: Stockholm
Resilience Center( J.Lokrantz/Azote
based on Steffen etal.2015)

could result in destructive change, the immediate
reform of food systems across the world is vital to the
future of the planet.
To join the effort, in May Japan developed a national
strategy to transform its food systems and enhanceboth sustainability and productivity potential: theMeasures for Achievement of Decarbonization andResilience with Innovation (MeaDRI). In addition toa goal of zero carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuelcombustion in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries by
2050, the strategy calls for concrete actions, including
promoting the input of materials and energy withlower environmental impact and the establishmentof waste-free processing and distribution systems. To
achieve these goals, Japan has drawn up a technologicaldevelopment roadmap and is supporting disseminationof innovative technologies. The government is alsoendeavoring to involve both producers and consumers
in these processes.
Japan’s initiative will provide a leading model for
new sustainable food systems in areas affected by the
Asian monsoon climate, which have different weather
conditions and food production infrastructure fromthose in most Western nations. Countries in the
Asian monsoon region, including Japan, share warmand humid climates, and have common farming
characteristics; their food production is based
mainly on rice and many of their farms are small
operations. This particular characteristic will allow
Japan’s innovations for sustainable farming to have

TRANSFORMING

FOODSYSTEMSFOR A SUSTAINABLE PLANET
AND PEOPLE
As the global environment faces multiple crises, caused by climatechange and the loss of biodiversity, Japan has worked out a strategy
to rebuild food systems for a sustainable future.

22

SUSTAINABILITY

Professor ISHII Naoko said, “The extent
of the crisis caused by food systems is notwidely recognized in Japan, but we will be
proactively involved in global rulemaking
through our Sustainable Food Systems
Strategy.”

applications elsewhere in Asia as well. Indeed, Japanis developing technological advancements to boost
productivity on its limited amount of arable land,
while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ricepaddies and analyzing soil with artificial intelligence.
Organic farming, such as automated weed control,
will be another groundbreaking innovation.
The United Nations Food Systems Summit will
be held in September to discuss the global issue ofsustainable food systems. One summit attendee willbe Professor ISHII Naoko of the Center for Global
Commons, former CEO of the Global Environment
Facility (GEF), which supports environmental
sustainability efforts made by developing countries.
Elaborating on Japan’s role, she said, “Japan imports
60% of its food, and is deeply connected to global
supply chains. Rather than only looking within ourborders, we also need to look at global supply chainsand must make efforts to visualize and quantify theenvironmental and social impacts including childlabor, that we have thus far largely been unable tosee. Quantification will show us where and how
much our food system has anenvironmental repercussion,
guiding us toward asolution. By visualizing

this impact, consumers can make their own choices onwhat to eat in their daily lives, becoming an integral
part of the solution themselves.” She added, “Throughan active contribution to global rulemaking processes,
Japan can help build truly sustainable food systems
worldwide.”
The Food Systems Summit will provide a venue forthe world to share visions about the future. Professor
Ishii concluded, “It is often said that the food system
is broken now. At this summit, participants must
look beyond their own interests to engage
in substantial discussions on how we
can protect the future of the Earthand all its people from falling
into a crisis by transforming thecurrent system.”
According to United
Nations estimates, the world’s
population will reach around10 billion by the year 2050.
Through the Sustainable
Food Systems Strategy, Japanis determined to lead in theformulation of international rulesthat will allow our planet to support eachof those 10 billion people.		

By putting into practice
innovations that reduce theenvironmental impact ofagriculture, Japan will create aleading model for sustainable
food systems in the Asianmonsoon region.

23

SUSTAINABILITY

SHEDDING LIGHT ON

SOCIALRESPONSIBILITYIN SUPPLY CHAINS

In building a sustainable food system, all the various processes are essential, from input and production to processing,
distribution, and consumption. Responding to the adverse impacts on environmental integrity and human rights ofspecific stages in the supply chain, Japan has been stepping up its sustainable procurement.
There is a wide range of issues
that needs to be addressed globally
regarding the agriculture, forestry,
fishery, and food industries,
including climate change and theresultant increase in large-scaledisasters. The United Nations
Food Systems Summit will beheld in September 2021 for the
purpose of rebuilding sustainable
food systems on a global scale,from food production throughto consumption. In Japan, labor
shortages due to the country’s
declining, aging of the workforce
have been a growing concern.
Responding to these issues,on May 12 of this year, Japan’s
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries unveiled its strategy

Above: Palm oil, produced from the fruit of oilpalm trees, can be efficiently produced and is inincreasing demand because of its good
production yield and the many commodities forwhich it can be used.
Right: An oil palm plantation in Malaysia.

24

for Sustainable Food Systems,
called “Strategy MeaDRI”. It aims
to increase the organic farmingarea to 25% of arable land (1million ha), reduce risk-weighted
chemical pesticide use by 50% andchemical fertilizer use by 30%, andreduce carbon dioxide emissions
in the agriculture, forestry andfishery sectors to zero by 2050.
Among several other sustainability
targets, the strategy also aims
to ensure that food companies
source imported raw materials
from sustainable backgrounds by
2030. Achieving this target would
support responsible production in
their supply chains.
One Japanese company that
already
employssustainableprocurement as a key strategy
within its international operations
is Fuji Oil Holdings Inc., a providerof food materials including palm oiland cacao. Palm oil is derived fromthe fruit of oil palm trees grown intropical countries such as Indonesia
and Malaysia. It is used in various
daily products, from processed
foods to detergents and cosmetics.
However, with oil palm plantations
affecting the deforestation oftropical rainforests, there has long
been concern about the industry’s
impact on the environment. In
recent years, issues surrounding
human rights have also emerged,
with stories of forced labor andchild labor.
“We have made efforts to consider
sustainability at all stages of the
supply chain based on the Fuji OilGroup management philosophy‘Work for people’,” explains Chief
ESG (Environment, Social andGovernance) Officer (C“ESG”O),
KADOTA Takashi. In 2004,
Fuji Oil became a member of theinternational organization, theRoundtable on Sustainable Palm
Oil (RSPO). The company has

Fuji Oil’s Sustainable Procurement
・Setting target of traceability of oil palm plantations（100% by 2030）
・Handling of RSPO-certified oil
・Establishing grievance mechanism（No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation）
Plantations

The Palm Oil Sustainable Supply Chain
Fuji Oil Group

Agriculturalcompanies
Oil mill

Primaryrefining

Oil processing
and refining

Consumerproducts

Distribution“We are facing up to our responsibilities, working tostrengthen sustainable procurement for cacao andsoybeans as well. In the future, we hope to achievesustainable procurement, including that of shea nuts
too,” says KADOTA Takashi, the C“ESG”O at Fuji Oil.

Small holders

Grievance Procedure
Receivinggrievance

Grievance Grievance Grievancevalidation registration handling

improved its sustainability by
procuring products from suppliers
complying with the environmental
and social criteria developed by the
RSPO.
In 2016, the company established
the Responsible Palm Oil Sourcing
Policy, setting out its commitment
to NDPE—No Deforestation,
No Peat, No Exploitation. They
particularly focus on a commitment
to human rights issues. In 2018,
Fuji Oil then created a grievancemechanism that enables complaints
to be lodged concerning any humanrights or environmental issues inthe supply chain. A mechanism has
thus been put in place to encourage
poorly performing suppliers to
improve their actions, ultimately
leading to the suspension of
dealings with those suppliers who
fail to improve.

Monitoring

Conclusion Closing

According to Kadota, 228 cases
were confirmed by March 2021,
with 90% of those suppliers now
making improvements. “Whenit comes to the complex palm oil
supply chain, with its plantations,mills, and refiners, the adverse
human rights impacts are less likely
to be visible than the environmental
impacts. It is vital to see what
is going on in order to make
improvements; however, since
we do not own palm plantations
ourselves, we are working closelywith NGOs that have a strong
influence on the ground, and are
guiding them in the creation ofsafe and fair working conditions
that comply with human rights
standards” Fuji Oil is also seeking
further development with its goalto achieve 100% traceability of its
oil palm plantations by 2030.

Another factor crucial tosustainable procurement is making
the consumer more ethicallyaware. Fuji Oil has poured muchenergy into consumer education,
supporting projects that encourage
middle and high school students
to consider ways to create asustainable society. Through Fuji
Oil’s class visits, students are madeaware of the problems surrounding
palm oil producers, and are taught
about the importance of ethicalconsumption, and of choosing
environmentally friendly andhuman-friendly products.
Handing down sustainableagriculture, forestry, fishery, andfood industries to the younger
generation protects the global
environment, while safeguarding
stable food supplies. Not only isJapan’s strategy for Sustainable Food
Systems providing a step along theway for the country’s agriculture,
forestry, fishery, and food industries
to achieve their aims, but it is also
actively engaged in building aninternational framework.

Fuji Oil works with multiple stakeholders in Indonesia, such as local governments,
NGOs, and plantations, supporting activities that teach the skills necessary to protect theenvironment from the side effects of ignorant farming practices. Such activities include
teaching small-scale farmers the way to use chemical fertilizers and are linked not only tothe lessening of environmental impacts but also to the improvement of productivity.

25

REGIONAL STRENGTH

THE DISTINGUISHED ISLANDPRODUCING THE“WORLD’S
BELOVEDYELLOWTAIL”
Nagashima

Cultivating Japanese yellowtail to meet the needs of the global market, residents of a vibrant island off the coast of
Kyushu have turned fisheries into a growth industry.
Surrounded by plentiful seas, Japan features avariety of high-quality, local seafood found in eachof its regions. While overseas demand for marine
products from the country has increased in recent
years—driven by the world’s growing appetite forJapanese food—domestic consumption has been
shrinking owing to changes in the food culture.
Its fishery industry is also faced with an aging
workforce and a shortage of successors. Amid thosecircumstances, Prime Minister Suga’s administration
has pledged more support to boost total annual
exports for agricultural, forestry, and fisheries
products and foods roughly five-fold to 5 trillion yen(45 billion dollars) by the year 2030. Through suchstrong initiatives, the government aims to give fresh

Nagashima Town, encompassing a series of fishing grounds
stretching across several island bays, is famed for the production
system that it developed for exporting fish year-round. The
younger generation is actively participating as well: according to a2018 survey, some 42% of individual owners who own family-run
fisheries have successors, a much higher rate than the national
average of 17%.

26

vigor to these primary sectors and turn them into
growth industries, leading to the revitalization of
local economies.
Nagashima Town in western Kagoshima
Prefecture, is one region that has already madegreat strides. Kagoshima is a major production areafor Japanese yellowtail, an endemic fish species insurrounding waters of the country. The fish is known
as hamachi in Japanese, and as buri when mature. The
town has only 10,000 or fewer residents, yet produces
more than 2 million of the fish each year, the biggest
output of buri in the whole of Japan. In 2001, it
launched the BURI-OH (literally, “king of buri”)
brand, and now is responsible for one tenth (over1000 tons) of the country’s annual export of Japaneseyellowtail, boasting sales to as many as
31 countries and territories, mainly in
the United States and Europe.
A union of about 120 independent
its launch, the BURI-OH brand has
fish farmers, the Azuma-Cho Since
been enjoyed in Japanese restaurants overseas,
Fisheries Cooperative Association, mainly as sushi and sashimi.
which handles everything from
quality control to shipping, began exports of buri
While Nagashima Town is blessed by all the optimal
to the United States in 1982. To meet the high conditions for farming fish—warm seawaters andfood-safety standards required for overseas markets, abundant tidal streams—it is also blighted often by
the association became the first fish farming damage from red tides caused by algal bloom. Whenorganization in Japan to acquire Hazard Analysis a total of 2.7 million fish succumbed to large red tides& Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification, in 2009 and 2010, “everyone here thought it was thethe internationally recognized risk-based system for end of fish farming,” said NAKAZONO Yasuhiko,managing food safety, back in 1998. In order to give head of the association’s sales division. But that was
the BURI-OH brand its distinctive fleshiness and followed by a series of innovative measures. Not only
flavor no matter who has farmed it, the association did they nurture fish to be shipped out before thedeveloped a rigorous production control system to summer red tides came, they also successfully createdrecord daily data on fish growth, together with an new and productive fishing grounds in waters further
original, standardized fish feed. It was also essential to offshore, where such problems occur less frequently.
design a “market-oriented” approach in order to build Those efforts and the positive results helped to alleviate
a strong brand. Considered a high-end ingredient anxiety among local young people about pursuing
served in sushi restaurants, buri is enjoyed for its careers in the fishing industry, thus paving the way for ahigh fat content and full flesh in Western countries. new generation of confident successors to Nagashima
To enable such succulence, fish for overseas market Town’s fish farms. “We will continue to take on new
are farmed differently from those for the domestic challenges so that the new generation of farmers canmarket: they are raised for a longer time period, and pass on their trade to the next,” says Nakazono.
raw fish is added to their feed.
The approach taken by Nagashima Town, which
In Japan, in the face of dwindling sales, small, family- cherishes the symbiosis between the local environment
run fishing businesses are increasingly finding it and its people, while sufficiently addressing industry’s
difficult to maintain their operations and to compete structural problems and carving out a path ofwith larger companies, but Nagashima Town has economic growth, may be just the model needed tosuccessfully overcome such hardships, maintaining generate greater prosperity in Japan’s local regions.
independent and family-based operations. This
success was possible due to their collective and longterm efforts to develop and improve quality-control
techniques and a market-oriented approach, enabling
export products that are lucrative on the foreign
market. Much of that achievement owes to the leadingrole played by the Azuma-Cho Fisheries Cooperative
Association. However, another important factor
in the town’s success is the trust placed in thecooperative, which always puts its farmers and theirfinancial and operational stability first, along with thefarmer nourishes the fish with original, standardized feed. Rigorous
can-do attitude of the people of Nagashima Town, Aproduction
control is carried out in each fish pen with data taken daily on
who are eager to take on the unknown.
everything from the amount of feed and dosage to the size of the fish.

27

SUSTAINABILITYA SMALL TOWN ASKS “WHY?”: TOWARD A

ZERO -WASTE
WORLD

Kamikatsu

In 2020, a waste-recycling facility complex with hotel was opened in Kamikatsu Town,
Tokushima Prefecture, a community that has been working for years on
progressive solutions to reduce waste. What is the significance of this?
And what future is this town aiming for?
Looking down from above, an intriguing pairof buildings appears in the shape of a question
mark. The complex, opened last year in the townof Kamikatsu in Tokushima Prefecture, is the oneof-a-kind Zero Waste Center, comprising a garbage
collection facility, a learning center and public hall, acollaborative laboratory, and a hotel.
Kamikatsu, in the mountains of the Shikoku
region, is home to nearby 1,500 people. Back in 2003,
the small community was the first municipality inJapan to set itself a target of zero waste, subsequently
drawing attention both domestically andinternationally. Since their declaration to eliminate

The Zero Waste Center is shaped like a question mark. Its architectural design encourages
visitors to think about the relationship between production and consumption.

28

landfill and incinerated waste by 2020, the residents
have worked together to fulfill the principles of the“3Rs” of reduce, reuse, and recycle. As the town does
not operate its trash collection service, the residents
take their garbage themselves to the town’s single
waste-collection center, where they then separate it
into more than 45 different categories. Meanwhile,
they compost kitchen waste and food scraps at home.
With the town having devised such a waste system,
the residents have gained a keen awareness of the needto reduce waste completely. Through their collective
efforts, the residents of Kamikatsu now recycle morethan 80% of their overall waste.

Kamikatsu residents
separate their own trash
into over 45 different
categories. In doing so,they can envision justwhat can be reused andhow, thus becoming
aware of the bigger
picture after things havebeen thrown away.

However, some categories of the waste, such as
diapers and disposable heat packs, are exceedingly
difficult and expensive to recycle. Disposing of the
final 20% is a big problem indeed—something that
the Zero Waste Center was conceived precisely toaddress. By broadly promoting the town’s zero-waste
initiative and effecting changes in people’s mindsets,
its aim is to enlighten society about the need for zerowaste. Not only does the Zero Waste Center offer
people from Kamikatsu and elsewhere a venue tocome together, but it also confronts them with the
problem of waste by giving visitors and hotel guests
the first-hand experience of sorting trash.
In charge of the Center is OTSUKA Momona,
who describes the significance of the facility andits unusual shape, saying “Why do we buy things?
Why do we throw them away? Why do we makethings? Why do we sell them? This place gives us theopportunity to think about the many different ‘why’questions stemming from waste.” On their arrival at
the hotel within the complex, guests are first briefed
about the Center. Overwhelmed by the detail of
trash separation and aware that anything they might
buy would contribute to the problem, some guests
even reported choosing to refrain from making any
purchases during their stay.
Besides welcoming hotel guests and other visitors,

Top: The hotel is named“WHY.” Especially impressive is
how the windows have been
built with 700 discarded
fittings—collected fromresidents’ old sliding doors,
etc.—that have been pieced
together like a puzzle.
Bottom: The shop inside theCenter lets people exchange
unwanted items for free.
Residents bring in their reusable
tableware, clothes, accessories,
and other items, which anyone
can then take home.

OTSUKA Momona decided to move to Kamikatsu Town, having been attracted
by the town’s initiatives. “It would be great if this town of ours could lay thefoundations to create a world of zero waste and achieve a circular economy.”

the Center is expected to become a leading place
for research on zero waste. Working in tandem withbusinesses and universities to conduct research anddevelopment on 100% recyclable products, it willtake important steps toward solving the problem of
how to deal with the last 20% of the waste.
The Japanese government has pledged to reducecarbon emissions to net-zero by 2050. By displaying
such firm intent to tackle environmental issues,
it has made people nationwide more aware of theneed to achieve a sustainable society. Of course, a
big part of achieving that goal is overcoming the
problem of waste. As Otsuka explains, “It is notjust the 3Rs that are paramount to achieving zerowaste: we must also consider the fourth R, which
stands for ‘responsibility.’ Businesses need to produce
and manufacture with the idea of disposal in mind,
and consumers need to choose products that canbe recycled and reused as resources in the end.
That is the key to society’s future.” In its new zerowaste declaration announced in 2020, Kamikatsu
Town has also placed considerable importance on
environmental education for the next generation.
Taking on those challenges, the small town continues
to lead the way toward Japan’s future circular
economy.

29

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYICT IN SCHOOLSEQUIPS STUDENTS
WITH LIFE SKILLS FOR DIGITAL ERA

In order to foster children’s competencies for living in the digitally centered future, elementaryand junior high schools in Japan are providing every student with a computing device,letting them effectively make headway in ICT-based learning.

A tablet computer rests on each child’s desk. The
pupils’ impressions about an assigned text—which
each of them has entered in their tablets—areprojected on a screen simultaneously. The children
are then divided into groups in which they holddiscussions and compile the notes from theirindividual tablets into a single sheet. This is a scenefrom a Japanese class at an elementary school in
Shibuya City, Tokyo.
With the aim of fostering in children the ability touse information, and to also provide education thatis optimized individually for each child by utilizing
information and communication technology (ICT),the Japanese government initiated the Global and30

Innovation Gateway for All (GIGA) School Program.
Under the plan, which started in fiscal year 2019 andoriginally was intended to last through March 2024,
work was progressed steadily to equip elementary andjunior high schools with computer devices and a highspeed communications network. But then COVID-19
hit, disrupting learning in some regions when schools
were closed last spring, so the government made thedecision to accelerate the plan, moving it up by three
years. As a result, from this April, nearly all schools inJapan will start providing a learning environment inwhich every student has an ICT device.
In 2017, before the GIGA School Program waslaunched, Shibuya City, in central Tokyo, wasloaning tablets to all of the 8,700 students attending
its elementary and junior high schools, effectively
creating a learning environment that lets them study
anytime and anywhere, either at school or home.
“It’s now normal for classrooms to have tablets,” says
SAKAMOTO Takayoshi, chief of the educational
guidance division of the Shibuya Board of Education.
“Tablets are put to good use in all kinds of classes.
In art classes, students use them to make their own
animations. In gym classes, they record videos of theirmat-exercise movements using red dots to indicate
the places where they need to improve their form.”
As the use of tablets in classrooms was only partiallyrealized immediately after one-to-one computing was
first introduced, initiatives were required to builda system that would enable more comprehensive
ICT-based education. These included assigning
ICT support staff and conducting programmingclasses in cooperation with IT companies. Suchdevelopments have also made it easier to connect
with learning resources outside of school. Given
the ongoing difficulty in organizing field trips dueto the COVID-19 situation, digital tools have beenused to maintain children’s learning by connecting
them directly to outside experts through online
conferencing.
Teachers can also benefit from the new educational
environment. Using digital teaching materials can
reduce the amount of time spent preparing for classes,
and introducing cloud-based school management
systems can lead to higher efficiency in grading andother administrative work. According to Sakamoto,“ICT alleviates some of the burden that keeps
teachers so busy, letting them spend more time withthe children and focus more on providing instruction
tailored to their individual learning needs.”
Next on the agenda is how to utilize the data

While programming classes
have been compulsory inelementary schools since2020, Shibuya City has
been offering such classes
since even before they
became compulsory,
inspiring great interest
among the children.

Since 2017, all elementary and junior high schools in Tokyo’s Shibuya
City have provided each one of their students with a computing device.
Now, tablets constitute integral parts of the classroom. In gym classes,
students make use of their tablets by taking videos of themselves jumping
over the vaulting box, letting them watch and correct their form.

gained to further improve the quality of learning. By
allowing teachers to grasp each individual student’s
learning status from data logging, and thus to flexibly
adapt their instructions, this ICT-based education
will help realize a learning environment where no
child is left behind. While some challenges still need
to be addressed, such as further development ofdigital teaching materials, Sakamoto affirms, “Ourgoal is to foster competencies for living in all children
to prepare them for the future, digital era.” Now thedigitalization of learning environments at Japanese
schools is set in motion. Going forward, ICT-based
education will make further progress to raise children
who are empowered to think and act on their own byleveraging the power of digital devices.

31

LIFE & CULTURE

BRINGING JAPANESE TECHNOLOGIESTO THE WORLD THROUGHCROSS BORDER
OPEN INNOVATION
An entrepreneur from Uzbekistan who found her lifework inJapan—to fully draw out the potential of advanced
technologies lying unutilized—is doing her utmost to serve asa bridge between companies in Japan and the rest of the world.
“Japan is home to many
dormant technologies that havethe potential to change people’s
lives and the way the world
works,” says Fariza Abidova, anentrepreneur from Uzbekistan.
Regardless of how outstanding
a technology is, ideas from asingle company or industry areoften insufficient to apply thattechnology to the creation of an
innovative product or businessmodel. “Open innovation” is aparadigm aiming to overcomethat predicament and is garneringmuch attention in recent years.
It goes beyond the boundaries
of companies, industries, andeven countries to gather and

FARIZA ABIDOVA
Born in Uzbekistan, Abidova came to
Japan in 2005 to study interculturalcommunication at Kobe University.
After graduating, she founded a global
human resource development company,
and in 2016, she co-founded Trusted
Corporation, which aims to create
innovations by connecting companies
around the world.

32

UZBEKISTAN

develop expertise in the pursuitof problem-solving innovation.
Many companies around the world
now practice open innovation inorder to address challenges not
resolvable by one company alone.
After graduating from Kobe
University, Abidova began tohold corporate training sessions
for global human resources inJapan. It was during this timethat she visited a client’s R&D
facility where she was shocked tosee that, due to the difficulties inJAPANfinding and building relationships
with business partners from othercountries and cultures, many
cutting-edge technologies werelying unused. “It made me want
to become a bridge between
Japanese companies and those of
the rest of the world. I can’t offer
any technology-related assistance,
but I can provide support toovercome cultural differences andfacilitate communication.”
At Trusted Corporation—acompany she co-founded inLeft: Abidova when she was studying at Kobe University as a student on the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology scholarship (fourth from the left).
Right: Holding training sessions for global human resource development, with a focus on teachingpractical communication skills based on specific scenarios.

2016—Abidova is advancing
projects related to vehicles andlogistics for smart cities, with afocus on activities that connect
companies in Japan and Europe.
Not only does she actively work
to find the most befitting business
partners—from among 5,000
European companies selected byher firm over a four-year period
as promising potential partners—
but she also preemptively analyzes
problems that Japanese companies
are likely to encounter in thecourse of carrying out a project.
Abidova provides the support
needed in fine detail, fromclarifying visions and challenges
to building good communications
and relationships with the partnercompanies. Her backgroundand work history make her the
optimum candidate for that task;
having built up her career anddiverse personal networks througha fluency in seven languages, she

has the skills required to flexibly
adapt to the different cultures andstyles of communication found inother countries.
Her effortless agility to crossover national and cultural barriers
was cultivated in the social
climate of her home country,
Uzbekistan, where more than 130
ethnic groups live. Growing up
surrounded by different cultures
and ways of thinking, she had
naturally learned to understandand respect cultures different
from her own. According to
Abidova, during the course of
conducting global business, a lackof understanding of the otherparty’s culture and background
has often prevented the proper
communication of one’s real
intentions, leading to unexpected
problems and distrust. She has
always wanted to help bridge suchgaps.
Uzbekistan flourished as a

The nationalities and fields of expertise of her colleagues at Trusted Corporation are diverse (top).
Nearly half of the entire staff works outside of Japan, such as in Italy and Germany.
Abidova says that it is her role to further draw out the strengths of talented people in various fields,
be they clients or colleagues.

crossroads for trade between the
East and West on the Silk Road.
It is renowned for the beauty of
its World Heritage Sites such as
the city of Samarkand, but also
still faces many challenges, withsome areas lacking a proper gas
and water supply and other social

Many legacies of various cultures and religions
can be found in Uzbekistan. Samarkand,
Abidova’s birthplace, is called “The Blue Capital”
because of the vivid blue Islamic architecturethat abounds there, including the Registan
Mosque and madrasas (top), and the
Shakhi-Zinda compound (bottom), a complex
of large tombs and temples. The city was
registered as a World Heritage Site in 2001.

infrastructure. If life in the world
can be made more comfortable
and convenient through open
innovation, Abidova believes
that the living environment in
Uzbekistan will also improve. Thatis how she hopes to contribute toher country through her life’s work.
“There are many problems that canbe solved through the power oftechnology. Every day is an exciting
one when I think that the workthat I do could help change theworld.” It may not be long before
Japan’s dormant technologies aremaking their mark around theworld in various fields.

33

Summer 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/