ASUKAALUMINIUMNEWS NO.656 FEBRUARY 2016
Special contribution
Speciality of Japanese made quality
I wish you a Very Happy New Year.
Since the latter half of last year, the economy in E.U. and in some emerging
countries has been sluggish, and recently, the market of crude oil plunges day by day.
Under these circumstances, many countries confront some way of difficulties.
However, Japan, a major oil importer, enjoys this lower energy market, and at thesame time, we, diecasters, are one of the typical industries of much energy
consumption, and receive a big benefit. Therefore, I expect that New Year will be avery hopeful year for us.
On the one hand, most Japanese automobile producers have developed their plants
over whole world, and they are forwarding on-the-spot purchase of their various parts.
Therefore we have to produce and supply higher quality products than foreign ones. I
believe this is “the specialty of Japanese made quality”, and at the same time, this is
the way to stop “hollowed Japan”.
Besides, we face the society of declining birth rate and aging today, and in the near
future, we have to confront a severe short of labor force. I think it is necessary andimportant to study the saving of manpower by robots, out sourcing business revolution,
foreigners’ labor force or elders’ and women’s work force.
I believe human resources are the most important property and the origin of ourbusiness activity and prosperity.
Lastly, I hope everyone at diecast business will be in good health and will enjoy
excellent business results in 2016.
Seisuke Matsuo
Chairman, Middle Japan Diecasters
Cooperative Association
President, Toa Diecast Industry, Ltd.
The 32th New Year Praying Meeting opens
In the afternoon of January 15, the 80 delegates from scrap suppliers and transorters were invited at the Kira Kanko Hotel in Mikawa Bay National Park. Keepingcustom, Chairman, Hisashi Amano addressed “New Year random talk” for one houras the photo on page two shows.
Then, the attendants visited Kannon Temple on the top of Mt. Sangane by bus, andthe praying meeting was held solemnly for business prosperity and traffic safety New
Year The priests lighted a big sacred fire invocation and chanted a sutra in a loudvoice.
The bird’s eye view from the top of Mt. Sangane was really wonderful and impressive reflected by the golden sunset at Mikawa Bay, and everyone had a great belief
that New Year will be undoubtedly prosperous. At the hotel in the evening, a grand
New Year party was held in traditional Japanese fashion and everyone enjoyedthemselves thoroughly till midnight as the photo on page four shows.
Chairman Hisashi Amano’s address is summarized on the reverse page.

100 million

Chairman, Hisashi Amano

An insidious word
At the end of last year, Prime Minister Mr. Abe mapped out a comprehensive
national strategy for “100 million citizens to play an active role”, which means “theentire population will positively participate in economic / social activities”. I have felt
an uncomfortable worry because the propaganda with “100 million” during WW II was
repeatedly used to protest starvation within the country.
When I firstly acknowledged the word “100 million movement” in 1940, theGovernment and the Imperial Army organized a single-party regime. They cried out“100 million share one aspiration” propaganda to suppress divergent opinions.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, major newspapers continuously used “100 million”
in slogans, such as “100 million stand up for action”, “100 million powered fireball” toexcite hostility toward the Allies. Around the same time, many popular songs with“100 million” were sung lyrically by the people to arouse hostility.
A current Japanese dictionary describes “100 million meant entire citizens, and is adead word”.
A false figure
According to a national population census in 2010, the total population of Japanwas 128 billion. Even if we set 100 million as the total population, the active workforceof people between 20 and 60 years old would be 50 million, a half of the total population. If Mr. Abe’s cabinet wants to claim 100 million workforce, seriously, babies, children and elderly must be called to achieve the member.
In 1944, the Student Mobilization called 3 million students over 11 years old, andthe Women’s Volunteer Corps called 450 thousand unmarried ladies to support
weakened labor force. Today it is impossible to gather 100 million in Japan.
Postwar irony
As the ugliest word after war, I detest the slogan “Repentance by 100 million”.
Leaders, officials and media played major roles who led with the “100 million”
propaganda during the war, didn’t express their own responsibility for the war. WhenJapan was defeated, I, at a sensitive age, was deeply disappointed at the irresponsibility of such opinion leaders, and since then, I have never believed the big mouths
with big words like a “100 million”.
I got anxious for the official English of it, but incredibly, it is without the word “100million”, and is stated as “Promoting Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens”. I do express when the Government raises a phrase “100 million”, it is an omen for militarism
which forces sacrifice and patience under fascism or totalitarianism.
To protect democracy and individualism
The regular employment workforce occupied 85% in 1980s, however it goes down to
60% today, and at the same time, the income gap between regular employment andtemporary employment is increasing, and it means that a destabilized social environment is evolving. Fascism tends to use such social and economic instability tooppress liberalism. I sense we are hear the sound of totalitarianism with “100million”.
I sincerely hope that the stable and comfortable society is created throughdemocracy and individualism.