Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receiving a courtesy call from First Lady of theUnited States, Michelle Obama, at the Prime Minister’s Office (March 2015).

Prime Minister Abe invited former U.S. president Bill Clinton to the prime minister’s official residence. Former Japanese prime minister
Yoshiro Mori and U.S. ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy were also present, and many old friendships were renewed (March 2015).

Tomodachi

友達 tomodachi
With this issue we celebrate one year of We Are Tomodachi, the official magazine of
the Japanese government. Thank you for all of your support. In honor of this occasion,
we would like to tell you about the characters that make up the word tomodachi.
Tomodachi means friends. The first character 友 (tomo) means “friend.” It depicts
two hands overlapping and helping each other in friendship. The second character
達 (dachi) is a suffix to indicate plural. We hope that more people across the world
become our tomodachi, and we can provide a helping hand to one another.
We Are Tomodachi will continue to feature more tomodachi from around the globe,
so please do not miss an issue!
Contents

Tomodachi

4Japanese Prime Ministers
Who Have Delivered
an Address at
the United States Congress

Heralding the Spring

6

Japanese People
Contributing Worldwide

22

Moments ofPrime Minister Abe
in Spring 20158

Japan’s Regional Strength:
Okayama Prefecture26

Speech of thePrime Minister

12

So Much to See and Do!
Japan’s Regional Areas

28

Coastal Cleanup by People
Who Are Embracing the Sea:
Tackling Trash Washed Ashoreon the Coast of Japan

14

Innovative Vehicle
That Runs on
Next-Generation Energy

30

The Hina Dolls
That Crossed the Sea

16

Friends of Japan

32

The Cherry Blossoms
Blooming Friendship Between
Japan and the United States

18

The JET Programme:
A Great Way toExperience Japan

34

Websites

36

Publications

37ⓒ Copyright 2015 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:www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/mailform/inquiry.html

20

Heralding the Spring

Cherry Blossoms (sakura ): Hirosaki Castle, Aomori Prefecture
The cherry blossom is the flower most representative of Japan, heralding the arrival of spring. Since ancient
times, cherry blossom viewing has been one of the greatest pleasures of springtime for the Japanese. At thistime of year, all Japan is obsessed with cherry blossoms. People track the “cherry blossom front line,” the map
showing the geographic area where the cherry trees are in bloom, as the leading edge moves up the Japanesearchipelago from south to north, dyeing the nation with the pale pink of spring. Hirosaki Castle, in the Tohoku
region, is surrounded by beautiful cherry trees and renowned as one of the best settings in Japan to view
these picturesque blossoms.

6

Carp Streamers (koi nobori ): Tsuetate Onsen Hot Springs, Kumamoto Prefecture
Japan enjoys four distinct seasons. Various festivals throughout the year mark the turning of the seasons. Oneof these, the tango no sekku (Boys’ Day Festival), is held on May 5 each year, when people wish for the healthof male children. Households mark the occasion by hoisting carp streamers and displaying other traditional
items in the home. In the gardens of Japanese homes, the colorful carp streamers flutter in the warm breeze
against the blue sky, creating an image of spring. There are festivals at which many carp streamers are
displayed, such as the one at Tsuetate Onsen in Kumamoto Prefecture where over 3,500 streamers are hungout each year as if swimming upriver.

7

Moments of Prime Minister Abe in Spring 2015

1

3

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Prime Minister Abe attended the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk
Reduction held in Sendai, Japan. During the conference he engaged in talks withworld leaders and other notable figures (March 2015).
1. Prime Minister Abe giving a speech at the High Level Segment. 2. Giving a speechat the High Level Partnership Dialogue. 3. With United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon. 4. With Zimbabwean president Robert Gabriel Mugabe. 5. With King
Mswati III of Swaziland. 6. With Vanuatuan president Baldwin Jacobson Lonsdale.
7. With Micronesian president Emanuel Mori. 8. With Tanzanian prime minister
Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda. 9. With Rwandan prime minister Anastase Murekezi.
10. With Kiribatian president Anote Tong. 11. With Thai prime minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha. 12. With Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. 13. With
Cambodian prime minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

8

9

1

2

3

4

5

Prime Minister Abe engaged in bilateral meetings
with many world leaders who came to Japan.
1. With German chancellor Angela Merkel (March
2015). 2. With Thai prime minister Prayut Chano-cha (February 2015). 3. With Polish president
Bronislaw Komorowski (February 2015). 4. Making
a joint press statement with Laotian prime ministerThongsing Thammavong (March 2015). 5. At a dinnerwith Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta (March 2015).

10

6

7

8

10

11

9

6. With Mongolian prime minister Chimed Saikhanbilegat the Prime Minister’s Office (February 2015). 7. With
the emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
Al-Thani, at the Prime Minister’s Office (Februar y2015). 8. Prime Minister Abe visited Miyagi Prefecture
to see firsthand the progress of reconstruction efforts
following the Great East Japan Earthquake. During
his visit he talked with knitters at a business making
hand-knitted items and tried on one of their products(February 2015). 9. Giving a speech at a symposium
to mark the 70th anniversary of the United Nationsa t t h e Uni t e d N a t i o n s Uni v e r s i t y ( M a r c h 2 015 ).
10. Giving students words of encouragement at a highschool graduation ceremony in Fukushima Prefecture,
where reconstruction efforts from the Great East Japan
Earthquake are progressing (March 2015).

JFK’s Three Legacies and Japan
Excerpts from the Address by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Delivered in Tokyo, March 18, 2015

At “The Torch Has Been Passed: JFK’s Legacy Today,” a Symposium Jointly Organized by
Waseda University and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
Full text: http://japan.kantei.go.jp/97_abe/statement/201503/jfksymposium.html

There is a book entitled Profiles in
Courage. For the young students in theaudience in particular, you can find aJapanese translation as well, and I highly
recommend you read it. This is a bookby JFK, the man we honor today. In
it, while he was a Senator, before the“torch” was passed to him as president,
he recounts the courage displayedby eight of his forerunner s in the
Senate. As the author himself explains,“courage” is “grace under pressure,” adescription I find truly outstanding. As
we consider JFK’s legacy, the first thing
we should remember is his ability tolead, demonstrating noble grace andnever yielding to pressure, and the guts to back it. In particular, during the Cuban missile crisis,
the solitary decision President Kennedy took saved the world from the danger of nuclear war
breaking out, making humankind able to continue to live as we do. “Grace under pressure:” towalk the path you believe is right, no matter how much pressure you face. There is a saying ofMencius I often quote that matches this notion exactly. JFK also said that that’s exactly what
constitutes courage for a politician. We in Japan saw what leadership was in this young andvigorous president. I think that remains engraved in our mind’s eye even today. And then, what
resonates in our mind’s ear is JFK’s voice. It was September 1962, was it not, when he said,in that slightly high-pitched yet deeply penetrating voice, “We choose to go to the moon. We
choose to go to the moon in this decade, …not because [it is] easy, but because [it is] hard.”
His second legacy is exhibiting to people all around the world the power to dream. And,in fact, the United States succeeded in sending humans to the moon in 1969, just as JFK had
pledged. At that time I was a young boy dreaming dreams of my own—naturally I had that timein my life as well—but it was not merely a coincidence in timing. That era was when Japan
itself was sprinting as fast as it could towards growth, with the holding of the Tokyo Olympics
as a major turning point. Japan had the state of mind of “the little engine that could,” tellingitself, “we can do this, we can do this” as it dashed forward. Through that power to dream, I
think the U.S. under JFK propelled forward a great number of people and nations all around the12world. It was in 1963 that Japan became a full member of GATT, and the following year, 1964,
when Japan became a full-fledged member of the IMF and the OECD. That same year, Tokyo
hosted the IMF-World Bank annual meetings just before the Olympics got underway. Each andevery one of these symbolizes the post-war resurgence of the Japanese economy and the factthat Japan chose to join the free and democratic camp. Not a single one of these would havecome to fruition without the leadership of JFK, who knew a great deal of Japan. This reality
is something we are apt to forget. Here we find a legacy of JFK that is important for Japan inparticular. JFK’s United States gave us all-embracing support as we moved to enter the circle ofthe developed free world camp during the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics.
After leadership and the power to dream is the determination to battle to stamp out
discrimination. That is the third legacy that JFK left us. This year marks the 60th year since theMontgomery bus boycott began. Over 50 years have passed since President Lyndon Johnson
signed the Civil Rights Act. And right in the time between those two landmark events was
JFK, who stood up for eliminating discrimination based on the color of one’s skin. The U.S.
was moving forward to remedy glaring injustices through people’s own efforts, with people
struggling at times and suffering at times. In the civil rights movement, we watched the UnitedStates grapple with contradictions. The United States did not exert its leadership throughout
the world merely through its power to dream. I believe it was also truly that grace underpressure, that ability to reinvent itself in eliminating discrimination, that led the world. I
consider this to be moral leadership that only the post-war United States was able to bring tobear. And I wholeheartedly believe that this also continues to be necessary for the world.
In talking about JFK, there is one scene I cannot help but touch upon, sad as it is. It was thetesting day of a simultaneous TV broadcast across the Pacific—the first in history—as partof the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics that would be held the following year. The name of thebroadcasting satellite that the United States had launched was “Relay.” Many Japanese gatheredaround their TV sets, knowing that scenes of what was happening at that very moment in the
faraway U.S. on the same day at the same time would come streaming into their living rooms.
And yet when they turned on their sets with hearts racing, wondering what would appear,
it was pictures of Dallas, Texas streaming into their homes. Yes, it was that mournful scene.
And so, Ambassador Kennedy, that horrifically tragic incident for your family was seen by theJapanese people—only by the Japanese people, in all the world—in real time, together withyou, the people in the U.S., and it became deeply seared into our memory. There are various
layers within the relationship joining one country and another. But the deepest layer, the one
in which hearts come together, where we share with each other our joys and sorrows andour feelings come rain or come shine, is usually very rare indeed. In Asia, the United States
undeniably forged that exceptional relationship here in Japan. I hope you keep that always inmind.
I intend to make the future Japan a country where one can dream dreams, hand-in-handwith many people from China, the ROK, and the rest of Asia. President Clinton, Ambassador
Kennedy, and distinguished representatives of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, Japan is
now dreaming that kind of dream. Let us, both the United States and Japan, cultivate the ability
to dream, as well as reinforce our determination more and more to stamp out discrimination
and respect human rights. And in the age to come, let us together make the world a better
place, even if only one step at a time. I believe that is the road to properly reciprocating thelegacy that JFK left us.

13

Coastal Cleanup by People Who Are Embracing the Sea:
Tackling Trash Washed Ashore on the Coast of Japan
To Change the Sea’s Name or to Protect Sea from Debris?
“Sea of Japan” A globally established namehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac58ARaacAM

In a small coastal town on the Sea of Japan, a group of people is working diligently to keep thebeaches clean. We followed the cleanup efforts led by a woman in the Hokuriku region.
Debris from current in the Sea of Japan often washes ashore on the popular beach destination thatis on a bay that faces northwest. We asked a woman, who leads the beach cleanup efforts, about whatkinds of things turn up.
She explained that trash typically consists of things like fishing gear, plastic bottles, and polyethylenetanks. And sometimes they find medical waste such as syringes. More than half of the debris comes fromoutside of Japan, and most of that has Korean writing on it. What is more surprising is that sometimes
several items of the same thing wash ashore—leading one to suspect that they were disposed ofsystematically and intentionally. She also said that medical waste and polyethylene tanks contain residual
hazardous substances, such as caustic soda, and are extremely dangerous; because of this they have totake special care to keep children away during their clean up activities.
People who throw such things away must not have given any thought to where they will end up. “In
the past when waste was dumped into the sea it eventually dissolved and returned to nature because
it was made from organic materials such as straw and wood. By contrast, these days more materials
are man-made, and they do not break down when thrown away; they just float along with the current.
I think that people’s way of thinking has not kept up with such changes. We want to convey a simple
message to Koreans: Don’t dump into the ocean! Don’t pollute the ocean.”
She went on to say, “Some time ago when I heard that trash from Japan was washed ashore in Hawaii,
it made me feel ashamed. If people who throw trash into the sea understand that such garbage causes
problems far away and share a sense of shame, perhaps things will change.”
The group currently has around 30 members, who conduct cleanup activities once a month. They
work with the local government, which supports them by collecting the trash free of charge. They also
work to educate children about the importance of keeping the environment clean by having parents
pick up trash with their children, especially during school summer holidays and after local events.
The west-facing bay is the final destination for debris that drifts in on the ocean currents, and because
the garbage never stops coming, some members comment that the work is never-ending. Despite this,the group continues to work with the following conviction:“If we keep up these efforts, in the end
there will be no more trash.”In this way, the marine environment is protected by the diligent efforts of people who are embracing
the sea. People who throw trash into the sea need to be conscious of what is happening and understandthe negative consequences of littering.
Recently, a movement to change the name of the Sea of Japan to the East Sea has gained attention in
the United States. However, we have to think about this carefully. If we truly care about these waters,preserving the marine environment is far more important than trying to change its name. The oceantranscends national borders. Every person who benefits from the ocean’s bounty must think about theocean as a whole as well as those on the other sides of it and join together to protect our global marine
environment.
This article is reproduced from the We are Tomodachi Womenomics Edition 2014, with slight modifications.

14Sea of Japan

Republic of
Korea

Hokuriku
Region

Tokyo

Osaka

1

3

5

1. The Hokuriku region of Japan is facing the Sea of Japan. 2. People engage
in cleanup activities undaunted by the vast amounts of trash that wash ashore.

2

4

6

7

8

3. Korean-made TV that washed ashore. 4. Even refrigerators wash up on the beach. The labels onmost of them are in Korean. 5-8. Plastic products like polyethylene tanks and fishing gear, suchas rope and buoys, are inorganic and therefore not biodegradable. A considerable amount of trash,such as bottles containing chemicals that you wouldn't even want to touch, also wash ashore.

“Sea of Japan”
A globally established name15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac58ARaacAM

The Hina Dolls That Crossed the Sea
Fifty-three years ago a Japanese woman living in Kitami, a city in Hokkaido, Japan, wrote a
letter to the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, congratulating him on becoming
the president. As they were about the same age, she felt an affinity for him. Not long after, she
received a thank you letter from the President Kennedy. Moved by the unexpected letter, she sent
the president a set of traditional Japanese hina dolls to express her gratitude.
Hina dolls are dolls that Japanese people display in their homes for Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival),a traditional Japanese festival celebrated on March 3 to pray for the health, safety, and growthof their daughters. The festival itself dates back to the twelfth century, and by the seventeenth
century the dolls became part of aristocratic women’s dowries.
Half a century later, Kennedy’s oldest daughter Caroline began her service as U.S. ambassador
to Japan. In preparation for the Hinamatsuri in March 2015, the ambassador sent for the hina dolls,
which were being stored at the United States National Archives and Records Administration, anddisplayed them at the ambassador’s official residence. At the same time she asked for an extensive
search to be carried out to find “Matsumoto-san from Kitami,” the woman who sent the dolls. In
February, she was finally tracked down.
Matsumoto-san from Kitami, whose full name is Tsuyako Matsumoto, is now ninety-two years
old and living in a nursing home in Kitami. “I never thought I would receive a reply from thepresident. It made me really happy,” Matsumoto says, looking back. She was so moved by theletter that she bought a set of hina dolls with the money she earned from her part-time job andsent it to the White House. “It was a pretty expensive and hard-to-find set, so I thought it would
surprise him.”
President Kennedy gave Matsumoto’s dolls to his beloved daughter Caroline when she was four
years old. “When I was a little girl many people from the world sent me dolls from their homecountry. But these were among the most special because they were so beautiful.”
The hina doll set she was given is a complete seven-platform set of fifteen dolls including sanninkanjo (three court ladies) and gonin-bayashi (five musicians). “What a wonderful country Japan
must be,” she recalls thinking as a young child.
In February 2015, Matsumoto received a thank you letter and video message from Ambassador
Kennedy through the United States Consulate General in Sapporo. The letter read,“I am so happy
to be able to bring the hina dolls back home to Japan and display them at the ambassador’sresidence as a symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan.” In the video, theambassador said, “I would like to thank her for sending these beautiful dolls all the way to theUnited States such a long time ago. It really shows me that when we send gifts out into the world,
you never really know whose lives you are going to touch and change.”“It moved me beyond words,” said Matsumoto when she saw the video, wiping tears from hereyes.“Thank you so much for treasuring the dolls.”
Now back home in Japan, Matsumoto’s beautiful dolls were displayed at the ambassador’s
official residence for Hinamatsuri on March 3.

16

Ambassador of the United States to Japan Caroline Kennedy brought her hina dolls home to Japan in 2015 and displays them in the ambassador’s official residence
in March.

1

2
3

1. Tsuyako Matsumoto holding aphotograph from Ambassador Kennedy.
When Matsumoto saw the photo she
was at a loss for words, “You treasured
them so much...” she said. 2. Hina dolls’
co s tu me s em ul a te t h e a tt ir e w o r n b y
the nobility of the imperial court (thephotograph is of the empress doll).
3. Kennedy and Chief of Staff Debra
DeShong Reed admiring the hina dolls
at the ambassador’s official residence.
(photos by Courtesy of the United States
Embassy Tokyo)

17

The Cherry Blossoms Blooming Friendship
Between Japan and the United States
The cherry trees along the banks of the Potomac, blooming every year in late March and early
April, are emblematic of spring in Washington DC. The roughly 4,000 trees are a treasure enjoyedby residents and visitors alike. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, which dates back to 1927,
now attracts over 1.5 million people every year. It is a huge social occasion that brings everyone
together, and the root of this “cherry blossom diplomacy” was one Japanese man: Jokichi Takamine.
Takamine was a biologist, best known for discovering the enzyme takadiastase and the hormone
adrenalin. At the age of thirty-six he emigrated to the United States, and until his death at the age of
sixty-eight he continued his research in the United States. Because of his many accomplishments,
he is sometimes called the “father of modern biotechnology.”
Cherry trees were first brought to Washington DC over 100 years ago. In 1909, First Lady Helen
Taft had the idea of planting cherry trees along the banks of the Potomac, which Takamine
enthusiastically supported. He made an appeal to the mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, to bring
beautiful cherry trees, the symbol of Japan, to the United States. In the following year, with thecooperation of the city of Tokyo and funding from Takamine’s own pocket, approximately 2,000
cherry trees were presented to Washington DC. Unfortunately, however, just before planting, aquarantine inspection revealed that the trees were infested and they were all incinerated. But
Takamine did not give up; two years later, in 1912, another 6,000 trees were procured in Japan andarrived safely in the United States; half of those were delivered in Washington DC. This was the
beginning of the famous cherry trees of Washington DC.
Today, about 100 of those original trees are still standing, including the very first one, planted byFirst Lady Helen Taft herself. Typically, cherry trees live about 70 years, but the trees in Washington
DC have been very well managed under conditions very suitable for their preservation. Takamine’s
cherry trees and their descendants have graced the shores of the Potomac for a century or more.
The movie director,Toru Ichikawa, who made a film about Takamine on location in America, said:
When the infestation of the original cherry trees was discovered, some newspapers in the UnitedStates had some very harsh things to say, creating a difficult situation. But Takamine’s motto was “try,try again.” He was not daunted by this criticism, and he fought to bring another batch of Japanesecherry trees to America. As a result, his cherry trees are loved by many Americans as a symbol ofJapan-the United States friendship. It is fair to say that the “diplomacy of flowers” has borne great
fruit.
This tale of the gifted flowers has a second chapter. In 1915, three years after the Japanese trees
were successfully introduced, the United States government sent a gift to the city of Tokyo: seeds
and saplings of dogwood, considered a symbol of America. These were the first dogwoods ever tobe planted in Japan. Like the cherry trees of Washington DC, to this day they are beloved by many
people in Japan as a symbol of spring.

18

SAKURA PROJECT
Indiana
Michigan
Iowa

Washington

Nebraska

Rhode Island

Ohio
New York

1
2

3

4

Washington
DC

Missouri
HawaiiArkansas

FloridaTennessee
Kentucky

In 2012, to mark the centennial of Japan’s gift of cherry trees to the United States,
cherry tree planting projects were launched in fourteen U.S. states (Rhode Island,
New York, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas,
N e b r a s k a , F l o r i d a , Wa s h i n g t o n , a n d H a w a i i ) , w i t h t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f t w e n t yorganizations.

19

1. The most popular spots for a snapshot on the banks of the Potomac River
have cherry trees with the Jefferson Memorial in the background.(photoby Aflo) 2. Jokichi Takamine (1854-1922) is known as one of Japan’s ten
greatest inventors for his discoveries of the enzyme takadiastase and thehormone adrenalin.(photo by Dr.Jokichi Takamine Kenshokai) 3. In 1915,
dogwood trees were sent from America in thanks for Japan’s gift of cherrytrees. This episode of international exchange was highlighted in middleschool English textbooks in Japan (revised in 1981).(photo by Aflo) 4.
Every year, more than 1.5 million people visit the National Cherry Blossom
Festival. The crowning event of the three-week festival is the parade, withmarching bands, giant balloons, hip-hop dancers and other entertainments.
(National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade®)Japanese Prime Ministers
Who Have Delivered an Address
at the United States Congress
The United States is a country of freedom and democracy. The first Japanese prime minister todeliver an address at the United States Congress was Shigeru Yoshida in 1954, more than 60 years
ago. Later, Prime Ministers Nobusuke Kishi and Hayato Ikeda also delivered an address at theUnited States Congress. They all helped to strengthen the alliance between Japan and the UnitedStates and contributed to peace and prosperity in both countries and around the world.
Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi is known for accomplishing a complete revision of the Treaty of
Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America ( Japan-UnitedStates Security Treaty). He was also instrumental in setting the course for a welfare state throughthe establishment of national pension and public healthcare systems and the introduction of aminimum wage system. Other praiseworthy achievements include the New Long-Term Economic
Plan, reflation measures, and the boosting of infrastructure through the Five-Year Plan for Road
Construction.
On June 20, 1957, Kishi spoke of the ideals of democracy in an address at a Senate Reception.
He talked of how Japan was working together with the free countries of the world and that as an
Asian democracy, the United States was its most important ally. He also passionately described hishopes for a firm and lasting friendship.
In the second half of his tenure, while Kishi was revising the Japan-United States Security Treaty,
cold war tensions between the western and eastern blocs spread into Japan, bringing politicalinstability. But the revision of the treaty helped ensure Japanese security in a volatile Asia and inmaintaining world peace.
Kishi’s successor as prime minister was Hayato Ikeda, known for proposing the Income-Doubling
Plan. Having inherited the foundation of the Security Treaty and a social security system, Ikeda
focused his efforts on boosting the economy and opening it up to the world. As a result, national
income doubled in just four years, in what was dubbed an “economic miracle,” as Ikeda built aplatform for Japan’s period of rapid economic growth.
On June 22, 1961, Ikeda delivered an address at a House Reception. He stressed the importanceof nation-building based on democracy and stated that Japan’s economic growth through theIncome-Doubling Plan had been achieved through a liberal system. He also stated that Japan would
play a more active role to ensure peace and progress in the international community and that it
had moved from the being a country that received support to one that provided it.
Ikeda’s other shining achievements include major improvements to the road and rail system andthe successful hosting of the Tokyo Olympics, the first games held in Asia, bringing the eyes of theworld on Japan and its capital city.
In the postwar era, supported by its close ties with the United States, Japan achieved peace andprosperity through national security and economic growth. Today, the fruits of that peace andprosperity are enjoyed around the world.

20

Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi addresses the United States Senate (June 1957). (©Bettmann/CORBIS/amanaimages)

12

1. Prime Minister Kishi chattingwith President Dwight D.
Eisenhower at the White House(June 1957). (photo by AP/Aflo)
2. Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda
with President John F. Kennedy
at the White House (June1961). (photo by AP/Aflo)21

Japanese People Contributing Worldwide
Mother and Child-Friendly Advanced Medical CareIn Miami, Florida, in the United States, a Japanese woman is dedicated to prenatal
diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital plans to add anobstetrics department by 2017, with the aim of becoming a pediatric cardiology medical
center capable of providing comprehensive care—from diagnosis, childbirth, and surgery
to aftercare. Dr. Nao Sasaki is one of the project’s key members.
“Prenatal diagnosis greatly benefits not only the expectant mother but also the baby to
be born,” says Dr. Sasaki. Prenatal diagnosis refers to testing the unborn child for birthdefects while it is still in the womb. Dr. Sasaki specializes in diagnosing heart defects
with ultrasound diagnostic imaging. In the case of serious illness, unless surgery is
performed immediately after birth, the baby may lose its life within a few days. If prenatal
diagnosis is not carried out and a problem is discovered after the child is born, the delayin action will put the newborn at greater risk, and telling the mother that her child has
a birth defect while she is in such a stressed state after giving birth can cause her great
psychological trauma.
“I am the mother of two children, so my experience of giving birth makes it easy for me
to relate to the worries of expectant mothers. After giving birth, the mother’s hormones
are out of balance and she will be exhausted and both mentally and physically unstable.
Hearing that her baby has a heart defect can cause immeasurable psychological trauma.
Providing the mother with the correct information and explaining the need for surgery
before the baby is born allows her to mentally prepare and eases her anxieties.”
But telling the mother is far from easy. Dr. Sasaki told us about one case in which
prenatal diagnosis revealed a serious heart defect in the unborn child. Unless surgery was
performed immediately after birth, the child would not survive. Explaining this to themother was very hard. The mother became very upset when she was told that her baby
had a heart defect.
“That’s the hardest part of my job. But I try to explain to them in a calm, straightforwardmanner. I do my best to ease their worries and gain their trust. I tell them that theirchild’s heart is different from a normal one and that surgery and after care will benecessary; I also tell them that I will be with them every step of the way, before and after
the baby is born.”
That mother gave birth to a boy, and he currently receives regular examinations at
the hospital. He is now two and walking steadily. When he sees Dr. Sasaki, he runs to
her with a big smile on his face. “Such moments make me realize I chose the rightprofession. It makes me really happy that I’m a doctor.”“In Florida, there is still much that needs to be improved about comprehensive care for
expectant mothers whose children have birth defects. Our plan for the future is to carryout prenatal diagnoses for children with serious disorders here, deliver them here, andperform surgeries here if necessary. In other words, our goal is to be able to provide totalcare for both mother and child without having to separate them.”

22Nao Sasaki
Nao Sasaki graduated from Tokyo Medical and Dental University in 2003. She served as an intern at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, and moved to the United States in
2004. After completing her residency in general pediatrics and pediatric cardiology in New York, she worked in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami until 2014. She
is currently a pediatric cardiologist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where she specializes in diagnostic imaging, focusing particularly on fetal echocardiography.

1

2

3

1. Offering advice to an expecting mother during a prenatal ultrasoundexamination. 2. Reading an echocardiogram in the Non-invasive Laboratory.
3. The new ER entrance.

23

Helping to Expand Indonesia’s Sewerage Network

Against a backdrop of steady economic growth of five to six percent per year,
Indonesia’s cities continue to expand. The skyscraper-studded capital, Jakarta, is now
home to some 9.6 million people, and the constant influx of migrant workers fromprovincial areas shows no sign of slowing. But the development of vital infrastructure
has struggled to keep pace with this rapid expansion. Chronic traffic congestion is
an issue of major concern to Jakarta’s residents, as is the flooding that has become aregular occurrence during the monsoon season.
Only an estimated two percent of the city of Jakarta adequately serviced by anunderground sewerage system. This results in a grave risk to public health when
seasonal floodwaters cause gutters to overflow, carrying raw sewage into streets andhomes. But this is not an easy problem to correct. Closing roads into the city to allow
sewage pipes to be laid beneath them would make the already problematic traffic jams
even worse. Civil engineer Katsuyuki Sasaki is an expert on the laying of sewerage
pipes who is working in Indonesia to resolve these issues.
Mr. Sasaki has over 20 years’ experience in using remote-controlled tunnel-boringmachines in Japan. The drilling of underground paths for the installation of sewage
pipes is known as “pipe jacking,” and the technology to do this without disrupting
road surfaces was developed in Japan to cope with working in the country’s cramped
metropolitan areas. He is currently training the operators of a local civil engineering
firm in the techniques necessary to lay sewage pipes one meter in diameter beneaththe main streets of Jakarta.
In the past, it was the norm in Indonesia to install underground sewage pipes 100
meters at a time, due to fears that attempting any more would prove too difficult. But
utilizing the pipe-jacking techniques learned through Mr. Sasaki’s training, the local
team is striving to increase this figure to 300 meters. This will bring numerous benefits,
not only in terms of time and money saved but also by reducing the effect of theinstallation work on traffic flow, through eliminating the need to make holes in roadsurfaces. Underground obstacles such as boulders are sometimes encountered during
the tunneling process. But the ability to make necessary adjustments to the pressure of
the boring machine head, stabilize the tunnel face through slurry balance, and calibrate
the speed of forward motion while meticulously checking the state and mass of thesand removed from the tunnel, are the hallmarks of an experienced engineer. “Throughthe experience they gain, I want the local operators to acquire the skills needed to nip
any problems in the bud,” says Mr. Sasaki.
Japan’s sewerage network extends to every metropolitan area. But in Indonesia, Mr.
Sasaki has found broad scope for his extensive skills. Extolling the fulfilling nature of
his work, he comments: “I had never even considered that anybody else would put our
techniques into use, so this makes me very happy.”
Of course, during the course of construction work, there are occasional differencesof opinion: “The local engineers think I focus too much on safety, when we could beworking faster instead,” says Mr. Sasaki. But over his 20-year-long career, he has learned
the importance of minimizing risk by not overreaching. “Mistakes made during theconstruction process are often impossible to correct afterward. So, along with thenecessary techniques, I also want to pass on the importance of prioritizing safety toeveryone I work with,” he stresses.
This article is reproduced from the We are Tomodachi Winter 2015, with slight modifications.

24

Katsuyuki Sasaki
A technical advisor at Iseki Poly-Tech, a company that has beendeveloping and providing tunnel-boring machines for use in laying
pipes for over 40 years. He has been working in this field for over
20 years, and has been based in Indonesia since 2014.

A Jakarta street earmarked for the laying of new undergroundsewerage pipes. Consistently heavy traffic means the road cannot
be closed for the necessary construction work to take place.

12

1. Drilling a passage beneath the city streets of Jakarta using a tunnel-boring machine.
2. Local Jakarta staff with Mr. Sasaki. The local staff say they are proud to be involved in this work.

Laying Sewage Lines
in Indonesia with
Unique Japanese Technology
25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj7xzpPoFGQJapan’s Regional Strength
Okayama Prefecture has developed as a transport hub for western Japan and has fostered the growthof a range of industries and economic and cultural activities. It is also a center for manufacturing
technology, with industries concentrated at such sites as the Mizushima Coastal Industrial Complex. This
article introduces efforts to encourage foreign investment in the prefecture.
Okayama Prefecture: Clear Signs of Regional Revitalization“Rather than shutting the door to what comes from overseas, Okayama Prefecture always remains open
to the outside world. By letting in international capital, technologies, and tourists, as well as stimulatingexchange of human resources, I would like to develop Okayama into a wealthy region by making
maximum use of its potential,” explains Ryuta Ibaragi, governor of Okayama Prefecture.
After working for a foreign management consulting firm, he earned an MBA at Stanford University,and went on to hone his practical experience working in tough business environments both in Japanand in other countries. His knowledge of international business has shaped his active efforts to attract
companies to the area.
Okayama Prefecture is an ideal place for business. One reason for this is the excellent climate; it iswarm and there is little rain, and the prefecture is known as the “land of sunshine.” The abundant water
sources mean that there is a good supply of industrial water, ensuring smooth manufacturing operations.
The prefecture’s convenient transport connections are another strength. They include an extensive
expressway network, Shinkansen, Japanese high-speed train, and other rail links, daily flights to Seoul
and Shanghai from Okayama Airport, and eighteen regular international container services a week along
seventeen routes from the Port of Mizushima. These connections allow for business expansion in Japanand continental Asia.
The superb business environment has brought many of Japan’s leading companies in the steel,automobile, chemical, oil refining, shipbuilding, and other industries to Okayama Prefecture. Efforts
aimed at boosting foreign investment in Japan include plans to work particularly on encouraging
industries in the fields of ultra-precision equipment, biotechnology, medicine, welfare, health, and theenvironment. With the same goal in mind, the prefecture is also focusing on production and research in
the growth fields of new energy, next-generation vehicles, and aerospace.
Specific policies for attracting overseas corporations to relocate to the area include setting up a
subsidy system to encourage the transfer of head office functions to Okayama (JPY 500,000 [USD 4,200]
per person up to a maximum of JPY 25 million [USD 210,000]) and promotion of the development andestablishment of new industrial parks to take in companies. In addition, the prefecture plans to create
new port facilities and reinforce the international competitiveness of the Port of Mizushima to coincidewith the fiscal 2017 start of operations of a foodstuffs complex with a total investment of JPY 27 billion(USD 225 million) at Tamashima Harbor Island in the port.
While putting in place structures to welcome foreign companies, Okayama Prefecture is also actively
developing overseas markets for its agricultural products. Under the Okayama brand, it is proactively
advertising the Shimizu white peach, Muscat and Pione grapes, and other fruits for which the regionis already known throughout Japan for its exceptional harvest. The governor himself visited various
locations last year, including Malaysia and Singapore, to promote agricultural products and is working tobolster sales in Asia.
“The more overseas businesses actively invest, the more they will gain. And through deeper mutual
exchange, I believe that both Okayama and Japan itself will become richer.”
Okayama Prefecture Web Site
http://www.pref.okayama.jp/page/298932.html

26Regular international container
routes from the Port of Mizushima

Okayama Airport’s Excellent Connections to Asia
To North America, Europe,and other Asian countries
Sapporo1 daily service(110 minutes)
Seoul (South Korea)
7 weekly services(95 minutes)
To North America,
Europe, andother Asian
countries
Shanghai (China)
7 weekly services(120 minutes)

To North America,
Europe, andother Asian countriesTokyo
12 daily services(70 minutes)

South Korea

Naha
1 daily service(120 minutes)

Fruits grown in Okayama are popular withoverseas consumers

Busan, Incheon, Ulsan, Pohang

China

Shanghai, Dalian, Qingdao, Xiamen,
Fuzhou, Ningbo, Tianjin

VietnamHo Chi Minh City, Da Nang

TaiwanKaohsiung, Taichung, Taipei

Development of a new industrial district
attracts foreign businesses

The Okayama Research Park industrial district aims to increase the level and added
value of the prefecture’s industry. The prefectural government plans to establish
additional similar business districts, promote strategic efforts to attract businesses,
and bring top businesses to the area. Total investment in land for industrial use last
fiscal year was JPY 68 billion (USD 567 million). Available employment opportunities are
expected to increase by 900.

The prefecture holds Okayama Fairs, mainly in Asia, such as in Hong Kong, Taiwan,
Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, where it actively promotes Shimizu white peaches,
Muscat grapes, and other Okayama-grown fruits.

Basic facts and figures

Okayama
Osaka

Seto Inland Sea

The population of Okayama
Prefecture is around 1.92 million. The
prefecture is located 180 kilometers(110 miles) west of Osaka andserves as a transportation hub in the
Seto Inland Sea. A total of 16 million
people live within two hours’ travel
time by expressway. Manufacturingaccounts for a large proportion of
the industrial sector, with manyof Japan’s top material, fiber, andmachine processing companies
located in the area.

Governor Ryuta Ibaragi
Governor Ibaragi was born in 1966 in Okayama Prefecture. After graduating fromthe Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo in 1990, he joined a foreign
management consulting firm. In 1995, he earned an MBA at Stanford and in 1998
became chairman of his family’s company, Tenmaya Co., Ltd. In 2012, he waselected as governor of Okayama Prefecture.

27

So Much to See and Do!
Japan’s Regional Areas
Dignitaries from Overseas Visiting Various Places throughout Japan
Japan comprises a long string of islands stretching north to south, located in atemperate zone. Its climate and landscape vary greatly from region to region, andeach town and village has unique charms. And because Japan has four distinct
seasons, you can enjoy different sights at the same place different times of the year.
From the scenery of mountains and rivers to the locally rooted lifestyles and diverse
food culture, everything is intricately intertwined with the changing of the seasons,so one can always find something new and interesting no matter how many times
one visits.
Wanting more dignitaries from other countries to experience such local charms,
the government of Japan is actively encouraging them to visit regional cities when
they come to Japan. Let’s take a look at the trips taken by President Christopher
J. Loeak of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and President Emanuel Mori of theFederated States of Micronesia.
President Loeak visited Hiroshima Prefecture in February 2014. Hiroshima is wellknown throughout the world as a city that was devastated by an atomic bomb, but
it also boasts many sightseeing destinations, such as Hiroshima Castle, Itsukushima
Shinto Shrine, and other historical buildings. After touring Peace Memorial Park andHiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the president visited Miyajima Island, where
the famous Itsukushima Shinto Shrine is located. Listed as a World Heritage Site, theshrine features uniquely designed structures built on the water, such as the immense
16.6-meter (54.4-foot) torii gate rising out of the sea and the vermilion-lacquered
corridor that leads to the shrine. President Loeak’s heart was surely moved by
Hiroshima’s hope for world peace, and he experienced two faces of Hiroshima—its
beautiful scenery and its vibrant townscapes.
President Mori visited Kochi Prefecture, the birthplace of his great-grandfather, inNovember 2014. Located in the southern part of Shikoku facing the Pacific Ocean,Kochi boasts a rich natural landscape of lush forests and picturesque shores, and is
blessed with the bounty of land and sea. The president visited the Kochi Prefectural
Industrial Technology Center and watched attentively as liquor was made fromlocal citrus fruits and bananas. Next he visited the Makino Botanical Garden, where
he planted a breadfruit tree with Kochi Prefectural Governor Masanao Ozaki as asymbol of the friendship between Kochi and Micronesia. The breadfruit tree cangrow up to 15 meters (about 50 feet) tall. The occasion has surely provided fertile
ground for the friendship between Japan and Micronesia to grow just as big.
Several other dignitaries have visited other regional cities—each with its own
unique qualities. We hope that readers will visit Japan’s regional cities as well.

28

TokyoHiroshima

Kochi

1

2
3

4

5

1 & 2. President Loeak offering flowers at the Peace Memorial Park. 3. The famous
immense torii World Heritage Site at Itsukushima Shinto Shrine.

4. President Mori watching attentively as machines make liquor from local fruits. 5. President
Mori and Kochi Prefectural Governor Ozaki taking part in a commemorative breadfruit tree planting
ceremony.

Please use the links below to see videos of visits to regional Japan by overseas leaders:President of the Marshall Islands visits Hiroshima
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO4_jWfOQKk

President of Micronesia visits Kochi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEunFX-O51Y

For more videos of places dignitaries have visited in Japan, do a search for “dignitaries visiting Japan from overseas” on
the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/pmojapan

29

Innovative Vehicle That Runs
on Next-Generation Energy
The first mass-produced Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV)The world’s first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle (FCV) went on sale in December 2014. It runs
on hydrogen, takes only three minutes to refuel, and has a cruising range of 650 km (404 miles). It
produces zero emissions and is more than twice as energy-efficient as gasoline-powered cars. The car
has created quite a stir and has drawn attention from both within and outside of Japan. Using hydrogenas fuel—a promising, next-generation energy that is a virtually unlimited source of power—thisultimate eco-friendly car will no doubt dramatically change the over 100-year history of the gasoline
engine.The future of the automobile for the next 100 years lies with the FCV.
Research and development for the FCV started in Japan in the early 1990s. It took over twenty years
to reach commercial application. A representative from Toyota Motor Corporation, the company whichis bringing the FCV to mass market, had the following to say, “In order to continue using cars, we haveto overcome the fuel problem. Fossil fuels that we use today such as gasoline are a limited resource.
And burning it emits CO², which causes global warming. Hydrogen energy can solve these problems in
one stroke.That is why the hydrogen-powered FCV is being called the ideal eco-car.”
The FCV generates electricity by causing a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in afuel cell. This electricity powers the motor that runs the car. The core technologies are the fuel celland high-pressure hydrogen tanks. And through repeated rigorous testing, Toyota was able to improve
performance and safety, and achieve a compact, low-cost solution.
“We’re an auto manufacturer so we have plenty of knowledge and experience of mechanics. But thecore technology of this car is based on chemistry, so it really was unknown territory for us. Developing
a car that would be the first of its kind was a worthwhile challenge,” continues the representative.
In addition to the core technology, Toyota also incorporated technology from its hybrid vehicles toreduce costs. Defying speculation that it would be impossible to price the car under JPY 100 million(USD 830,000), the sticker price has been set in the JPY 7 million plus range (USD 58,000 upwards).
And an incentive for advanced vehicles offered by the Japanese government brings the price down
to JPY 5 million plus range (USD 42,000 upwards). With such an affordable price, orders have been
overwhelming. In the first month of its launch, Toyota has received orders for 1,500 cars. It is so
popular that orders placed now will not be delivered until 2018.
But challenges still remain before FCVs become widespread. Even with its extended cruising range,
there are not enough fueling stations to ease drivers’ worries of running out of fuel. Aiming to create
an environment where people can easily refuel hydrogen fuel cells, the national and local governments
are working together with energy companies and other corporations to build more hydrogen stations.
Many people also wonder if hydrogen is safe or not. If more people understand that it is safe if usedcorrectly, it will surely drive the spread of FCV.
The realization of the “hydrogen age,” the next energy revolution, is off to a running start in thetangible form of a car. And when the world sees the FCV on the streets of Tokyo during 2020 Tokyo
Olympic and Paralympic Games, it will be a great way for Japan to promote its cutting-edge nextgeneration energy technology.

30

2
1

1. Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe test drove the FCV andcommented, “The car wasvery easy to drive, stylish, andgood for the environment, andI believe it represents the startof a new era.” 2. The designon the side of the car goingtowards the back reflects
flowing water being createdfrom the air.

Operating principles

Fuel cell boost converter
A compact, high-efficiency, high-capacity converter
newly developed to boost fuel cell stack voltage to650V. A boost converter is used to obtain an output
with a higher voltage than the input.

Hydrogen refueling

Fuel cell stack

In response to new fueling standards —thesame in Japan, the United States, andEurope—, fueling time of approximately
three minutes has been achieved.

Mass-production fuel cell, featuring
a compact size and the world's top
level output density.

Hydrogen station

STEP

STEP

Motor is activated andvehicle moves

Electricity supplied to motor

H2Electricity

Fuel cell stackMotor
Air (Oxygen)

H
Hydrogen refuelingBatteryPowergeneration

Electricity

O2

酸素
OxygenOxygen水素
HydrogenHydrogen

H2O

Highpressure
H2 hydrogen
tank

STEP

STEP

STEP

STEP

Air (oxygen) taken in

Oxygen and hydrogen supplied tofuel cell stack

Electricity and water generated
through chemical reaction

Water emitted outside vehicle

Aerodynamics

High-pressure hydrogen tank

Clearance lamps designed to
streamline airflow.

Tank storing hydrogen as fuel. The nominalworking pressure is a high pressure levelof 70 MPa (approx. 700 bar). The compact,
lightweight tanks feature the world’s top
level tank storage density.

31

Friends of Japan
In this report we introduce the life and work of a friend of Japan.

James French
Employed at Panasonic since 1995, James “Jim” French, has been the president of Panasonic R&D
Company of America since April 2010. He helped to start up the Panasonic Semiconductor Development
Company in Cupertino. In his free time, he enjoys home renovation, and volunteering.

32

Tradition Meets Modernity—
the Japanese Way of Living and Working
My first encounter with a Japanese approach to business was in 1995 in Silicon Valley,
California. It was then that I was asked to help establish the American arm of one of the bestknown Japanese electronics companies. Although my knowledge of Japanese culture waslimited, I was determined to work for a Japanese company. I strongly felt that working for a
Japanese company would allow me to immerse myself in a new challenge and learn a new
way of thinking and doing.
An enjoyable part of working for a Japanese multi-national is the way they take delight inmaking the customer happy. This isn’t just a company mantra; it is an important part of doing
business. And, while speed is important, the Japanese cherish a deliberate way of working.
Teamwork is also highly regarded, while the individual is allowed to feel that they can makea valued contribution. The Japanese also prioritize personnel development over creatingproducts.
When I think about it, of all the Japanese principles of business I’ve encountered, I mostly
revere the following: contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit,
untiring efforts for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, and gratitude. These
are the seven core values of Konosuke Matsushita, the Japanese industrialist who founded
Panasonic in 1918, and this was the company I would later help establish in the United States.
I truly believe these principles are also a core part of Japanese life.
Since my work allows me to travel to Japan, I have seen how these values come together inthe private and public lives of the Japanese. During my first trip, in 1996, I was able to visit a
number of cities including Tokyo and Osaka. I fondly remember the humility, friendliness, andsensitivity with which I was welcomed. Simple unspoken gestures, such as anticipating theother person’s needs, are among the reasons each visit has been so pleasant. I always feel apreference in Japan for building personal relationships, and for face-to-face business contacts.
On subsequent visits I have developed a greater understanding and appreciation of theculture, including the food, of Japan—from the patient and majestic actions of the tea
ceremony, to the all-important wa (harmony). Indeed, I find Japan to be a land of simple yet
ancient customs that have a strong reverence for the proper way of doing things and peacefulcoexistence.
Twenty years after I joined the company that Matsushita built, I have to say that myknowledge of and respect for Japanese business and culture has deepened. This culture has
also influenced my own professional
and personal ethics. That is why I try
to give back to society in the best
way I can. As I am passionate about
education, I not only volunteer in
my old university’s student advisory
council, but also take part in the sistercity programs between my hometown
in Sunnyvale, California, and Iizuka
City in Fukuoka Prefecture, including
student exchanges. These activities arein large part due to a long and fruitfullife during which I’ve enjoyed doing
Jim French meeting with university students after giving a lecture on engineering
innovation and entrepreneurship.
business the Japanese way.

33

The JET Programme:
A Great Way to Experience Japan
Finding Shared Values and Building Lifelong Friendships

My interest in Japan grew after my freshman year atuniversity in 1981 after I read a book called Japan as Number
One, by Ezra Vogel. Around the same time, I started practicing
a Japanese martial art called Shorinji Kempo which increased
my interest in Japan. I came to realize that Asia, including
Japan, was not only off the beaten track for Americans but also
where the future would be and I began to study Japanese.
Arriving in Japan in 1985 as a Monbusho (Ministry of
Education, Science and Culture)* English Fellow (MEF), I
became an Assistant English Teacher (AET) in Gifu Prefecture.
In the next two years I visited a great many junior high andhigh schools in the prefecture.
My goal was to inspire students to develop an interestin speaking English and the outside world. I felt like an
Harry A. Hill
ambassador enabling the kids to expand their dreams. I
Entrepreneur, philanthropist and participant in the first year of
also supported teacher-training programs to help Japanese
the JET Programme. Originally from New York City, Hill’s lifeand career has traversed the United States and Japan andcolleagues use English as a tool of communication.
won him the highest accolades in both countries. He is the
In my third year in Japan, the MEF Programme became theCEO of a company that runs an omni-channel brand responsecompany called Shop Japan.
JET Programme, and I am proud to have been one of thefirst participants in JET— by then I was a Coordinator forInternational Relations (CIR) in Gifu, a position that covered prefectural and local government as well as
grass-roots and local business relations.
With the Gifu-Chubu Future Expo (Expo ’88) being held that same year, I was able to be involved in
the planning and implementing of a variety of events. And the connections I was able to build throughthis became a valuable asset for me.
Indeed, what attracted me to the JET Programme in the first place was a desire to immerse myself inJapanese culture, and JET was the best way I could think of to do that. My experiences as an AET and
CIR have played, and continue to play, a significant role in my life ever since.
I learned, for instance, that as an American I share many of the same values as the Japanese—values
such as commitment, strong relationships, good health, self-reliance, and focus on quality—even if ourlanguages are different.
The knowledge I acquired in Japan has helped me build my career as an entrepreneur. Today I am
the president and CEO of an omni-channel brand response company which offers products under theconcept of “enriching lifestyles worldwide,” and the response has been fantastic. We operate not onlyin Japan but across Asia, offering great products and brand with Japanese service. Such brands are very
popular outside of Japan as people see products that are well-received in Japan as synonymous withquality. Even though we may speak different languages, the desire for quality products is universal.
The JET Programme changed my life. To aspiring JET program applicants, I say: come to Japan with apassion to share and to learn; you will meet great people, learn, and build lifelong friendships for yourcareer and for your life.
*Now known as Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

34

Gifu
Tokyo

1

2

3

1. Teaching as a young AET teacher in Gifu Prefecture.
2. Harry A. Hill is an accomplished martial artist with apassion for the Japanese martial art of Shorinji Kempo.
3. Hill places great importance on communicating wellwith his colleagues.

The JET Programme
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme began in 1987 with the goal of promoting grassroots international exchange between Japan and other nations.
The JET Programme is primarily sponsored and administered at the local level by local government
authorities in Japan, which are also the direct contracting organizations of JET participants. At the national
level, the JET Programme is administered by the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations(CLAIR) in cooperation with three Japanese government ministries: the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology.
JET participants are placed in every region of Japan and work in one of three positions: AssistantLanguage Teachers (ALTs), Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs), or Sports Exchange Advisors(SEAs).
Now in its 28th year, the JET Programme has gained high acclaim both domestically and internationallyfor its role in advancing mutual understanding and for being one of the world’s largest international
exchange programs. In 2014, the JET Programme welcomed 4,476 participants, and currently, there areapproximately 60,000 alumni from over 60 countries living in all parts of the world.
No prior knowledge of Japanese or Japan is required to apply to the JET Programme. If you areinterested, please visit the official website for information on how to apply: http://www.jetprogramme.org.

35

Websites
Official Websites of the Government and Related Organizations
The following websites offer information from various ministries, information
for tourists, and other information relating to the contents of this magazine.

Prime Minister of Japanand His Cabinet

Japanese Government
Internet TV

Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Japan

Cabinet Public Relations Office, Cabinet Secretariat

Public Relations Office, Cabinet Office

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Information i n English about Japanese government
policies, speeches and statements by the prime minister,and press conferences by the chief cabinet secretary.

Videos from the Japanese government relating to theprime minister, press conferences by the chief cabinet
secretary, videos of the imperial family, and more.

Information from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,with links to embassies and consulates overseas.

WEB http://japan.kantei.go.jp

WEB http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/eng/

WEB http://www.mofa.go.jp

https://www.facebook.com/Japan.PMO

https://www.facebook.com/Mofa.Japan.en

https://twitter.com/JPN_PMO

https://twitter.com/MofaJapan_en

JNTO ( Japan National
Tourism Organization )JETRO ( Japan External
Trade Organization )pp.28-29

JET ( Japan Exchange andTeaching ) Programme

pp.26-27

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

Information about tourism in Japan, including videos andphotos. In English and many other languages, including
Chinese, Korean, French, and German.

Information about how JETRO supports Japanesecompanies overseas, attracts foreign companies
to the Japanese market, contributes to Japan’s trade
policy and conducts activities in developing countries.

WEB http://www.jnto.go.jp/

WEB http://www.jetro.go.jp/

pp.34-35

Council of Local Authorities
for International Relations (CLAIR)
Information about the Japan Exchange and Teaching
Programme.

WEB http://www.jetprogramme.org

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/fb/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/pages/JETProgramme/219440938121634

(US)

(US)

https://twitter.com/Visit_Japan

https://twitter.com/JETProgram36

Publications
Official Publications from the Government and Related Organizations
The government of Japan and various organizations publish the following periodicals.

Cabinet Office

Ministry of Foreign Affairs“Highlighting JAPAN”“niponica”

Aimed at people in other countries, this regularpublication introduces the latest major government
policies.

Using beautiful photographs, this journal illustrates
the appeal of present-day Japan.
http://web-japan.org/niponica/index_en.html

http://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/
book/hlj/index.html

E-BOOKPDF

HTML

E-BOOK

Monthly

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

PDF

HTML

Three times a year

Japan National Tourism Organization“METI Journal”“Monthly Web Magazine”

Explains policies being instituted by the Ministryof Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) in aneasy-to-understand manner.

Each issue provides seasonal and updated
information on three select features.
http://japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp/en/

http://www.meti.go.jp/english/publications/index.html

PDF

HTML

Bimonthly

Nuclear Regulation Authority

Monthly

Ministry of Defense“F1 Issues Fukushima
Daiichi NPS’s Issues”“Japan Defense Focus”
A monthly magazine that introduces various
activities of the Ministry of Defense and SelfDefense Forces.

This releases information about the Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, such as details about
the monitoring of seawater since the accident
caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake andsubsequent tsunami.

http://www.mod.go.jp/e/jdf/index.html#sub01

http://www.nsr.go.jp/english/
PDF

PDF

About once a week

37

HTML

MonthlyPublished by

The Government of Japan
Edited by

Public Relations Office, Cabinet Office
andOffice of Global Communications, Cabinet Secretariat
1-6-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
100-8914, Japan
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 http://www.cao.go.jp/index-e.html
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries http://www.maff.go.jp/e/
Ministry of Defense http://www.mod.go.jp/e/
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry http://www.meti.go.jp/english/
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology http://www.mext.go.jp/english/
Ministry of the Environment http://www.env.go.jp/en/
Ministry of Finance https://www.mof.go.jp/english/index.htm
Ministry of Foreign Affairs http://www.mofa.go.jp
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications http://www.soumu.go.jp/english/index.html
Ministry of Justice http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/index.html
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism https://www.mlit.go.jp/en/
Reconstruction Agency http://www.reconstruction.go.jp/english/
Nuclear Regulation Authority http://www.nsr.go.jp/english/

The Government of Japan

JapanGov website

WEB

JapanGov app

http://www.japan.go.jp
www.facebook.com/JapanGov@JapanGov or @Japan
JapanGov

You can download the JapanGov app from the following stores.
iOS
Android
Kindlehttp://www.japan.go.jp/tomodachi

JapanGov

http://www.japan.go.jp

You can subscribe to the Tomodachi newsletter at the following URL.
http://www.mmz.kantei.go.jp/tomodachi/subscribe.php