[etc.]Genron NPO Conference on Asia Strategy Symposium 3 ―How to Proceed with Creating a More Open Japan―

Masakazu Yamazaki: Writer, Critic, Advisory Board Member, Genron NPO

Born in 1934. Graduated in 1956 from Kyoto University, where he studied Philosophy at the Department of Literature. Finished Ph. D at Kyoto University’s Post-Graduate School, majoring in esthetics and history of arts. After assuming professorships at Kansai University and Osaka University, he is currently President of Toa University. His activities range widely from play-writing, literary criticism to social criticism. His main works are "Birth of soft individualism" ,"Era of big schism", "Truth of History and Justice of Politics" etc.

Yotaro Kobayashi: Chairman of the Board, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Advisory Board Member, Genron NPO

Born in London in 1933. Joined Fuji Film Co., Ltd in 1958, from where he was assigned to Fuji Xerox in 1963. After working in the marketing planning departments, he became President and CEO in 1978, Chairman & CEO in 1992 and was appointed as Chairman of the Board in 1999. He holds posts as a member of the Council for Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology and Japanese National Commission for UNESCO. He is also a Life-time Trustee of Keizai Doyukai(Japan association of Corporate Executives), Pacific Asia Chairman of the Trilateral Commission, a member of the Board of Trustees of Keio University and President of the International University of Japan.

Shinji Fukukawa: Adviser to the Dentsu Inc.

Born in 1932, he graduated in 1955 from the Law Department, the University of Tokyo. In 1955 he entered the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (currently the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) and became the administrative vice-minister. In the meantime, he served as a Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. In 1988 he left MITI and in 1994 took the present position via Vice President and Vice-Chairman of Kobe Steel Co, Ltd. Concurrently, served as together with the adviser to the Dentsu Inc. Currently, he is a member of the Research Committee of Resources and Energy (the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) and a member of the govemment's deliberative council. His works include 21 Century: Japan's Choice and Age of Information Technology: Idea of Successes.

A roundtable discussion started with Mr. Shinji Fukukawa’s proposition to Messrs. Yotaro Kobayashi and Masakazu Yamazaki to sum up the previous symposium and to launch a broad-based discussion. The following three points of discussion were presented: how Japan perceives Asia; how Japan should make progress in efforts to open the country to the world; and in what way a relationship with Asia should be designed.

Mr. Yamazaki argued that a commonly shared civilization or culture did not exist in Asia, and the concept of Asia as a block of nations emerged only in the process of modernization after the Second World War. He stressed the importance of the perception that each one of us is an individual constituting the world in the age of globalization. Mr. Kobayashi’s perception of post-war Japan was that Japan had placed too much emphasis on the economy, thus damaging its legitimacy as a representative information source of Asia. He then indicated the significance of meaningful communication and dialogue with Asian countries.

As for the issue of whether Japan can change, Mr. Kobayashi pointed out an importance of making an effort to address the advantages of making changes now. He also asserted that it is important for the Japanese people to be aware of the unconscious closed nature and exclusiveness of Japan. On the other hand, Mr. Yamazaki contended that the peculiarities and closed nature of Japanese people were neither the attributes of the national character nor cultural traditions; instead, they were mere characteristics of the industrial society formed in the past 100 years and were the result of an “era of divided nations”. Therefore, “it is possible to change Japan”, he said. He also pointed out that although Japan had not reaped the benefits of the post-war system, it introduced popular culture to the world and substantially boosted the national prestige.

As for the modality of future business management, Mr. Kobayashi mentioned that social and human aspects of business rather than economic ones should be taken more into consideration, and that companies should proceed towards social responsibility. He stated that such efforts would assist Japan in gaining the trust of Asian countries and the world, and it would eventually lead to a major breakthrough for Japan. In addition to the necessity for the soft power to be loved and respected and for the creativity to attain such love and respect, Mr. Yamazaki insisted that Japan needed to take the initiative in establishing an international consensus on various issues of the world. In order to do so, he pointed to the necessity of settling the past.

Issues regarding the importance of education were raised at the end. Mr. Kobayashi stated that the fundamental direction of the present educational reform policies should be continuously supported.