Looking Squarely at the Future ""The next era" (4): The Bill to Promote Renewable Energies"
I have received requests in succession, two days ago and then again yesterday, to bring the Bill to Promote Renewable Energies into enactment. The day before yesterday I received a request signed by 202 Diet members transcending party lines, while yesterday at the Diet Members' Office Building there was a gathering hosted by the Executive Committee of "Energy Shift Now!" As for me, I keenly realize that the flow of events has finally come to this point under this theme I have pursued since approximately 30 years ago when I was first elected to the Diet.
Within the business community there are some who say that because electricity costs will increase, they oppose this new system, which stipulates that electric power suppliers are to purchase from each electricity generating entity the entire amount of electricity generated from solar power, wind power, or other renewable energies (natural energies) via feed-in tariffs. However, the costs of nuclear power will also increase in light of compensation for accidents and other concerns, while fossil fuels are also in the midst of a global trend towards rising prices.
The argument that renewable energies have only meager practicality is no doubt a viewpoint based on Japan's "current state of affairs". It goes without saying that, insofar as one makes decisions in conformity with the "current state of affairs", then the "current state of affairs" never evolves. What is essential is that the political will to "advance the current state of affairs" itself moves into action.
Take the U.S.' Apollo Project, for example. When then-President Kennedy declared the goal of "before this decade [the 1960's] is out, of landing a man on the moon," many people believed that this would be extremely difficult to achieve. And yet it was exactly because such will was demonstrated that financial resources shifted in that direction, technological innovations advanced, and the 1969 landing of the Apollo 11 spacecraft on the moon was achieved.
In the case of renewable energies as well, costs should decrease dramatically once we make clear our will and technological innovations advance. Now, as we head towards "the next era," is the time for us to bring this bill, which will constitute a major "first step" in fostering renewable energies, into enactment.
segunda-feira, 20 de junho de 2011
"Prime Minister KAN's BLOG" E-mail Service (June 14, 2011)
Looking Squarely at the Future ""The next era" (3): A surge toward natural energies"
Yesterday (on June 12, 2011), I embarked on a new endeavor toward "the next era." This was the first "Prime Minister-Experts Open Forum on Natural Energy," which discussed the future of "natural energy." Mr. Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Corp., Mr.Takeshi Okada, former head coach of the Japanese national football team, Mr. Takeshi Kobayashi, Representative Director of ap bank, and Ms. Junko Edahiro, environmental journalist, visited the Prime Minister's Office, with Mr. Ryuichi Sakamoto also participating by means of a video message from overseas. As the proceedings of the discussions were relayed on the Internet, while the Forum was taking place, opinions and questions flooded in continually from all around the country via "tweets." It is impossible to count just how many participants there were in all in this Open Forum. (See note below)
I myself also had the opportunity to convey my involvement and thoughts regarding natural energy in two of my capacities. Speaking in my capacity as the "chief executive of national politics" is invariably most common, but on this occasion I also interwove comments from the standpoint of an "individual." It was perhaps for that reason that I was able to speak more naturally than usual and I also received a considerable amount of favorable reactions to what I had said.
What I felt as a result of yesterday's Open Forum was that there exists a major groundswell to promote natural energy. I have been hearing about various efforts undertaken individually since quite some time ago Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama, former President of the University of Tokyo, whose house features solar energy and is a model house for energy conservation, as I wrote in my previous blog entry here; also, a friend who sent me a New Year's greeting card several years ago saying, "My household is over 90% self- sufficient in electricity!" I feel that these individual "points" are now beginning to expand out into a "plane" that as a result of the current nuclear accident, we, the Japanese people have begun to think as individuals about "what we should do."
At yesterday's meeting I felt very keenly that the tool of the Internet is finally beginning to exercise the power of those thoughts held by each individual, which the government and the mass media have not been able to take in adequately (which I mention after some self-examination). Unlike in North Africa, where political upheaval has been underway in ongoing succession, it is often said that in Japan the influence of the Internet is still far short of that of the mass media. And yet now, that desire to participate, of "I myself would like to get involved in making use of natural energy," is most certainly spreading by means of the Internet.
It is only when the public becomes involved in natural energy and energy conservation that these themes of "the next era" can advance. As for the government, "what we should do" is to develop the "mechanism" by which we can support such participation by the public. As one concrete means of doing that, we have submitted to the current Diet session the "Bill to Promote Renewable Energies," which will push forward the system for feed-in tariffs for the purchase of electricity generated by natural energy. I very much hope to bring this bill to be enacted.
Note from the Cabinet Public Relations Office: The entirety of the proceedings of the "Prime Minister-Experts Open Forum on Natural Energy" is available online still now at Japanese Government
Yesterday (on June 12, 2011), I embarked on a new endeavor toward "the next era." This was the first "Prime Minister-Experts Open Forum on Natural Energy," which discussed the future of "natural energy." Mr. Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Corp., Mr.Takeshi Okada, former head coach of the Japanese national football team, Mr. Takeshi Kobayashi, Representative Director of ap bank, and Ms. Junko Edahiro, environmental journalist, visited the Prime Minister's Office, with Mr. Ryuichi Sakamoto also participating by means of a video message from overseas. As the proceedings of the discussions were relayed on the Internet, while the Forum was taking place, opinions and questions flooded in continually from all around the country via "tweets." It is impossible to count just how many participants there were in all in this Open Forum. (See note below)
I myself also had the opportunity to convey my involvement and thoughts regarding natural energy in two of my capacities. Speaking in my capacity as the "chief executive of national politics" is invariably most common, but on this occasion I also interwove comments from the standpoint of an "individual." It was perhaps for that reason that I was able to speak more naturally than usual and I also received a considerable amount of favorable reactions to what I had said.
What I felt as a result of yesterday's Open Forum was that there exists a major groundswell to promote natural energy. I have been hearing about various efforts undertaken individually since quite some time ago Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama, former President of the University of Tokyo, whose house features solar energy and is a model house for energy conservation, as I wrote in my previous blog entry here; also, a friend who sent me a New Year's greeting card several years ago saying, "My household is over 90% self- sufficient in electricity!" I feel that these individual "points" are now beginning to expand out into a "plane" that as a result of the current nuclear accident, we, the Japanese people have begun to think as individuals about "what we should do."
At yesterday's meeting I felt very keenly that the tool of the Internet is finally beginning to exercise the power of those thoughts held by each individual, which the government and the mass media have not been able to take in adequately (which I mention after some self-examination). Unlike in North Africa, where political upheaval has been underway in ongoing succession, it is often said that in Japan the influence of the Internet is still far short of that of the mass media. And yet now, that desire to participate, of "I myself would like to get involved in making use of natural energy," is most certainly spreading by means of the Internet.
It is only when the public becomes involved in natural energy and energy conservation that these themes of "the next era" can advance. As for the government, "what we should do" is to develop the "mechanism" by which we can support such participation by the public. As one concrete means of doing that, we have submitted to the current Diet session the "Bill to Promote Renewable Energies," which will push forward the system for feed-in tariffs for the purchase of electricity generated by natural energy. I very much hope to bring this bill to be enacted.
Note from the Cabinet Public Relations Office: The entirety of the proceedings of the "Prime Minister-Experts Open Forum on Natural Energy" is available online still now at Japanese Government
"Prime Minister KAN's BLOG" E-mail Service (June 10, 2011)
Looking Squarely at the Future ""The next era" (2): Transforming our energy policy"
"I urge you to allow me to carry out those responsibilities until a certain degree of progress in handling this earthquake disaster and nuclear accident has been achieved. ...When that degree of progress has been attained, I will hand over responsibilities to the younger generation and I hope to foster anew the understanding of the people... towards the next era."
This was the appeal I made at last Thursday's party meeting of DPJ legislators. This blog entry is the latest in a series that spells out what I envision through the words "the next era" appearing in the statement during the meeting.
Yesterday, the Council on the Realization of the New Growth Strategy held its ninth meeting. During this session, the second since the hiatus caused by the earthquake disaster, the Council engaged in lively discussions on energy policies for "the next era," with business leaders, academics, and others also participating.
While no one had an objection to my proposal to "add renewable natural energies and energy conservation" to our existing energy pillars, which have been centered on fossil fuels and nuclear energy, there were considerable differences in the nuances expressed by the discussion participants regarding the "weight" of natural energies and energy conservation within our future energies as a whole.
Council member Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama, former President of the University of Tokyo, emphasized that "natural energies and energy conservation will be the core of 21st century energies," and in fact his own house features solar energy and is a model for energy conservation. I have had the pleasure of seeing his house in person, and it demonstrates firsthand that it is possible to live comfortably even while conserving energy and drastically reducing energy consumption.
I myself also consider it important to undertake a dramatic paradigm shift away from the thinking of the 20th century. However, a major characteristic of energy conservation and natural energies is that "each such instance occurs on a small scale". As a result, these policies themselves will not become reality without the participation of a great many people.
Transforming our energy policy. In order to make this a reality as we work towards "the next era," the participation of the people will be indispensable.
"I urge you to allow me to carry out those responsibilities until a certain degree of progress in handling this earthquake disaster and nuclear accident has been achieved. ...When that degree of progress has been attained, I will hand over responsibilities to the younger generation and I hope to foster anew the understanding of the people... towards the next era."
This was the appeal I made at last Thursday's party meeting of DPJ legislators. This blog entry is the latest in a series that spells out what I envision through the words "the next era" appearing in the statement during the meeting.
Yesterday, the Council on the Realization of the New Growth Strategy held its ninth meeting. During this session, the second since the hiatus caused by the earthquake disaster, the Council engaged in lively discussions on energy policies for "the next era," with business leaders, academics, and others also participating.
While no one had an objection to my proposal to "add renewable natural energies and energy conservation" to our existing energy pillars, which have been centered on fossil fuels and nuclear energy, there were considerable differences in the nuances expressed by the discussion participants regarding the "weight" of natural energies and energy conservation within our future energies as a whole.
Council member Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama, former President of the University of Tokyo, emphasized that "natural energies and energy conservation will be the core of 21st century energies," and in fact his own house features solar energy and is a model for energy conservation. I have had the pleasure of seeing his house in person, and it demonstrates firsthand that it is possible to live comfortably even while conserving energy and drastically reducing energy consumption.
I myself also consider it important to undertake a dramatic paradigm shift away from the thinking of the 20th century. However, a major characteristic of energy conservation and natural energies is that "each such instance occurs on a small scale". As a result, these policies themselves will not become reality without the participation of a great many people.
Transforming our energy policy. In order to make this a reality as we work towards "the next era," the participation of the people will be indispensable.
domingo, 19 de junho de 2011
"Prime Minister KAN's BLOG" E-mail Service (June 8, 2011)
"The "next era" (1): My experiences with wind power"
"I wish to pass on various responsibilities to the younger generation once a certain degree of progress has been made in tackling the earthquake disaster and once I have fulfilled my role to a certain extent. I urge you to allow me to carry out those responsibilities until that progress in handling this earthquake disaster and nuclear accident has been achieved. ...When that degree of progress has been attained, I will hand over responsibilities to the younger generation and I hope to foster anew the understanding of the people... towards the next era."
This was the appeal I made at last Thursday's party meeting of DPJ legislators. I would like here to expand upon what I envision in using the words "the next era" within that statement.
The government has submitted to the current session of the Diet a bill that will constitute a significant step towards the "next era." There have been hints foreshadowing this since more than thirty years ago.
In late 1980 when I was first elected as a Diet member, I set off for the United States in order to visit a large number of civil society organizations. As one part of that, I visited the National Wind Test Center (in the suburbs of Denver), where dozens of kinds of wind-power generation facilities were being test run.
Upon asking what happens to the power generated, I was told that it was sold to a power company through a backward feed over the transmission lines. In that way, even the electricity not consumed at one's own house can be utilized effectively. Upon returning to Japan, I immediately set to work to see if such a thing could also be done here, but I ran into the wall of the Electricity Business Act, which restricts the purchasing by power companies.
Domestically, since the then-Science and Technology Agency had launched a wind power test project called the "Fu (wind)-topia Project," I took this up in the Diet to encourage it. I also toured the two large-scale wind power generating facilities that TEPCO had set up on Miyakejima island. However, the project was ultimately called off as it was concluded not to be economically feasible.
It has been thirty-plus years since I was first elected to office. During this time, wind power and solar power have been treated by electric companies as a nuisance, resulting in failing to develop them in earnest and lagging dramatically behind European countries, despite our excellent technologies. I intend to take the opportunity of the recent nuclear accident to review the Basic Energy Plan from a blank slate and to foster natural energies such as wind and solar power as core energies for "the next era."
What will serve as a major step towards that end is a system of feed-in tariffs for the purchase of electricity generated by natural energies. If we are able to achieve such a system, we will succeed in breaking through the legal wall that I had run into when I was a newly-elected legislator. We are at the point where a Cabinet decision has been reached on the bill on the feed-in tariff. This decision was taken on March 11 of this year. However, the great earthquake struck on that very same day.
While a slight delay occurred as a result, we have presented this bill to the current Diet session. By enacting this bill into law and establishing at an early time a price at a level at which economic viability can be achieved, wind and solar power will surely expand at an explosive pace.
"I wish to pass on various responsibilities to the younger generation once a certain degree of progress has been made in tackling the earthquake disaster and once I have fulfilled my role to a certain extent. I urge you to allow me to carry out those responsibilities until that progress in handling this earthquake disaster and nuclear accident has been achieved. ...When that degree of progress has been attained, I will hand over responsibilities to the younger generation and I hope to foster anew the understanding of the people... towards the next era."
This was the appeal I made at last Thursday's party meeting of DPJ legislators. I would like here to expand upon what I envision in using the words "the next era" within that statement.
The government has submitted to the current session of the Diet a bill that will constitute a significant step towards the "next era." There have been hints foreshadowing this since more than thirty years ago.
In late 1980 when I was first elected as a Diet member, I set off for the United States in order to visit a large number of civil society organizations. As one part of that, I visited the National Wind Test Center (in the suburbs of Denver), where dozens of kinds of wind-power generation facilities were being test run.
Upon asking what happens to the power generated, I was told that it was sold to a power company through a backward feed over the transmission lines. In that way, even the electricity not consumed at one's own house can be utilized effectively. Upon returning to Japan, I immediately set to work to see if such a thing could also be done here, but I ran into the wall of the Electricity Business Act, which restricts the purchasing by power companies.
Domestically, since the then-Science and Technology Agency had launched a wind power test project called the "Fu (wind)-topia Project," I took this up in the Diet to encourage it. I also toured the two large-scale wind power generating facilities that TEPCO had set up on Miyakejima island. However, the project was ultimately called off as it was concluded not to be economically feasible.
It has been thirty-plus years since I was first elected to office. During this time, wind power and solar power have been treated by electric companies as a nuisance, resulting in failing to develop them in earnest and lagging dramatically behind European countries, despite our excellent technologies. I intend to take the opportunity of the recent nuclear accident to review the Basic Energy Plan from a blank slate and to foster natural energies such as wind and solar power as core energies for "the next era."
What will serve as a major step towards that end is a system of feed-in tariffs for the purchase of electricity generated by natural energies. If we are able to achieve such a system, we will succeed in breaking through the legal wall that I had run into when I was a newly-elected legislator. We are at the point where a Cabinet decision has been reached on the bill on the feed-in tariff. This decision was taken on March 11 of this year. However, the great earthquake struck on that very same day.
While a slight delay occurred as a result, we have presented this bill to the current Diet session. By enacting this bill into law and establishing at an early time a price at a level at which economic viability can be achieved, wind and solar power will surely expand at an explosive pace.
terça-feira, 31 de maio de 2011
"Prime Minister KAN's BLOG" E-mail Service (May 31, 2011) "Looking Squarely at the Future" (Posted on May 29)
"A new, humane wind" and an "okiagari-koboshi doll"
I have now returned to Japan, having attended the Commemoration Ceremony of the 50th Anniversary of the OECD in Paris, the G8 Summit and summit meetings with participating national leaders in Deauville (France), and the Japan-EU Summit Meeting in Brussels (Belgium).
This was the second G8 Summit that I have attended as the Prime Minister, following last year's Muskoka Summit (Canada). All of the participating leaders were the same as last year, and with the Chair, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, addressing each of us on a first name basis, I was able to engage in the summit in a relaxed manner too.
Yet at the same time, there was also a tension in the air that was different from last year. That was the emphasis placed on Japan. This year's summit became a crucial forum for conveying directly to
the international community the situations regarding the earthquake disaster and the nuclear accident - even at the lunch meeting on the first day, President Sarkozy asked me to give the lead-off remarks, saying, "Let's start with Naoto."
Each leader expressed his or her sympathy to Japan, and they all spoke of their feelings of respect for the Japanese people for raising themselves up with courage in a level-headed manner. This was truly encouraging. I am taking this opportunity to report this to you, as this was a message to the Japanese people as a whole, and above all to the disaster victims.
In addition, heartfelt remarks extended towards the disaster areas were made at the joint press conference with the leaders of the EU, which wrapped up the diplomatic events during this trip. As he finished his remarks, Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, also presented in English a haiku poem that he had written the night before.
"The three disasters Storms turn into a soft wind: A new, humane wind."
Hearing this poem for the first time there at the podium, I jotted down the simultaneous interpretation there on the spot, and as I concluded my own remarks, with feelings of appreciation I read out the poem again, this time in Japanese. But as I finished the second line, I found myself choked up for a moment, filled with emotion.
President Van Rompuy is a great fan of haiku poetry, having even published a collection of the poems that he has written, entitled Haiku. When I met him last year, he graciously signed a copy of his anthology, which I had brought along. This year's summit, which was called the "Kizuna Summit" - or, the "Summit of the Bonds of Friendship" - also demonstrated a strong feeling of solidarity from the EU side towards Japan.
During this trip, I kept a small commemorative okiagari-koboshi doll in my suit jacket pocket. This is a kind of traditional folk art that I had purchased the other day when I visited a shop in Tokyo selling goods made in Fukushima. The spirit represented by this doll, which always rights itself after it is knocked down, imparted surefire strength to the message I sent to the leaders from around the world, that Japan will without a doubt become revived once again.
I have now returned to Japan, having attended the Commemoration Ceremony of the 50th Anniversary of the OECD in Paris, the G8 Summit and summit meetings with participating national leaders in Deauville (France), and the Japan-EU Summit Meeting in Brussels (Belgium).
This was the second G8 Summit that I have attended as the Prime Minister, following last year's Muskoka Summit (Canada). All of the participating leaders were the same as last year, and with the Chair, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, addressing each of us on a first name basis, I was able to engage in the summit in a relaxed manner too.
Yet at the same time, there was also a tension in the air that was different from last year. That was the emphasis placed on Japan. This year's summit became a crucial forum for conveying directly to
the international community the situations regarding the earthquake disaster and the nuclear accident - even at the lunch meeting on the first day, President Sarkozy asked me to give the lead-off remarks, saying, "Let's start with Naoto."
Each leader expressed his or her sympathy to Japan, and they all spoke of their feelings of respect for the Japanese people for raising themselves up with courage in a level-headed manner. This was truly encouraging. I am taking this opportunity to report this to you, as this was a message to the Japanese people as a whole, and above all to the disaster victims.
In addition, heartfelt remarks extended towards the disaster areas were made at the joint press conference with the leaders of the EU, which wrapped up the diplomatic events during this trip. As he finished his remarks, Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, also presented in English a haiku poem that he had written the night before.
"The three disasters Storms turn into a soft wind: A new, humane wind."
Hearing this poem for the first time there at the podium, I jotted down the simultaneous interpretation there on the spot, and as I concluded my own remarks, with feelings of appreciation I read out the poem again, this time in Japanese. But as I finished the second line, I found myself choked up for a moment, filled with emotion.
President Van Rompuy is a great fan of haiku poetry, having even published a collection of the poems that he has written, entitled Haiku. When I met him last year, he graciously signed a copy of his anthology, which I had brought along. This year's summit, which was called the "Kizuna Summit" - or, the "Summit of the Bonds of Friendship" - also demonstrated a strong feeling of solidarity from the EU side towards Japan.
During this trip, I kept a small commemorative okiagari-koboshi doll in my suit jacket pocket. This is a kind of traditional folk art that I had purchased the other day when I visited a shop in Tokyo selling goods made in Fukushima. The spirit represented by this doll, which always rights itself after it is knocked down, imparted surefire strength to the message I sent to the leaders from around the world, that Japan will without a doubt become revived once again.
quinta-feira, 26 de maio de 2011
"Prime Minister KAN's BLOG" E-mail Service (May 25, 2011)
"No. 20 [Reconstruction Support] Reconstruction Action! A visit to a shop selling Fukushima products!"
Standing near the front of the shop, the Prime Minister points at a flag
Prime Minister: Can you see that over there? It's for Reconstruction Action. There are many ways to support the disaster-affected region. I came to this store today to show my support by eating and drinking local products.
--- The Fukushima Prefecture Tourism Promotion Shop in Yaesu (Chuo Ward, Tokyo)
Shop staff tries to draw in customers
Staff: Good morning! Welcome, please come in! Thank you!
The crowded shop interior
Opened in 2009, the shop promotes tourism to Fukushima Prefecture and sells local goods. It also hosts sales events organized by the Prefecture's cities, towns and villages.
The Prime Minister visited the store on May 8
The Prime Minister spoke to the media outside the store
Prime Minister: Nobuko (Mrs. Kan) came here a while ago and told me they had many interesting things. I've wanted to stop by ever since, and well, here I am.
Inside the shop
Shop Manager: Right now we're busy even during weekdays. Mrs. Kan came by during the Golden Week holiday period just at the beginning of May, and it was so crowded that I actually didn't notice her!
The store is so busy that even the Prime Minister's wife can come and go unnoticed. The number of people wanting to support Fukushima has increased dramatically since the earthquake, pushing sales 7-8 times higher than normal some days.
The Prime Minister speaks with shop customers
Prime Minister: Where are you from?
Child: Adachi Ward...
Prime Minister: Did you come to show your support for Fukushima?
Child: (Nods)
The Prime Minister received a taste test of shop products
Female clerk: This is tofu pickled in miso...
Prime Minister: Wow... (The Prime Minister smiles broadly)
Female clerk: It's so very rich in taste, right? (The Prime Minister nods) The soybeans are fermented that way...
Prime Minister: It's like a gourmet cheese.
Female clerk: It really is.
The tofu is made using soybeans cultivated in Fukushima.
It's pickled in miso for three months and then fermented at a low temperature.
Prime Minister: This is really good. Where's it from?
Female clerk: Minamisoma City.
Shop Manager: They had to stop making it for about two weeks after the earthquake.
A shop clerk pours the Prime Minister a glass of sake
Prime Minister: Thank you. (The Prime Minister drinks the sake) It's so smooth, isn't it?
Female clerk: Yes, it's a daiginjo sake (a very special brew). It's won gold prizes at the National New Sake Awards (ten times in total).
Man: The sake you had from Aizu a moment ago, as well as our sake from Fukushima Prefecture, just won't sell. It's because of the rumors about radiation. I want the Government to do something about this - on the television or something like that.
On the other hand, there are also sakes not affected by harmful rumors...
Prime Minister : I've heard you have a sake from Iitate Village?
Shop Manager: Well, yesterday...
Prime Minister: Is it sold out?
Shop manager: We sold out on Friday and Saturday.
Prime Minister: It's sold out?
Shop Manager: We sold 800 bottles in two days.
Sake made in Iitate - the first village to evacuate. With harvest restrictions placed on rice this year, the sake brewers in the village won't be able to obtain the ingredients they need...
Shop Manager: People are calling it a 'phantom sake,' since it has become so rare. So many people were lined up to purchase a bottle on Friday and Saturday that we sold out.
All six of the Prime Minister's plates and glasses are empty...
Prime Minister's Office Staff: People don't usually eat everything during a taste test.
Prime Minister: (Blushing) Well, it's just about lunchtime...
Female clerk: I'm so glad you liked it.
Prime Minister: Thank you, really. It was delicious.
The Prime Minister heads to the register to purchase his selections
Female clerk 2: Your total comes to 7,843 yen.
Prime Minister: What's this?
Female clerk 3: That's an okiagari-koboshi doll. Every time it falls over it stands right back up. Everyone is struggling so much right now. I want people to look at this doll and think "We can do this" or "It's going to be okay." I want everyone to realize there's still hope.
After finishing his shopping, the Prime Minister greets the press outside
Prime Minister: We need to compensate the disaster-affected region for the issues we have responsibility for, including reputational damage. Before that compensation begins to be paid out, I hope we can do away with harmful rumors by having everyone come and purchase goods from Fukushima. The products here are absolutely safe.
With reporting complete, the Prime Minister looks around at each reporter
Prime Minister's Office Staff: Okay, thank you everyone.
Prime Minister: I hope each one of you will also buy at least one thing before you go. Don't just report and leave, I want everyone to buy something.
The Prime Minister begins to leave
Shop staff: Thank you!
Prime Minister: I really wish you all the best. Good-bye!
Child: Bye bye!
A message to the entire nation
Shop Manager: In terms of tourism, Fukushima Prefecture is really going through hard times right now. I think the most helpful thing that anyone can do is to visit Fukushima and
Standing near the front of the shop, the Prime Minister points at a flag
Prime Minister: Can you see that over there? It's for Reconstruction Action. There are many ways to support the disaster-affected region. I came to this store today to show my support by eating and drinking local products.
--- The Fukushima Prefecture Tourism Promotion Shop in Yaesu (Chuo Ward, Tokyo)
Shop staff tries to draw in customers
Staff: Good morning! Welcome, please come in! Thank you!
The crowded shop interior
Opened in 2009, the shop promotes tourism to Fukushima Prefecture and sells local goods. It also hosts sales events organized by the Prefecture's cities, towns and villages.
The Prime Minister visited the store on May 8
The Prime Minister spoke to the media outside the store
Prime Minister: Nobuko (Mrs. Kan) came here a while ago and told me they had many interesting things. I've wanted to stop by ever since, and well, here I am.
Inside the shop
Shop Manager: Right now we're busy even during weekdays. Mrs. Kan came by during the Golden Week holiday period just at the beginning of May, and it was so crowded that I actually didn't notice her!
The store is so busy that even the Prime Minister's wife can come and go unnoticed. The number of people wanting to support Fukushima has increased dramatically since the earthquake, pushing sales 7-8 times higher than normal some days.
The Prime Minister speaks with shop customers
Prime Minister: Where are you from?
Child: Adachi Ward...
Prime Minister: Did you come to show your support for Fukushima?
Child: (Nods)
The Prime Minister received a taste test of shop products
Female clerk: This is tofu pickled in miso...
Prime Minister: Wow... (The Prime Minister smiles broadly)
Female clerk: It's so very rich in taste, right? (The Prime Minister nods) The soybeans are fermented that way...
Prime Minister: It's like a gourmet cheese.
Female clerk: It really is.
The tofu is made using soybeans cultivated in Fukushima.
It's pickled in miso for three months and then fermented at a low temperature.
Prime Minister: This is really good. Where's it from?
Female clerk: Minamisoma City.
Shop Manager: They had to stop making it for about two weeks after the earthquake.
A shop clerk pours the Prime Minister a glass of sake
Prime Minister: Thank you. (The Prime Minister drinks the sake) It's so smooth, isn't it?
Female clerk: Yes, it's a daiginjo sake (a very special brew). It's won gold prizes at the National New Sake Awards (ten times in total).
Man: The sake you had from Aizu a moment ago, as well as our sake from Fukushima Prefecture, just won't sell. It's because of the rumors about radiation. I want the Government to do something about this - on the television or something like that.
On the other hand, there are also sakes not affected by harmful rumors...
Prime Minister : I've heard you have a sake from Iitate Village?
Shop Manager: Well, yesterday...
Prime Minister: Is it sold out?
Shop manager: We sold out on Friday and Saturday.
Prime Minister: It's sold out?
Shop Manager: We sold 800 bottles in two days.
Sake made in Iitate - the first village to evacuate. With harvest restrictions placed on rice this year, the sake brewers in the village won't be able to obtain the ingredients they need...
Shop Manager: People are calling it a 'phantom sake,' since it has become so rare. So many people were lined up to purchase a bottle on Friday and Saturday that we sold out.
All six of the Prime Minister's plates and glasses are empty...
Prime Minister's Office Staff: People don't usually eat everything during a taste test.
Prime Minister: (Blushing) Well, it's just about lunchtime...
Female clerk: I'm so glad you liked it.
Prime Minister: Thank you, really. It was delicious.
The Prime Minister heads to the register to purchase his selections
Female clerk 2: Your total comes to 7,843 yen.
Prime Minister: What's this?
Female clerk 3: That's an okiagari-koboshi doll. Every time it falls over it stands right back up. Everyone is struggling so much right now. I want people to look at this doll and think "We can do this" or "It's going to be okay." I want everyone to realize there's still hope.
After finishing his shopping, the Prime Minister greets the press outside
Prime Minister: We need to compensate the disaster-affected region for the issues we have responsibility for, including reputational damage. Before that compensation begins to be paid out, I hope we can do away with harmful rumors by having everyone come and purchase goods from Fukushima. The products here are absolutely safe.
With reporting complete, the Prime Minister looks around at each reporter
Prime Minister's Office Staff: Okay, thank you everyone.
Prime Minister: I hope each one of you will also buy at least one thing before you go. Don't just report and leave, I want everyone to buy something.
The Prime Minister begins to leave
Shop staff: Thank you!
Prime Minister: I really wish you all the best. Good-bye!
Child: Bye bye!
A message to the entire nation
Shop Manager: In terms of tourism, Fukushima Prefecture is really going through hard times right now. I think the most helpful thing that anyone can do is to visit Fukushima and
segunda-feira, 23 de maio de 2011
"Prime Minister KAN's BLOG" E-mail Service (May 23, 2011)
"Meeting with Dr. Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum"
On May 17 (Tuesday), Dr. Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, an organization which hosts the annual Davos meetings, paid a visit to the Prime Minister's Office. I had an opportunity to talk with the Chairman during a luncheon. Chairman Schwab had invited me to the Annual Davos Meeting 2011 held in January this year, where I delivered a speech as Prime Minister of Japan. In that speech, I introduced "kizuna" (bonds of friendship) as a term that best captures the Japanese spirit, and the Chairman said he was deeply impressed with this word. The latest earthquake has renewed my sense of the value of "kizuna" among the friends and acquaintances around the world, including Chairman Schwab.
During the Davos Meeting in January, Chairman Schwab set up a venue for me to exchange views with world's most prominent thought leaders, including Dr. Joseph Stiglitz, 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences Laureate, Dr. Lawrence Summers, former Director of the U.S. National Economic Council, and Dr. George Soros, investment fund manager. As a leader of a country, in addition to summit meetings, I think it is important to have such a network where I can directly hear insightful opinions of world experts.
Chairman Schwab has now proposed to establish something like a Council of Eminent Persons as a venue to hold video teleconferences several times a year for valuable exchanges of opinions with world experts. In order not to misguide Japan in the era in which everything is globalizing, I am eager to expand the global intellectual network and make the best use of it as leader of the country.
On May 17 (Tuesday), Dr. Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, an organization which hosts the annual Davos meetings, paid a visit to the Prime Minister's Office. I had an opportunity to talk with the Chairman during a luncheon. Chairman Schwab had invited me to the Annual Davos Meeting 2011 held in January this year, where I delivered a speech as Prime Minister of Japan. In that speech, I introduced "kizuna" (bonds of friendship) as a term that best captures the Japanese spirit, and the Chairman said he was deeply impressed with this word. The latest earthquake has renewed my sense of the value of "kizuna" among the friends and acquaintances around the world, including Chairman Schwab.
During the Davos Meeting in January, Chairman Schwab set up a venue for me to exchange views with world's most prominent thought leaders, including Dr. Joseph Stiglitz, 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences Laureate, Dr. Lawrence Summers, former Director of the U.S. National Economic Council, and Dr. George Soros, investment fund manager. As a leader of a country, in addition to summit meetings, I think it is important to have such a network where I can directly hear insightful opinions of world experts.
Chairman Schwab has now proposed to establish something like a Council of Eminent Persons as a venue to hold video teleconferences several times a year for valuable exchanges of opinions with world experts. In order not to misguide Japan in the era in which everything is globalizing, I am eager to expand the global intellectual network and make the best use of it as leader of the country.
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