‘Recommendation to Take Leave of Absence from School’, Meeting Students Who Took Leave of Absence From School and Are Studying in Seattle

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I posted in my twitter from Toronto that ‘I will be leaving for Seattle.’  Two Japanese students (one of them is a graduate student) currently studying at the University of Washington  in Seattle sent me responses via twitter.  I replied on the spot and we arranged to meet in two days.

On the evening of 10th, the day of my arrival at Seattle, we had a dinner at The Edgewater Hotel (top photo) where I stayed.  One more student joined and four of us had a good time together.

Two of the students were juniors at class of undergdates.  They took leave of absence from Japanese university and are studying here from this September.  Since their home university will not admit credits earned at University of Washington, they decided to take leave of absence.  However, I am sure that they are having opportunities to study many things, and moreover, will be able to acquire broader perspectives, to see Japan and themselves in the global framework.  They will also build networks of friends from all over the world.  All of those things are very valuable for their future careers.

One other student, a graduate school student, is doing research for one year.  She said that she enjoys being here very much.  She also feels that things are very different compared to Japan.  That reminded me of a student I saw at Harvard University this January, who was a Post-doctoral fellow, saying that ‘So far, in the not so many years I have lived, having earned Ph.D. in Japan is the only thing that I regret.’  I think this young doctor was able to feel that way because he was in a US leading university research environment where MDs and PhDs from variety of universities gathered as Post-docs; the ‘Place’ for ‘open competition with many MD and PhD peers from different insitutions’. ‘A frog in a well does not know the great sea’ – just as the proverb goes.  I expect a lot from you, all professors and teachers of Japan. ‘Students are Mirrors that Reflect Their Teachers’ – your ability as a mentor/educator/researcher is judged by the PhDs you have supervised.

By the way, I hear many comments worrying about Japanese youths not going abroad, but we should also be aware of the fact that the number of researchers going abroad is also sharply declining. (in Japanese) This is horrible.  Do professor want to keep their students under his/her supervision as subordinates?   The two Japanese Nobel laureates  of this year also have overseas training as their backgrounds, I understand.  One of them built his career in the U.S.  Professors of Japanese Universities, I urge you to encourage youths to mix with other students or researchers for training and competitions as samurais did.  ‘If you love your child, let him/her travel (kawaii ko ni wa tabi wo sasero)’, ‘speech by Steve Jobs of Apple’…their points are all the same.

The three students seemed to be enjoying their leave of absence from school in Japan.  It may be a rare but a great opportunity to find your ‘self’.

 

Another Visit to Toronto in Autumn, A Meeting with Munk School on Our Collaborative Project

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I have been visiting Toronto twice a year, in Spring and Autumn for the past two years (Ref.1,2,3,4,5). 

This time, I left Singapore early in the morning of 7th, spent 2 hours each for transit at Narita and Chicago O’Hare airport, arriving at Toronto at 7pm.  By coincidence, I came across President Hatta and Vice President Fukushima of GRIPS, where I currently work for, at the Hotel check-in.  After taking a short rest, we went for dinner at the near by Italian restaurant Fieramosca.  Actually the place was quite nice.

Next day was a perfect autumn day, without a single cloud in the sky.  Dr. Sunami,  of GRIPS, myself, Dean and our partner at Munk School of Global Affairs (Ref.1), graduate students, and other interested people, total of 10 or so gathered to finalizing our plans for our collaborative Project.  This Project is about ‘Integrated Innovation’ in global poverty and development, to investigate the current status and craft practical policy recommendations.  We have been working on this for some time and this meeting in effect finalized the basic outlines for grant application.  I am very pleased for our progress.  By the way, we also plan to invite interested and committed researchers in this project, too.

While the meeting was still going on, I left the room to visit President Naylor at his office, to join Drs. Hatta and Fukushima, who were visiting him as part of their effort to set up exchange programs with several universities in Canada and GRIPS, and we discussed various subjects including possible future exchanges between GRIPS and University of Toronto. University of Toronto is very positive about encouraging international exchanges.  In Japan, on the contrary, not many students today are interested in seeking overseas study and expreiences, and this problem is becoming a hot topic in Japan recently (Ref.1), which is a huge difference compared to Canada, a quite a cosmopolitan naton.  But I think, in Japan, it is not the young generation that are reluctant to leave home, but the grown ups around those young people.  This will naturally make young people while they grow, lose interest in the outside world.

I enjoyed nice time over lunch at the faculty club dining room located in the building beautifully decorated with wild vines.  The huge campus is surrounded by trees and greens, it is clear at a glance that the students come from quite diversified backgrounds.  Everyone looks lively and cheerful.  Since it was the Thanksgiving season in Canada (one month earlier than U.S.), there seemed to be fewer students around, though…. I spent rest of the day taking a walk through the charming small paths behind the Four Seasons Hotel, visiting Japan Foundation Office in Toronto, having dinner together at the local Chinese restaurant.

Next morning started with a breakfast with Dr. John Dirks, the Chair of Gairdner Foundation Selection Committee, followed by a visit to Royal Ontario Museum to see Terracotta Army, and meeting with several other people. It was a wonderful 2 days in Toronto blessed with beautiful autumn weather.  I will leave for Seattle on 10th.  Toronto is a very Cosmopolitan city.

Although I saw fewer students than usual in the broad campus of the University of Toronto, probably due to the long weekend, I couldn’t help but feel that young people in Japan, or Japanese society as a whole in that sense, are currently in low spirit.  It is fun to go abroad at young age, while you are more capable of being sensitive with a variety of things, having broader career choices ahead of you.  I know that Japanese youths who participated at the Asian Youth Exchange Program in Okinawa (link to the AYEPO report of this year) got the idea of how other youths in Asia think and act, what and how they study.  They continue to keep in touch with each other.  They will make friends with young people around the world, and gradually will be able to find what they are good at or what they want to do.  Human network will expand from such experience and maybe the possible field of their future activities, too.  So, as I always say, I recommend you all, no matter whether you are in high school or university, to ‘take a leave of absence from school’ ? and there would be variety of styles to choose, for instance, what you do, where you go, or how long you stay.  I am pretty sure that you will have some eye-opening experience, and find something that you would really like to do.

From Singapore

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Click here for photos of Marina Bay Sands Resort

I left STS Forum in Kyoto early in the morning of October 5th, made a brief stop at my home, and arrived at GRIPS early in the afternoon.  There, I had a good conversation over various topics with Dr. Han Seung-Soon, the former prime minister of Korea, whom I have met in Seoul just recently.  Then, I took a train from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport, arriving at Singapore at around midnight.

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Next morning was a board meeting of A*STAR . The discussion was heated from beginning to the end until the meeting closed after lunch.  This board is working quite vibrantly actually.  Budgets are allocated to make Singapore more competitive in science, technology and research, to build new opportunities ? very constructive and active.  A*STAR is also planning a collaboration with Universities in Iran, in order to develop further exchanges of talented students.  Another project is the Liberal Arts course that has a full boarding system which will be offered in collaboration with Yale University.  In short, they are so dedicated to nurturing global talents.  It is a common sense, so to say, that ‘Nurturing Human Talents is the Base of Building of a Nation’ (in Japanese), but it seems quite different in a country who knows where. The problem is that adults, the grown-ups, are ‘closed minded’, and that will make it difficult for our nation to address problems we are expected to face in this rapidly ‘flattening age of globalization’.

Late in the afternoon, we visited the ‘Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Resort’.  First thing to do was to see the fantastic view from the top of the building, looking down the course of F1 autorace track that took place just recently, Marina Barrage  where I had been not so long ago, and right beyond the ocean lies Malaysia and Indonesia so closely.  The premise is a combination of three 57 stories high buildings, with hotel, condo, major convention facility, casino, etc. and a 150 meters swimming pool on the top of the building. The view is just breathtaking.  Elevators moves up and down in high speed ?very fast- but motions are almost unnoticeable.

Its grand scale, however, is not the only thing that impresses us.  Prices are also soaring high; Hotel, Condo (still some vacancy…), Casino (sheer admission cost 85 dollars), and practically anything.  After the tour, I had a nice cheerful dinner with other members of the board.

I recommend that you visit this Sands Hotel and Resort if you have an opportunity.

After returning to the Hotel, I spent about 2 hours with Professor Ito, who has been working vibrantly at Singapore for about 10 years, Professor Yamamoto, new member of NUS faculty, and Dr. Steve Chu, a member of the board of UCLA.  I have known Professor Ito since he was at Kyoto University, but he moved to Singapore after retirement from Kyoto, and was awarded President’s Science Award this year.   I congratulate him for this great achievement.  We are so proud of him.

Why don’t more professors of Japanese universities broaden their world and go out to spread their field of activities instead of sticking around universities even after their retirement, I wonder?  Recently, it seems that many accomplished professors stay at universities taking advantage of their uiversities being Independent Administrative Institutionization (Dokuritsu Hojinn).  This would cause less room availabilities, and I feel sorry for young people.  Yet, more ‘adults’ and ‘professors’ complain that youths today are not passionate about going abroad.  This is a problem.  Mind you, young people are quite aware that their seniors are not being consistent in their words and actions.

Tomorrow, a car will pick me up at 5:15 am to take me to the airport.  I will fly for Toronto from here.

 

Participating in Variety of Projects, and Once Again, About Armchair Quarterback

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On September 28th and 29th, Asia Innovation Forum, as you have read in my website last year, was held again.  It is its fourth year and several small ‘satellites’ were set up.  The sizes of the rooms were smaller, in fact that contributed to making the discussions to be more engaging and participatory, and people seemed to like them.

I joined in the last two panels on the 2nd day (in Japanese).  Panelists in the first panel (in Japanese), besides myself, were Dr. Ishikura and Ms. Ishiguro whom I worked with a week ago at the ‘Marunouchi Career Juku’, as I have reported recently, and with Ms. Kaori Sasaki and Ms. Magsaysay Chou, a business leader from the Philippines.  Here, I was again the only male panelist as was the case at the ‘Juku’ last week.  However, this time, the audience consisted mostly of middle aged or senior men and I somehow could feel the difference clearly from a week ago as I participated in the discussions.

The latter panel was hosted by the same host as last year, Mr. Kusunoki, welcoming Mr. Idei (former CEO of Sony) of Quantum Leap, the organizer of this Forum.  I stayed rather quiet this year.  Many views were presented to answer the question ‘One Thing That Would Bring Changes to Japan’, and many panelist pointed more than one Thing; but I had nothing else to say besides ‘Recommendation to Take Leave of Absence from School’, that would give youths broader choices for their future career.  Traditional system of Japan Inc failed to change for more than 20 years even after the burst of bubble economy in 1990, because of the strong opposing power of the establishments. Whatever things that are said have been said many times in the past, but nothing changed as of today.  I sincerely wish to give hope to youths who have long future ahead of them.  To my regret we have seen hardly any changes during these 10 to 20 years, regardless of many policy recommendations made in terms of legislation or budgets.  What matters is ‘execution of plans’!  I think this problem has become basically ‘a battle between generations’, ie, ‘the past vs the future’ generations.

We may need to think differently when we plan our next Forum.  Since Mr. Idei is a wonderful leader in the business sector, together with him, let us craft plans with even stronger impacts for the next year.

On October 2nd, I joined in the ‘Global Agenda Seminar’ (in Japanese) (Ref.1), hosted by Dr. Yoko Ishikura.  Our guest was Dr. Kano, who now works at the World Bank in Washington DC – such youth like him working in global arena has power to easily connect with the hearts of young people who join this very interesting Seminar.

After the Seminar, I headed for Kyoto in the afternoon of October 2nd to participate in the STS Forum.  This Forum gathers so many leaders from all parts of the world, so I enjoy seeing many friends as well as their interesting panels.

Reports will be uploaded on the web sites of each event, so please keep eyes on them.

My schedule is quite tight, I have to admit, but on the other hand I am also concerned about how slow Japan is in its changing.  I think the Democrat Party administration has to face numerous difficulties lying ahead of them.  They are not yet experienced enough in handling the process of politics and legislative processes.  Will it take another 1 to 2 years for them to work effectively?  Also, it is not good that each minister comment on recent China- Japan problems separately and not consistently as one Cabinet.  Diplomacy must have a good, stable leadership in the government.  Even if the ministers think they are speaking to Japanese only, their comments will quickly be translated and be sent out to the people of the world, in particular, to the governments of nations which are interested in Japan affairs.  Current style of press coverage of these Ministers will serve only to give impression that Japanese government has no governance.

I have once written about the effect of ‘Armchair Quarterback (Okame Hachimoku)’  (in Japanese) in my web site, and in that sense, the mail magazines (in Japanese) and twitter (in Japanese) by Mr. So Bunshu are very thought provocative.  Mr. So has deep knowledge about the way people think and feel both in China and Japan, reflecting his own background and real experiences in both countries.

 

‘Global Science and Innovation’ Course Starts at Keio Gijuku University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC)

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At this year’s entrance ceremony of Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC), one of the most prestigous universities of Japan, Keio University, I had a rare opportunity to deliver a special welcome lecture  to the newly enrolled students. SFC is a relatively new campus among the Keio Gijuku founded 152 years ago, just celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, well known and attracting new type of talents for its new concept.  

Numerous graduates pursue their own professional career in various settings within and out of Japan. And quite a large percentage of these alumni have careers quite distinct from the traditional Japanese common sense (however their careers may not be uncommon careers outside of Japan….).  I know many OBs and OGs of SFC personally and there are several whom I work with today.  

Perhaps from such reasons, I was asked to offer a course on ‘Global Science and Innovation’ for this fall semester.

The first day of the course was on September 29th.  This day was so to say an ‘Introduction of the faculty (Kaomise)’, so all students who may be interested in taking this course came.  They will decide in a week or so whether or not they would register.  A graduate student TA and an undergraduate student SA are assigned to support me.  Keio SFC posted my lecture very fast on their website already.  

Using such web as a ‘tool’, through ‘trial and error’, I plan to make it a fun, interconnected, open class in which all students participate.  Time is changing steadily but rapidly, as described in a recent book which I have already introduced to my students ‘Learning on Web (Web ni Manabu)’ .  

The students in my class are undergraduates from year 1 to 4, which mean that more than half of the students were born after 1989, the year of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, and one year before the burst of bubble economy in Japan when the Nikkei Stock Average marked the highest share of 39 thousand yen.  Japanese economy has not grown ever since these students were in kinder garden.  I think parents, considering their age, should think about the domestic/international situation of the time in which their children grew up.  They were in primary schools at the time of ‘September 11’.  

Quite many of the students have had the experience of living abroad, I understand, so I think this will be fun.  How many students will register to my course, I wonder?  Being evaluated by students is somewhat like ‘budget-cutting panel (Jigyo-Shiwake)’, being evaluated by politicians of DPJ.  This is the hard and challenging part for the teachers in the ‘Open Education’, ‘Education in the Web age’.  

I intend to make this course a very innovative one together with the students as well as variety of guests which I am planning to invite.