I left Hayman Island after the ADC Forum for Sydney and stayed there for overnight for time adjustment.
The weather was beautiful next morning, and I had free time for about half of the day. So, of course, I headed right away to the Opera House and enjoyed a very relaxing time.
What is amazing about this Opera House is, that the more you take a close look at it, the more you see how it was built with a vision for the future, integrated plans to materialize the vision – not only within its structural design, but also in the contents and wonderful programs that continue to attract people of the world to this day. In short, this House has a great “magnetic power” that comes only from something produced with long term perspectives.
On the other hand, it seems to me that the national policies of Japan lack such dynamic, big concepts based on the understandings of current and future standpoint of itself in the global settings as I sense in this Opera House. After all, our national policies are essentially nothing but the output of the “small town community” mindset traditionally nurtured within each ministries, which, as Tatsuru UCHIDA put it, is the reason why “Japan tends inherently to be a follower/responder rather than leader in the world affairs ” (Ref.1 in Japanese).
I decided to spend rest of my time at Bondi Beach, and had lunch at an Italian restaurant run by a young Jewish fellow from Israel. I enjoyed talking about various things with him. By the way, Bondi Beach is also famous for its Life Saving Club as well as the Icebergs.
Now, I will pick up my baggage at the hotel, go to the airport, and fly to Singapore.