Encounter at San Diego and An Unexpected Reunion

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IMG_3046 

I posted the other day on a meeting in San Diego in early April.

In one of the panels at the meeting, I talked about Project Hope, a Disaster Relief Project for the East Japan Disaster.  One of the participants came to me after the panel to ask about the details, and we had some discussion over what we have been doing with Project Hope.   The person was Dr Raymond Basri from New York.  He had a strong interest in disaster relief, and had participated in many disaster relief activities in the past including Afghan Wars and Hurricane Katrina.  Dr. Basri is also known for taking leadership at the ditching of an airbus at the Hudson River, New York City.

Dr. Basri and I have been exchanging e-mails several times, and then, I suddenly received an e-mail from him saying that “I plan to come to Japan 4 days from now, and hope to bring my daughter (an undergraduate) and son (a high school student) with me to visit the stricken area.  My daughter accompanied me at the Katrina time, but my son has no experience yet of being at the disaster area…”

I have been involved for these 3 weeks in the collaboration with Project Hope, ie, 3 doctors in the team 2, for 3 times to the stricken area.  We had meetings before and after each visit for briefing and de-briefing of their reports and following discussions.

With this background, I was fortunate enough to have help from many related people, and managed to have Dr Basri and his children arrive today at Narita, in the afternoon of Saturday, 4 days after receiving his e-mail.  They then transited to Haneda (it was at this point that I finally succeeded in getting in touch with them by e-mail and cell phone - truly at the very last minute…) where I met the three (photo above) before getting on board the flight to Akita.  I had 30 minutes for briefing and handing the local maps.  They will be picked up by a car from Akita to Miyako-city.  All of the arrangements were completed just a day before their arrival, very risky, but we somehow managed.  The family was to arrive at Miyako-city at midnight.

On Sunday, the next day, Dr Basri and his family visited a number of places, and we asked the people at the site to distribute the supplies he brought.

After staying two nights at the area on Saturday and Sunday, they will be leaving for New York from Narita in the late afternoon of Monday.

I thank all who kindly helped me for the arrangement despite such a very short notice.

A Speech in Expectation of Empowering Women

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I arrived at Haneda from San Diego early in the morning.  This day, I ended up corresponding all day for the Project Hope.

Supporting system for disaster relief in Tohoku seems to be gradually getting into order, and more aids, although far from enough, are coming in to the stricken areas.  Needs for medical care is changing rapidly.  Now, there are more needs for handling of chronic disorder rather than acute illnesses.  Equally becoming important are mental supports for the children and elderly.

Project Hope decided in the end to go to the stricken areas as well as the Fukushima area.  Everyone is working very hard to contact relevant sections and offices in order to arrange the trip.

Dr. Shimabukuro decided to come back to Japan from UCLA again, and is busy getting into touch with people.  In between, she even wrote an article to USA Today.  Dr Shiabukuro is such a hard worker!

As for myself, I had to give a lecture next day at the luncheon hosted by the ‘Women’s Committee’ of the Tokyo American Club (TAC) on ‘Women Empowerment in Japan’, so to my regret missed the opportunity to go the disaster hit area with our Project Hope team. 

At the TAC luncheon, I was seated next to Mrs Roos, wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.  I had the privilege of talking much about the quake and Fukushima issues with her.  The activities of the Ambassador can be followed via twitter and you will easily see how much he is dedicated.  By the way, all of the participants at this luncheon were women except for myself and Mr Lee, the President of TAC.

I opened my lecture by saying “Thank you for inviting me to TAC luncheon seminar to discuss ‘Gender Empowerment here in Japan.’ But, I must say that I am disappointed because today my audience consists of only women except for me and TAC president and what I speak to you today must be addressed rather mainly to men and you women know well many issues I will be talking about”.  I also distributed a list of references.

I said that the challenge is how to shift from ‘society of men’ to ‘society of gender equality’ and ‘gender empowerment.’.  In fact, Kathy Matsui of Goldman Sachs have written how her analysis show that if the Japanese society succeeded in encouraging women to take good part in workforce, the Japanese economy is expected to grow by 15%.  For details, please refer to ‘Womenomics’ which I included in the reference list.
 
As you may notice, I am raising this issue again and again in this website.

American College of Physicians: From San Diego

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Here I am in San Diego to attend the annual meeting of the American College of Physicians (ACP).  Last year it was in Toronto.  This is my 3rd visit to Southern California (Ref.1) this year.

Since we founded ACP Japan Chapter 8 years ago, I have served as the Governor for two terms, which was an exceptional arrangement.  I am relieved that I am leaving this position of the Governor this year without any problems. 

During these 8 years, the Japan Chapter grew to have more than 1,000 members, with significant increase in Student Members and Associate Members.  Some of our activities focus on education, on female doctors, and on volunteerism, some of which led to ACP awards which I take as the manifestation of recognition by ACP of the Japan Chapter.  I thank all members and leadership of Japan Chapter for their dedications.

Because of the East Japan Disaster, the annual meeting of The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine was cancelled.  Subsequently the ACP Japan Chapter meeting which is annually held during the same period welcoming the President of the ACP was postponed at present..

Consequently, not as many Japanese members were able to join the meeting in San Diego this year.  However, at the Convocation of new Fellows, 5 physicians from Japan (among them was Dr. Gremillion, a leader of the medical education at Kameda Hospital, who organizes annually a highly stimulating session named ‘Clear at a Glance (Ichimoku Ryozen)’ at the Japan Chapter meeting) were present. As they stood in response to the announcement of the name of Chapter ‘Japan’, I was touched by a long and warm applause that arose from the entire audience filling this large auditorium…

I participated in 3 panels; a student from Yokohama City University who was selected for the poster session joined,. as well as Drs. Ishiyama and Kato whom I saw last year were also present.  Drs. Ishiyama and Kato are currently working as ‘hospitalists’ (in Japanese) in medical centers in St. Louis.  They both happen to work at the same city but did not know each other until I introduced them to each other last year at Toronto.  I was happy with the reunion.

The reception of the Japan Chapter turned out to be a very nice gathering thanks to the attendance of many friends of the Japan Chapter, including former and current Presidents of the ACP; their presence are customary every year to our Japan Chapter annual meetings since our inauguration eight years ago.

However, like others, I could not get my mind off from what was going on in Japan, so I kept myself pretty busy getting in touch and talking on phone with people at American Academies, Japan Embassy in Washington DC, or other related contacts.

I had an impression that although everyone was concerned with the damages done by the tsunami, in terms of the nuclear problems, they were worrying more about the ways of Japanese authorities and leadership.

Getting to know people across national borders, making friends with them and building trusts between each other is an asset that I would never exchange for anything.

 

The Truth of Elites Becomes Clear at the Time of Crises

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The great disaster and the following nuclear breakdown.  Now, Japan is truly in the “great national crisis”.

I have posted several columns since March 25th.  Now, how has the government been responding to this unprecedented disaster?

An article on the Asahi Newspaper, April 2nd edition, ‘Opinion Kohron 3.11’, featured views of several people in this regard.  Among them was a comment by Kazuhiko Toyama titled ‘Everything for the Sake of the Children’.  Mr. Toyama, a good friend of mine, whom I have introduced to you several times in my site, published recently an inspiring book ‘Restoration of Companies and Capacity to Fail’ (published in Japanese only)  on the essence of organizations and human behavior and leadership..  Toyama-san gave me a phone call right after the disaster to tell me about his concerns on the effect of radiation to the employees of the company he is currently heading. Please search by the key word ‘Kazuhiko Toyama’ in this site.  He is one of the businessmen I deeply respect. 

I quote below the view of Toyama-san as expressed in the Asahi newspaper, because I think they are very straight forward, worth reading opinions.

 “Everything is ‘For the Sake of the Children’; Kazuhiko Toyama (CEO, Industrial Growth Platform, Inc.)

  • I became directly involved, too.  Three local bus operating companies in Fukushima, Ibaragi, and Iwate are our subsidiaries.  In total, we have 2,100 employees and 1,200 buses there.  Although they were damaged just like others, they immediately resumed operation and helped numerous people evacuate from the nuclear power plant zone and transporting medical relief teams.
  • But fuels were not enough.  I tried to get help from the Prime Minister’s office, related ministries, or legislators whom I knew in person.  But they were very slow in responding.
  • The quake hit in March 11th.  Government announced their decision to withdraw oil reserves on 14th and expanded the volume of the withdrawal on 22th.  During this time span, many people ran to buy stocks.  When a broad area of cold district is struck by a huge disaster, it is perfectly clear that fuel will be the key to the survival of people.  Then why did it take so long for the government to make the decision?
  • After negotiating directly with the Japanese legislators, government officials, and companies, I could not help but to strongly sense the existence of a serous problem in the quality of people belonging to the elite class.
  • ‘Have to consult the authorities’, ‘There are no such requests from the prefectures’, ‘Your suggestion does not satisfy our requisites’- such were the reactions I encountered.  Their conducts were nothing but self-defense, desire to save face, shifting responsibility to others.
  • Directions and orders were coming from everywhere in different manners.  I went to a certain place as directed, but nothing was arranged as they have said it would.  When I told them our problems, the issue was hit to places all over like a ball in a pinball machine.
  • As for the fuel and supplies, I think the government should have asked at a very early stage, to the unaffected area, to withhold purchase for a certain period of time.  Likewise, the government should have announced clearly the safety or danger of the area within 30km distance from the nuclear power plant, or the degree of radioactive contamination of vegetables or water.  Comments such as; ‘They are not perfectly safe, but are quite all right’, is no good at all. 
  • For a long time, we had those ‘elite’ people who are incapable of taking risks or making decisions to the head positions as our leaders in politics, governments, and businesses.  As the result, we have rotten this country from the head.  I got such an awful feeling within me.
  • Most of those elites graduated from Todai or other top universities.  They earned excellent grades at school, are courteous in nature, good at adjusting differences of opinions, thus have climbed up the ladder of the organizations by acting as a good person.  However, once a crisis hits them, they are never able to make hard decisions because they are afraid of being criticized.  These elites try to get away from taking responsibilities.  So, nothing will move.
  • Making decision involves forcing someone or some part some sacrifice  If you can not do this, you do not qualify as a leader.   If you have to postpone making decisions at critical moments, you are much less incapable of making judgments at normal situations.  I suggest that all government offices, companies, political parties review their current human resources
  • At this difficult time, in the political, public, or financial sectors of the society, who was doing their job and who wasn’t?  Who escaped from their responsibilities?  I trust that you reporters and journalists witnessed everything.  People need to know the truths.  I urge you, people in the media, to record and report later all of what happened.
  • I think that the most important thing to do from now on, in the process of the nation’s recovery, is to judge all policies or plans by one criteria; ‘Is it good for the children or not?’. Also, ask not ‘what your country can do for you?’ but ‘what you can do for the future of your country?  It is our responsibility to choose the leaders who are brave enough to ask those questions to the Japanese people.
  • In this context, I recommend assigning younger people in their 30th or under to the restructuring of the towns or even the nation.  Since they are expected to survive some 50 years from now, I think they should be the ones to be given the rights to decide things for the future.
  • The older generations will be tested on how much they can make sacrifice for the younger generations, how much they can give up their vested interests which they have been taking for granted.  Pensions, health cares, seniority based promotions, or life long employments…  It is very important that they make sacrifices.  All policies and revival plans should put first the future of our children.
  • By the way, the buses of our company managed to keep on running.  It was because that there were, although few, legislators and government officials who did their job to the end, until the goals were achieved.  Also, we had helps on the site from our fellow transportation businessmen who shared their gas and other necessities with us.
  • It is the people on the site who deserve praises.  Seeing the great motivation and devotion manifested by my employees almost made me cry.  They revived the bus operation of the route from Morioka to Miyako, the most damaged area, in just 5 days from the quake, and the seats of the first bus were fully occupied by the young people (who would look so nowadays in normal situation), carrying tons of aids goods.  These young people are definitely not what people label as the herbivorous species (Soshoku-kei).
  • The strength of Japan is apparently the common people who are so patient and willing to make sacrifices.  Those working on the site are also wonderful.  The Self-Defense Forces (Jieitai) and fire departments are doing great jobs. At the government, the section heads and people below are especially making good efforts, not to mention those officials working hard at the local offices.
  • When a devastating crises hit, whether a company or a nation, the hidden problems show up all of a sudden.  This however, in a way, is a great chance.  I want to make this disaster work as leverage for the creation of the future of Japan.  The race just started and the winner is yet to be decided.”

 (Interviewer, Editor Masaaki Tonedachi
The Asahi Newspaper, page 13, April 2 (Sat). 2011)

The Strength and Weakness of Japan; Truth Unveils at the Time of Crises

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The quake and tsunami caused unimaginable disaster or devastation; and on top of that the damage done to the Fukushima nuclear power plant is adding to the already enough troubles.  At the time of such unexpected crises, whether in a nation or an organization, its true value – its strengths and weaknesses - will be uncovered.  Because information is open in this web age, there is no way that you can hide anything from the world.
 
So, what are your thoughts?

During the first week ot two, Japanese television and newspapers repeatedly reported the horrible status of the tsunami hit areas, cities and towns.  Were it not for the web, it was almost impossible even to imagine what was actually going on at the sites.  To put it flatly, the coverage by the Japanese media seemed to be no different from the ‘The Official Government Briefings’ in Japan during the wartime (which has later become synonymous with ‘unreliable information source’).  At the beginning, all coverage were the same in any newspapers or multiple television channels.  Comments by the so-called ‘experts’ clearly reflected directions from backstage.  The official statements by the government were announced through Mr. Edano, Vice Cabinet Minister, at the press meeting. Although I feel he has devoted his utmost efforts, because of the highly technical nature of the matter as well as the difficulty which the government seem to have in reaching to consensus, I find many of his comments difficult to comprehend. We must also understand that the press briefings by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) are also being closely watched not only by the Japanese but also by the world.

The media coverage of Japan is no good either.  Basically they are all the same.  Of course, the ‘Press Club System’ which is an antique is one problem (a kind of cronies club), but I find many questions that the reporters raise to be out of place, which is a waste of people’s limited time.  I seriously think that the television crew should shoot the image of the people who raise questions, too.
 
The whole world is also watching how the Japanese government is handling this crisis.  It is broadly known that Japanese as a language is not logical, however, given that premise, the world still thinks that the content of the press briefs by the official government is not giving or disclosing data or real substances.

Internationally, the handling of the nuclear power damages naturally has been a major point of concern, but we are disappointing them with incomprehensible explanations, unclear reports of what are happening.  I even fear that now the credibility of Japan as a nation is facing the risk of meltdown.

Where is the ‘political leadership’ of Japan?  Has it disappeared or has it never existed?

What are the weakness and strength of Japan?  My analysis is that the local and front people working on the site are strong and have demonsrated their each own best efforts in hugely difficult circumstances, but the leaders, although they may be smart, are not capable of responding to crisis because, for one thing, they do not have on site experience of disasters.

As you know from my past postings, I follow The Economist, and more recently (after the quake) the New York Times and other global media for detailed information.  Variety of views are introduced there, but as a whole, I think people are impressed with the quick actions taken by common Japanese people, firemen, the Self Defense Forces of Japan, NGOs, or the founders of companies.  However, they are questioning and monitoring the risk management ability of the Japanese government, TEPCO, or NISA ? the executives of Japanese organizations.
1.http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/VOA-Reporters-Reflection-on-Japanese-Tragedy-119013669.html
2. http://www.economist.com/node/18441143?story_id=18441143
3.http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/03/post-earthquake_nuclear_crisis&fsrc=nwl　

It is our responsibility to create together a new Japan after spending in vain the ‘lost two decades’.  I trust that this is the best way to honor our loved ones whose lives were so tragically taken away by this great disaster.

 

Medical Team Goes to the Quake Stricken Zone, A Girl from Okinawa Takes Action to Repay Kindness

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Many medical professionals are responding to the needs of the quake stricken zone.  Many find information source via internet much useful than the news coverage.

Medical institutions such as Japan Medical Association (JMA), universities, hospitals, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Red Cross, Hospital associations, Tokushukai group were quick to take actions after the disaster.  Because of the experience of the great Hanshin earthquake all organizations including organizations related to dialysis (where needs are highly emergent in moving and accepting patients) compiled their full capacity　immediately.  University hospitals and other major medical centers like Red Cross that function as the center of medical care in the quake/tsunami hit area – in Iwate (at Sendai, Ichinoseki, Morioka), Miyagi, Fukushima prefectures were all working so hard together.
 
Aids from overseas arrived and among them were the Japanese doctors working at overseas who temporarily returned to join and help these natural disaster medical care network of the stricken area.

What comes first is the condition of the site.  We must be aware that, because of the tsunami, many hospitals and clinics vanished in seconds.  This is a very different situation compared to cases hit by the earthquake only.  I understand that Israel, for instance, sent a whole package of medical units just like at the wartime.  I also hear that the Japanese authorities were quick in giving permission to overseas doctors to provide medical care in Japan.  I would like to congratulate them all for their hard work.

The United States initiated the ‘Operation Tomodachi’, sending us much personnel and relief supplies.  They are being a great help.

Our team at HGPI and Impact Japan was busy for these several days in responding to the requests from the Disaster Relief NGO, Project Hope.  I am deeply thankful for the great help from everyone.
 
What we are doing now is seeing doctors who had just returned from Tohoku, trying to get the picture of what is going on at the site, gathering information.  Those actions are of course important, but the problem is that we can not find the ‘foothold for collecting information from the local area’.  In a sense this is understandable because this disaster has multiple adverse conditions such as damage, scale, access to the site, or weather.
 
At Fukushima they have another totally different problem caused by the nuclear breakdown.  Here, the need for medical care seems to be now shifting to the chronicle stage.  I think that, from hereafter, very important issues which involve social factors such as mental care of children (especially orphans) and elderly will gradually emerge to call people’s attention.

I would like to introduce to you one heartwarming story.  It is about Dr. Shimabukuro, a Critical Care Fellow at UCLA Pediatrics Department, whom I was introduced earlier by my friend at UCLA Pediatric Department.  She is originally from Okinawa and by a sheer coincidence happened to be in Okinawa when the quake came.  She took a quick action.  After finishing a lecture at an academic conference in Tokyo, she joined in a medical relief team and headed to Iwate.

I kept in touch with Dr. Shimabukuro, and arranged a meeting in the evening with her who just returned from Iwate and the three physicians who just arrived to Tokyo in the afternoon as the advance group of the American medical team.

The American medical team headed to Iwate early in the next morning, returned back to Tokyo at 2 am, and we had a briefing early in the morning after they took a few hours of sleep.  Then, we continued the discussion for 2 days, contacted relevant people via phones, e-mails, and other means to figure out the next possible actions.

Many people are working together in search for the best way to help and support.  I am truly grateful for their willingness to be of help.

By the way, Dr. Shimabukuro wrote reports about her experience at Iwate and managed to have it printed on the LA Times and Bruins, the newspaper of UCLA, in a very timely manner.

Los Angeles Times
UCLA Bruins

This series of actions by Dr. Shimabukuro apparently reflects her strong wish to pay kindness back to her mother country.  She is a native of Okinawa, spent her childhood in Okinawa and had high school education, went through college and medical school in the U.S., is currently working at UCLA as a medical doctor.

 

‘Japan Exposed Naked’, Cambridge Gazette, a Recent Letter from Harvard

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I have introduced to you a few times in my column postings Jun Kurihara (Ref.1), a senior fellow at Harvard University Kennedy School.  Kurihara-san is an erudite person, who understands (and probably speaks) multiple language, reads books, materials, data – in short all information sources-, so extensively that I am very impressed with the width and depth of his knowledge.
 
He sends his friends regularly a monthly report called The Cambridge Gazette (in Japanese). It is always my pleasure to read the Gazettes because they reflect his high sensitivity and intellect. It is also my great pleasure to see him at every opportunity he could spare for during his return to Japan.

Everyone, in spite of their own sorrow, is doing their best after this East Japan Earthquake and the dreadful tsunami.   However, here and there, I see many problems due to human factors in terms of the nuclear plant breakdown.  I assume that many of you sense this – that something is wrong – even though you may not clearly see the background that lies behind.  ‘Web’ of internet, in this context, proved to be an amazingly powerful tool for gathering information or views, to compare and choose from.

Kurihara-san has an ability to sense the changes (or little changes) that took place in Japan during this decade or so because he has been studying and working outside Japan for many years as an independent individual.  And precisely for this reason, his views as expressed in the recent Cambridge Gazette are rather critical and harsh about the state of affairs in Japan.

The latest Cambridge Gazette (in Japanese) which I received yesterday introduces straight forward evaluations visibly clear from overseas on how the Japanese authorities handled this nuclear breakdown, their thoughts on the risk management, how they think about Japanese intellectuals or Japanese ‘leaders’ who has more responsibility in the society.  I very much agree with Kurihara-san in many aspects.

I ask each of you to think seriously about what you can or must do now.

 

What is Going on at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant Breakdown? Commentary by Kenichi Ohmae

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The quake and tsunami which hit eastern Japan on March 11th killed tens of thousands of people in a matter of seconds, and destroyed whole towns in an instant.  Images show the evidence of the huge destructive power of tsunamis, and the great power of nature.  None would need any further explanation to understand this.

However, it is moving to see people there helping each other, doing whatever they can, without complaining, without crying.
 
On the other hand, however, the manner the authorities are dealing with the nuclear plant crash is hard to understand, not to mention there seems to be missing information missing.  Most of us had no choice but to try to gather up bits of information from Mr. Edano, the chief cabinet secretary, TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company), television, or newspapers.

It seems to me that there are many flaws and blunders in the side of risk management.  Many problems are due to human factors.  On top of that, comments by specialists are obscure as far as what I’ve seen on television.

In this context I would like to introduce to you three U-tube broadcasts below by Kenichi Ohmae.  He sent out straightforward and clear comments on this video at  very early stages after the quake.  Dr. Ohmae is qualified to comment on nuclear power because he is originally a nuclear scientist and had participated in nuclear power plant projects in Japan in the past.

1. March 13th (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
2. March 19th
3. March 27th          (all are in Japanese)

Dr. Ohmae earned his Ph.D. degree at MIT, had worked for Hitachi nuclear power plants participating both in research and on-site jobs, and later was active at McKinsey.  Clearly, Dr. Ohmae has superb knowledge of nuclear power, both scientifically and technically.  Another impressive thing is that he keeps a very straightforward and frank style when he speaks, and do not worry about hurting the feelings of the authorities.  I recommend watching this video to you since this is a reliable, wonderful information source.  This is truly a good project. 
 
The huge number of access to this site indicates high attention from the public.  In this context it is clear that this hazard is comparable to the tragic situation Japan experienced 65 years ago, after the defeat in the World War II.  So, now is the time for us to join together in search for wisdom to overcome this national crisis, and take whatever actions necessary.

It is our duty, for the sake of the diseased victims, to turn this natural disaster into a chance for creating a new Japan.  For these 20 years, we have been repeatedly deploring the incapability of Japan to make changes.  Creating a new Japan for the new era is the most important task we should undertake for the loved ones we lost.

Thank you, Dr. Ohmae, for your work.  Please visit his blog (in Japanese) for more information.

 

Outrageous Disaster Hits Tohoku　Kanto Coastline

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More than 20 thousand people were killed in an instant, and many more people lost their loved ones because of the disaster that hit Tohoku on the 11th.  It is difficult even to imagine the deep sorrow they are experiencing now.  I would like to express my deep condolence to all people concerned.  It is such a huge sadness.

I have been unable to write any blog postings during these two weeks.  I didn’t feel like it.  Also, I was busy gathering information, having discussions and there was practically no time or energy to write anything.  I kept following Twitter rather than sending out messages.  What I did mostly was to retweet good or helpful tweets.

What we saw via media was a series of terribly frightening scenes. The overwhelming, destructive power of nature presented made the humans in contrast look so small! . I was awed and humbled before the power of nature.

It’s been two weeks since already.

At the time of the quake, I was having a meeting in my office.  Several minutes later, when the second shake came, we all moved outside the building.  Most of the students at our university are from overseas, and everybody was so frightened.  We could clearly see the upper part of the tall building nearby wobbling slowly.

Cell phones and telephones were no good (did not connect).  Internet was where we could get information the fastest.  How thankful we were for emails, websites, and twitters.  On the other hand, I sensed the fragility of conventional information infrastructures.

Because of the traffic problems, I walked home late at night for about an hour, thinking about what actions to take with my colleagues hereafter.
 
Information flowing out from newspapers and televisions were basically the same.  For the initial several days, I could not tell how much of their coverage was actually true or reliable.  Besides the internet, newspapers and televisions essentially copying the information distributed by the headquarters.  Day to day, I felt that had we no internet, we would have been in huge trouble.

I strongly realized the power of web.  The internet age has the potential to totally change the society as it is today.  The web which proved powerful at Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain turned out to be our important information source and our powerful tool in the face of this disaster.
 
This natural disaster pulled out the power of Japanese people.  And this power is witnessed with surprise and admiration by other nations.

On the other hand, the power plant breakdown and the process of its restoration reveal the ‘systematic problems’ existing within the Japanese society.
 
Large number of my friends sent me-mails from abroad.  Thank you.

 

Health Summit -2

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We held Health Summit (in Japanese) on Saturday February 26th、the day after Global Health Forum 2011. It was an event that was also held in the years 2008 and 2010.

The program for this year was slightly different from the past because it also introduced a collaborative work with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Unfortunately we had less participation of the members of the Diet than last year because many of the legislators of the Democratic Party of Japan (DJP, the ruling party) and other parties were back at their home constituencies for the nationwide local election.

Please refer to the HGPI website (in Japanese) for program and main speakers of this Summit.

A full report is in preparation, so I will let you know once it is available.

Now is the time to change the naming of ‘Medical Policy’ to ‘Health Policy’.