A Speech in Expectation of Empowering Women

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

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.

TED -4; Great Technologies Used in Google Car and Other New Devices

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

I knew that Google succeeded in creating a driverless safe car.  The story of its development was presented at this year’s TED (4 minutes).  The car ran between San Francisco – Los Angeles, so it seems.

It happens that two of those cars were demonstrated at the TED venue.  Of course, I signed up for the test ride.  The car ran with the high speed of 50-60 Km/h around the narrow course set up at the venue.  Here are the video of the test run (Ref.1). Both of the cars were Toyota Prius by the way.

Another speech was about a graffiti artist affected by ALS and his friends.  ALS is a disease that causes muscle weakness and degeneration of functions – known also as the disease which Lou Gehrig, the famous American Major League Baseball first baseman had.  It was a story about a project which, by combining cheap mechanical components, created a system that made possible for the artist to continue his work.

Stories of amazing application of technologies..

At San Diego ? Gathering With the Youths

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

On the day before the last day of San Diego, I had a small get-together party from 9 pm with young Japanese who study at UCSD and work at other places. 

Among those who came, 5 people were undergraduates at UCSD, 7 were students at the graduate school, and the rest were those working at venture businesses.  Several of them were the same people as those who came in February when I was here (Ref.1), but for those who were not able to make it then, it was a good opportunity for us all.  We had so much to talk about that time just flew to midnight..
 
Students came from various backgrounds.  For example, the 4 out of 5  undergraduate school were exchange students from Keio, Gakusyu-in, and ICU, and the remaining one student came to U.S. after high school..  All students were wonderfully energetic.  By the way, 4 of five were female.
 
On the other hand, most of the graduate students were enrolled in the Master’s course.  They were originally from the Japanese government and public offices.  A few ‘independent’ PhD course students joined us, too. One whom I know for some time was an American from CONNECT, also joined our last gathering of February.

So, we used as the common language ‘broken English’, but actually all spoke pretty  good English (many of them lived some time overseas in their childhood ? it would be hard to get along with all the classes without a reasonable command of English).  Everybody had lots to say.  Half of the students were female.  They were all very energetic.

For your information, Maki-kun posted a report about this gathering with a photo attached on his blog (in Japanese).  Thanks.

The topic naturally included the recent quake and tsunami disaster, including the ways how the Japanese government and TEPCO responded on Fukushima nuclear power plants.  I noticed that the students had many points of views which only “independent observers from ‘outside’” will have.  This is no wonder, since they are all living away from Japan as an ‘individual’
 
As I have been pointing out repeatedly in this blog and elsewhere, the best way to have eyes and senses to see and feel Japan objectively in the global context is to go ‘out’ as an ‘individual’, and better while you are young.  It is very important to do so if you wish to develop good sense of ‘global citizen’ and own career.

That being said, however, the largest concerns of the undergraduate students were the anticipated handicaps they risk for ‘job hunting in Japan’. This doesn’t make any sense.  I have to say that they are being mind controlled.  Isn’t this awful?  Tomorrow’s world is a world where the values are very different from the values of today and the past.  In a ‘flat’ world (and the world is inevitably going to increase the speed of ‘flattening’), ‘uniqueness’ or ‘being different/distinct’ is a positive value, that would be considered as the strength of each individual.  There is no sense in limiting ‘field of work/actions’ to Japan only.  Such were the points I made.

Then we had various discussions on how to build careers, and I think we succeeded in sharing some specific images.

I carried several copies with me of my book with Yoko Ishikura, ‘How to Build a Global Career’ to distribute.  Also, I informed them that her new book ‘Global Career ? How to Find a Unique You’  (published in Japanese only) will be coming soon, but actually, the book was published precisely on that same day.

I look forward to seeing how the future of youths such as they will be.  These people are truly the big asset of Japan.

 

American College of Physicians: From San Diego

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

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.

 

TED- 3: Virtual Choir and the Words of the Poet

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

I posted several columns on speeches at TED.  Here are some more.  Virtual Choir and the Words of the Poet ? these were also the speeches which people liked.

How the speech was evaluated is very easily known by the percentage of the audience for Standing Ovation.  It is quite clear.

One of such good speeches was ‘Virtual Choir’. Enthusiasm gradually heated up as the speech went on and in the end there was the feeling of ‘What is this!?’ or ‘Wow!’.  It was a wonderful collaboration only made possible by today’s technology.

It is very nice and I am sure that you will enjoy it.

The second one I would like to introduce to you is a poem by a young poet, Sarah Key. Her second poem was titled “Hiroshima”.  I was slightly surprised.  At the reception, I asked and learned that she was a half Japanese.  Ms Key is a very charming poet.

Enjoy!

The Truth of Elites Becomes Clear at the Time of Crises

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

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

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

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

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

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

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

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.

 

TED-2: The Birth of a Word

Posted on by kiyoshi kurokawa

→Japanese

One of the most inspiring stories that I heard at TED2011 was 'The Birth of a Word' by Deb Roy of MIT.

I was so impressed with the outstanding uniqueness of the idea, the tremendous size of its scale, the originality of analysis, and the breadth of possible development.  These are truly the characteristics of a scientist on the frontier, opening up a new field in science.

It is still only 3 weeks after the quakes, tsunami, and the nuclear power plant breakdown and we are all having a hard time.

I know you are busy, but would it be too much to ask you for 20 minutes?