National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission (NAIIC) -11: Speeches at the U.S. Capitol and CSIS, the English version of the NAIIC report English uploaded on the web

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The days are flying by and the staff at NAIIC are busy with closing down the office.

As for me, I departed from Narita at 11:00 A.M. on the 15th and arrived in Washington D.C. at 1:30 P.M. on the 15th, after making a transfer at Chicago O’Hare Airport.

Upon arriving the airport, I went straight to the hotel for 30 minutes or so for check-in, then to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).  Here, we went straight to work preparing for the talk the following day and some events which are collaborating over last few years.  Then, I went to see Dr. Richard Meserve of the Carnegie Institute, who gave us many insights at the fifth NAIIC Commission meeting, then National Academy of Sciences to see Dr. Norman Neureiter, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences’ panel on the Fukushima nuclear accident, and Dr. Kevin Crowley, who directed the panel.  Mr. Tsugita of the Japanese Embassy, and Ohama of JST in Washington D, both of whom I have worked with in the past, also attended and were very helpful. In the evening, I was welcomed with a dinner at Mr. Tsugita’s home.

I was very pleased that the complete English version of the NAIIC report was uploaded on the web (eng, jpn) on this day.  This team did an incredible job and the world was waiting for the report.

The next morning, I visited the U.S. Capitol (1).  I gave a talk on the NAIIC report , hosted by the US-Japan Council and the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) (1).  Honorable Norman Mineta, who served as a United States Secretary under both the Clinton and Bush administrations also attended, and I had the pleasure of meeting with him.  The audience listened closely followed by a lively question and answer session and I believe we received a good response.

In the afternoon, I gave a talk at CSIS on the NAIIC report.  As the venue was slightly small, the room was packed with people and additional seating was made outside the room.  There were around 80-90 people.  This talk (1) was reported on the NHK news in Japan.

I also visited the official residence of Ambassador Fujisaki, whose appointment will come to an end in three weeks.  I would like to take my hat off to Ambassador Fujisaki, who was Ambassador in a turbulent time during which there were many unexpected events.

I spent the evening with young Americans who have experienced living in Japan through the JET Program.  Getting more people to become fond of Japan through such ‘real experiences’ programs is key to building the foundation of good security relations.

It makes me very happy that the awareness of the NAIIC report, along with its background, objectives and purpose, is becoming more widespread both in Japan and abroad.

Next day, I received a ‘thank you’ email from the organizer as below.  I felt good that my engagement was of help in promoting understanding of US and Japan.

Dear Kurokawa-sensei,

It was our great pleasure to host you at the Capitol Hill briefing on Tuesday on the findings of the Diet of Japan’s NAIIC report on Fukushima and a treat to moderate such an interesting and important exchange. We are deeply appreciative of your leadership and willingness to share your views on these findings with the Washington, D.C. policy community. It was a very powerful demonstration of the high standard of transparency that the Commission brought to the proceedings and your personal commitment to preventing future nuclear disasters.

We have received tremendous feedback on the discussion from those who attended and NBR, the U.S.-Japan Council, the Congressional Study Group on Japan, and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works were all honored to host you.

Thank you for your many contributions to global policy. We look forward to future opportunities and in the meantime, please let us know if there is anything we can do to support your work.

Best regards,

 

Why not begin your global career by studying at OIST, it is already part of Global World

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I have introduced several times on OIST in this blog posting site.  OIST is now open for graduate students for 2013.  Read the attached brochure, visit its website, think of applying, contact the office, think of visiting OIST.  OIST is completely different from any other graduate university of Japan, beginning of your global career, it is already a leading Graduate University of Global World.

OIST Brochure English (PDF)

********
Call for applications: PhD Program
 
The deadline for applicants living in Japan is December 31, 2012.
 
The deadline for international applicants is November 15, 2012.*

*The earlier international deadline is to allow time for visa processing.

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University is now accepting applications for admission to the PhD program for the September 2013 intake.  We are looking across the globe for students who will flourish in an atmosphere of encouragement for discovery and innovation.  With over half of OIST students and faculty coming from outside Japan, OIST offers the highest level of graduate education while embedded in a truly international environment.  About 50 cutting-edge laboratories conducting research in a range of fields form the hub of the OIST Graduate University.  Based on a firm foundation in the basic sciences, we promote education that is highly interdisciplinary.  The graduate program features interactive teaching with tutorial-style courses providing preparation for thesis research.  Course design is customised to the unique needs of individual students.  From the beginning, students work side by side with world-class faculty and researchers in well-equipped laboratories.

We are currently selecting our next class of graduate students and we would like the opportunities for PhD study at OIST to be as widely known as possible.  Our intake is limited to about 20 students per year, and we aim to recruit excellent students.  All students receive an internationally competitive support package, health insurance, and subsidized on-campus housing.

More information about the program and how to apply on-line is available at:
http://www.oist.jp/graduate-school
 
Students who are interested in applying but have difficulty meeting the deadline should contact us for assistance at:
study@oist.jp

Jeff Wickens
Dean, OIST Graduate School

 

The Science and Technology Society (STS) Forum in Kyoto, Broadening Horizons, Professor Yamanaka’s Nobel Prize among others

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As in past years, I was able to catch up with a lot of old friends as well as make new ones at the Science and Technology Society (STS) Forum (1).

On the previous afternoon, I was able to talk about the NAIIC (National Diet Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Committee) report at the EU-Japan forum, including its objectives, its contents and the reasons for executing such an investigation.  The report was received warmly by the attending members.  It also attracted the notice of Lauren Stricker, the chairman of WANO <http://www.wano.info/> (World Association of Nuclear Operators), who commented that this report was very important and would provide future reference.

I received an invitation for the reception in the evening that was being held for Genevieve Fioraso, the French minister for Higher Education and Research.  There were about 20 other important dignitaries of France as well, including H.E Mr. Christian Masset the French Ambassador to Japan, and it was indeed an honor to rub shoulders with ministers as well as Lauren Stricker (chairman of WANO).  I am very thankful for this gesture, especially since I was asked to make the opening speech.  This speaks volumes of France’s level of awareness and evaluation of the NAIIC report.

The official program for the first day of the STS Forum included some plenary panels, all of which were exemplary.  Many of them focused on energy-related topics, a result perhaps of the Fukushima Nuclear disaster.

In one plenary panel, Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, who discovered the ways to make iPS cells, was on the panel for Global Health, with the president of the Karolinska Institute, Professor Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, acting as the moderator.  Although many people might have guessed that, by the time the reception was taking place the next evening, news of Professor Yamanaka getting the Nobel Prize came.  Needless to say, he was not there at the reception and we all share our joy.

On the second day, there was one presenter who was unable to attend, and I was asked to act as a moderator in the absentee’s place.  The panel discussion was about “Capacity Building.”  Charged with this new responsibility, I wondered how to moderate it considering several factors such as the layout of the venue, the backgrounds of the panelists and the number of people in the audience and decided to take a different approach from the one originally planned.  In return, the participants seemed very satisfied and we all spent a fruitful time.  However, as each panelist came from a different background and different challenges, there was some difficulty bringing them all under one roof.  There were some dignitaries from Kenya, including the minister for Science and Technology, and I commented on the Olympic School in the Kibera slum area of Nairobi to the audience, which I had visited a few years ago.  I talked to them about my upcoming visit to Nairobi on the 22nd of this month, and they of course welcomed me. Perhaps I will be meeting them there.

Such interactions with different people are important to me because they constantly remind me that the world is ever-changing, borders are constantly expanding and we are all being connected.

 

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and the Science and Technology Society (STS) Forum in Kyoto

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The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) is a completely new research graduate school in Japan, and out of many students who have received the support of the world, thirty-four students have matriculated.  I have supported this project from the beginning.  It is a graduate school very different from those in the past in Japan, as over half of the professors, research staff and students have come from abroad.  Of course, the official language is English.

The buildings are also designed with this new spirit and there is also a four o’clock tea that is held once a week and creates time for everyone to come together.

I left for Okinawa the next day after my talk at the Harvard Club of Japan.  I came to take part in the OIST board members meeting.  At the board meeting, there was a reporting of activities and discussion of several topics.  Later, I visited some research rooms and met with the new students.

Nice research rooms, offices, lecture halls, dormitories and the beautiful weather and the blue sea are all here.  All of this and many excellent programs welcome young people who wish to embark on a research path.

After staying for two nights, I took the last flight back to Tokyo.  The next morning, I went to Kyoto, where I took part in the Science and Technology Society (STS) Form (1).  I was reunited with many friends and have attended every year, as it is also a good place to meet new people.

Time flies and this is now the ninth year that I have attended the STS Forum.

 

National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission(NAIIC) -10: Talk at the Harvard Club of Japan

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The Harvard Club of Japan invited me to give a talk about the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission (NAIIC).  Approximately sixty people came, with about seventy to eighty percent being Japanese.  Many of the Japanese people studied at the graduate school of Harvard, but there were also some who studied at the undergraduate college.

To my surprise, Professor Mike Yoshino, who is an Emeritus Professor at the Harvard Business School also came and gave a wonderful introduction for me.  It was a very pleasant surprise.  I have known Professor Yoshino for five or six years since we were together at the President Council at University of Tokyo and later at the meetings abroad in New York and Geneva.

After my talk, there was a lively question and answer session, which I enjoyed very much.  Even after this, many people asked me questions and offered suggestions as well.

Later on, as the lively mood continued, I enjoyed drinks with Professor Yoshino and two of NAIIC’s Angels (as in Charlie’s Angels), and the four of us had a wonderful time.

After the next day, I received the following emails, (1) indirectly and (2)-(4) directly.

1) Thank you for arranging the presentation and introducing me to Kurokawa sensei. It was a great chance to hear his anecdotes and get a sense of his mission and perception of the issues.  I was impressed with his compassion, integrity and sense of hope that things can change in Japan for the benefit of not the few but for the many.  I hope he can continue, despite his age, to speak out and energize Japanese to get more involved in their affairs of the country.

2) Your presentation was titled Independent Commission on Fukushima, but its message was more broad.  I believe you have some important transformational ideas as well as a healthy appreciation for the need to change.  I hope the recommendation for an annual ( 3/11 ) event to measure progress will both cause action and help keep public engaged and knowledgeable.

3) I wish to take this opportunity for your most stimulating and thoughtful provoking presentation yesterday evening.  Although I have read what is already available on the analysis and recommendations your commission has made, it is quite a different matter to directly hear your thoughts, commitment and above all your passion to the work of the Commission.  It is indeed one of the blackest chapter in the history of Japan, but your presentation has clearly pointed out the opportunity to seize on the accident to change Japan.

Throughout the discussion period after your presentation, I have heard numerous comments from the audience that they found your presentation the best they have heard or read on this Fukushima accident.

I am also very encouraged that not only do you have further plans to publish your results in English but, you are going around the world to share your report to the interested and concerned audience.

4) I apologize for the lateness of this e-mail, but I just wanted to thank you and your team again for last week’s event.

Your insightful comments, presentation of the thinking and process that went into this report, and your far-reaching conclusions gave us all much to think about.

Having lived in Japan for much of the lost decade(s), I have heard the call “for change” many times from different quarters.

I personally think it is up to all of us who live and work here to do what we can in our own ways to build the foundations and environment for a new era in the society and history of Japan. Promoting connected-ness between individuals of like minds both domestically and overseas, sharing of information and an awareness and curiosity about new ideas and ways of doing things, and a spirit encouraging challenges to the status quo by those who have new ideas and new outlooks ? these are the traits that I think will help to bring renewed vigor and power to the people, society, and culture of Japan.

I believe I was able to successfully communicate and share the purpose of NAIIC.

I am quite busy everyday but every minute of today was fulfilling and enjoyable.

 

National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission(NAIIC) -9: Continuation of our Activities, the Swedish Delegation and Interview Articles

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The opinion that the NAIIC report has been shelved is often heard in the media.

Considering the recent reshuffling and party election, Diet members have plenty to deal with, and considering the conflicts with neighboring countries on the issues of Takeshima and Senkaku Islands, it must not be easy for the government at this time.  Regardless of what is happening inside Japan, the world is constantly changing.

Political leadership of the government has been weak for some time lacking a clear vision of the future; bureaucrats should have a sense of responsibility and preparedness, but much of the public may feel that this is not the case.

In contrast, our NAIIC report has been released and published in bookstores, even available on Amazon On-line. We hope that it will be continue to be read widely (it is quite alright if you do not read the entire report).

In order to raise wider awareness of the Commission’s objectives and the main points of the Report, the members of the Commission and research team have been giving talks and engage in interviews for television and newspapers as often as possible, though there are some limitations.

Iwanami Shoten Publishers ran an article in the magazine “Kagaku (in English ‘Science),” of my interview about my opinion on the democratic system of NAIIC’s role (in Japanese).  I would be delighted if you read it.

I have previously written about my talk at the Association of Cooperative Executives (Keizai-Do-Yukai) and Nihonmatsu City Auditorium in Fukushima.  By going to “Articles List” on this site, it is possible to see some such articles (many are in Japanese and other articles may not be available here because only paying members of the websites can access them). Since my blog posting on August 16, there have been many talks and interviews, about which I have written on this blog.

Recent talks and interviews include the Embassy of Sweden’s Kamedo Delegation (the picture at the
top of the page is of the meeting), another talk in Fukushima and a number of interviews (in Japanese).

Through thinking about the role of NAIIC as well as what each individual person can do, I hope that we can bring about change in Japan.

 

Recognizing “Strengths” from “Weaknesses,” Can Japan Change?

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A year and a half has passed since 3.11.

The world has seen people who have lost their families and their livelihoods, people who have suffered　incredible damages, and the grace of such a people in having quietly helped each other through the sadness without any rioting or upheaval.

After the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant, I believe the world was moved by the dedication and self-sacrifice of the people at the plant, who were called the “Fukushima 50.”

Yet, after a year and a half, has Japan missed its chance to change?

On December 1, just before the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Investigation Commission began, I wrote an article with my colleague Hiromi Murakami in the Japan Times, titled, “Fukushima crisis fueling the third opening of Japan.”  It was just at the time when the TPP was big news.  The title of the entry in my blog is “Let the People Trigger ‘The Third Opening of Japan’ ?The Start of a New Movement.”  After 3.11, many young people started becoming active in rebuilding society anew, and this gave me hope that it would be a trigger for the “third opening”of Japan.  They are my hope, as the country as a whole is tangled up in the ties with special interest groups, leaving national policies on the TPP and relations with neighboring countries at a standstill, while the world around it proceeds to change.

Much of the world’s trust in Japan was lost after seeing that 3.11 was the terrible product of the leadership of the government-industry-bureaucracy triangle.

The title of the article, “The Third Opening of Japan,”gathered attention and was included in the ebook, Reconstructing 3.11 (amazon) as the essay “History: Japan’s third opening rises from black waters” (by Hiromi Murakami and Kiyoshi Kurokawa).

However, after a year and a half has passed since the disaster, what is being done for the recovery, especially at Fukushima?  Has the strong perseverance of the Japanese people been channeled into a large movement?  On the contrary, the sight of the people in Iwate and northern areas working silently everyday is heartbreaking, as politicians and the public administration seem to have taken advantage of the prevalent sense of resignation and passiveness.  Or perhaps, they view the situation a little too lightly, and this has resulted in the delay of implementing necessary policies.

At this time, a similar opinion appeared in the New York Times. In Japanese the article is called, “Japanese have started to change” but in English the article is titled, “In Fukushima, Surreal Serenity.”  The article is by Kumiko Makihara.

The solemn “anti-nuclear protests” which are held every Friday at six p.m. in front of the Prime Minister’s Office are different from the past and they seem to be conducted voluntarily.  These expressions of opinions in the face of power may be one visible sign that Japanese are changing.

However, as can be seen by watching the media coverage, the political world still continues its small power games, the direction the country is heading in is unclear and the situation does not appear to be improving.  Taking advantage of the government’s lack of power, the public offices of the bureaucracy have made no effort to change anything, silently continuing their “work” (or rather the preservation of vested interests).  The status quo’s tremendous resistance is an underlying factor of “Japan which cannot change” and “drifting Japan” in a transforming world.

Why is this so, and what should we do?

The answer may be found at the end of Ms. Makihara’s article: “The challenge this nation now faces is how to nurture healthy skepticism alongside such admirable perseverance.”

 

National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission (NAIIC) -7: Reaction of the Media

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When announcing the release of our report, I expected the media’s reaction to be if not entirely negative, not to be glowing praise.  That is just how the media works.

The media has particularly criticized that the first part of the simultaneously released Japanese “Overview” and the English “Executive Summary” are not the same.  Further, some media reports have criticized the English version for the “Japanese culture argument.”

Overseas, articles in The Guardian and the Financial Times criticized that blaming culture prevents charging anyone with responsibility.

However, it is necessary to keep in mind that although the Japanese “Overview” and the English “Executive Summary” are similar in length, they differ in content.

There have also been many positive evaluations of the report in the foreign media.

One example is the article by CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/06/opinion/takeshita-fukushima-management/index.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/july-dec12/fukushima_07-05.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18718486

The article below offers a particularly good analysis.  Perhaps because Dr. Chacko knows me well.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sunil-chacko/safety-metrics-made-in-ja_b_1680670.html

Within the media, there is a wide spectrum of views.  The report has received wide coverage abroad.

 

National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission (NAIIC) -5: An “Unexpected,” Encouraging Message Received at the Start of the Commission

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As NAIIC is the first independent investigation commission established by the National Diet in the constitutional history of Japan, we faced many difficulties, especially in the beginning when we were getting the Commission on its feet.

The first Commission meeting was held in Fukushima on December 18th and 19th.  One can tell from the date of the second meeting, January 16th, held a month after the first, how much we were struggling to find the way forward.

It was this second meeting to which a journalist from the British publication, The Economist, came.  The journalist later wrote something rather unexpected in an article (although this actually had been one of NAIIC's aims).

The article has a compelling title: "Japan’s nuclear crisis; The Meltdown and the media".  It can be assumed from the initials that the journalist who wrote it is Mr. Ken Cukier, who came to the second Commission meeting.  Moreover, the date of the article matches that of the meeting, indicating the quick work of the writer.

As we in the Commission were well aware of the heavy criticism the Japan National "Press Club" has received in the world, we made sure that the Commission meetings were accessible to the everyone in the public, even providing simultaneous English translation. This comes from our strong hope that the world will also watch and follow our Commission.

I was very pleased that this article accurately and immediately brought attention to this point.

In my column, I have mentioned a number of times (1, 2, I believe there are more articles, please search within this website) that The Economist is a weekly publication that I am fond of.

The article’s focus on this issue attests to its quality.

Although it is a bit delayed, I would like to express my thanks to Ken.

 

From Oslo, Kavli -2

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On the afternoon of the 4th, I attended the Kavli Award Ceremony, held at the Oslo Concert Hall.  The King of Norway was also present and it was a marvelous ceremony.  The moderators were the actor Alan Alda, who is well known in Japan and has been active in making science easier to understand, and the Norwegian artist and politician Ase Kleveland.  Furthermore, young artists of many genres were included and appeared throughout the ceremony.

This is also available for viewing online ( 1,2 ). The ceremony proceeded at a very upbeat tempo.  It made me wish to plan such a ceremony someday.

At times, the King and the artists who were on stage (in addition to singing to classic, jazz and rap there was dancing) were very close in proximity, a sense of closeness that would be unimaginable in Japan.

Overall, there was a strong spirit of encouraging young people, impressing upon me the feeling of something very special about this country.

At night was a banquet at the Oslo City Hall, hosted by the government of Norway.  The King also attended the banquet and sat at the main table with ease.  There were many performances and singing by the chorus, festive and enjoyable without putting on airs.

During these four days, I encountered a distinct country insistent with her own heritage yet full of wisdom, and at the same time connected and compassionate.

Tomorrow, I will leave for Bergen early in the morning. Having come this far, I will go one step further and visit Bergen.