Statement by Mr. Kaoru Ishikawa, Ambassador for Civil Society, Japan

in the 6th Plenary Meeting on the theme of water and sanitation, including an interactive discussion
World Summit on Sustainable Development
Wednesday, 28 August 2002

Thank you, Madame Chair,

Japan came to Johannesburg for solidarity. I am going to share with you, Japanese experiences on Water and Sanitation. In doing so, I will talk not only on successes but also mainly on failures, because failures give us more lessons than successes. Let me start from three success stories.

First, Japan is an archipelago, two thirds of which is covered by steep mountains. Terrible typhoons, or cyclones, attack every year in summer and early autumn, before the arrival of harsh snowy winter. These natural conditions obliged us to be wise in how to ensure regular distribution of water. Rice paddy terrace fields have been an answer to this question. Since thousand years ago, through the work of paddy terrace fields, community-based consensus building mechanism established rules on water right among stakeholders.

Second, typhoon also causes flood, and flood causes not only material damages but also infectious diseases. Flood control works need to be examined from this view point as well.

Third, after the defeat of the World War II, the first two things we did on the ashes were to rebuild schools and to build simplified yet quickly realizable water distribution system in rural areas. This simple and quick system enhanced public health and also gave more free time to women, which led to women's participation in socio-economic and political activities.

Now, let me talk on the other side of coin. Indeed, between mid 1950's and early 70's, Japan suffered from terrible water pollution. Minamata disease caused by mercury, Itai-itai disease by cadmium. These horrible diseases were caused by discharge of heavy metals from a chemical factory and a mining company. Fortunately, now clear water and blue sea are back. But, imagine high cost we spent to repair all this, including human life.

Dear Delegates,

Please come to Ubuntu Village tomorrow at 10:30 in Japan Pavilion. Seminar on the Japanese experiences of pollution will be held. Documentary video will be shown, followed by discussion, to share with you what was wrong and what should have been done instead. Japan, as a true friend, certainly will continue to extend hand of solidarity to developing partners and friends, not to repeat our mistakes.

In fact, these experiences gave us conviction that Japan must lead the way in water and sanitation sectors. Based on this conviction, we have been extending huge development assistance in water and sanitation sectors. For example, more than 1.8 billion US dollars in water and sanitation sectors were afforded from Japan in year 2000 alone. These Japanese 1.8 billion US dollars represented 54% of the total assistance extended by DAC member countries. It is obvious, Madame Chair, that Japan alone cannot fulfill all the needs of the world. That is why we support 3 partnerships.

First, among stakeholders, government, private sector, NGOs, civil society, etc. with concrete action and clear role of each of them. Second, partnership between the water sector and other sectors: water is multifaceted; water is closely related to poverty, growth, food supply, biodiversity, health, education, etc. I cannot cite all. Third, cooperation between countries and here I would like to reiterate the importance of sharing each others' experiences.

Madame Chair,

The Third World Water Forum will be held in Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka in Japan next March. It is an important opportunity to follow up Johannesburg. I, together with Govenor Kunimatsu sitting next to me here, sincerely hope that we can meet you again there and to see concrete actions.

Thank you, Madame Chair.