Section 5. The International Community and Japan
Item 1. In Harmony with the International Community
(1) Japan's Overseas Image
The public opinion polls conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the United States and other major countries every year indicate that the countries generally view Japan as a reliable and friendly nation and have great expectations on roles Japan should play in the world. At the same time, however, Japan should realize that the sense of distrust and fears for Japan has tended to increase as its economic power and influences grow. In the United States, in particular, the enormous trade imbalance with Japan has caused frictions not only in the economic field but also in social and cultural areas. Cases in point are the emergence of the sentiments perceiving Japan as heterogeneous and the increase of criticism over massive investments in the United States by Japanese companies.
In the face of the mixed feelings of expectations and fears about Japan, Japan must not only make utmost efforts to contribute to world peace and prosperity, but also endeavors to secure the understanding of other countries about its position and efforts by explicitly stating them.
(2) Strengthening Public Relations
Public opinions in a country have come to exert greater influences on its politics and foreign relations today than before. With the recent development of visual media, such tendency has become further intensified, as evidenced in the process of transformation of the Soviet Union and East European countries. The Soviet President Gorbachev's success in winning popularity among the general public of the Western countries clearly shows that the effective appealing to the public in foreign countries holds the key to success of a policy.
Under such circumstances, it is increasingly important for Japan to make its position and policies understood accurately by foreign countries by appealing to the masses directly in order to develop the international environment favorable to Japan and achieve its diplomatic goals. This means, Japan must present much more clearly than before its course of action about to be taken in the international community, together with the grounds on which such action is based, and in particular, purposes it is going to use its huge economic power for.
(3) Internationalization of Japanese Society
In order to contribute to world peace and prosperity, it is indispensable for Japan to be able to keep harmonious relationship with the international community by promoting internationalization of its society.
Behind the rapidly increasing flow of people, goods, money and information on a global scale, Japanese society is undergoing internationalization at a fast pace. In reality, however, changes in the people's way of thinking, and economic and social systems are not yet adequate.
Clearly, the Japanese have not been able to respond fully to rapid societal changes, although they have become much more open-minded toward the outside world than before. For instance, foreign students-in particular those from Asian countries, who are rapidly increasing in number recently-are often denied renting of an apartment. To be not exclusionary in way of thinking and not be self-righteous, but be generous to the foreign, while retaining Japan's own traditions and values are the fundamental qualities required of the Japanese whose nation has become a mainstay of the international order.
It is also necessary for Japan to develop a domestic system capable of coping with the ever increasing flow of people, goods, money and information. Part of the efforts is seen in Japan's recent open-market policies. Japan has to accommodate its economic and social systems to those in the rest of the world, even though it may prove to be a painful process sometimes for Japan. It is the very responsibility of Japan should discharge, as one of the major countries committed to the maintenance of international order. This is also the only way through which Japan can secure its long-term stability and prosperity.
Recently, Japanese local governments and private organizations are very active in promoting sister-city affiliations with cities abroad and accepting technical trainees from foreign countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been supporting such activities from the standpoint that they not only promote Japan's internationalization at all levels but expand its foreign relations in various areas. The "Consultation Center for Internationalization," which was established within the ministry, provides counseling service on promotion of internationalization and international exchange, and conducts various events such as "One-Day Foreign Ministry" and "Human Resources Development Seminar for International Exchanges."
Item 2. Strengthening of International Cultural Exchange and Cooperation
1. Basic Perception
Japan has become a key member of the international community where nowadays interdependence between countries is growing. Consequently, Japan must contribute to world peace and prosperity by promoting interaction and exchange between different cultures and deepening mutual understanding and reliance, as well as positively responding to heightened overseas interest in Japan, and making the Japanese community much more accessible. In addition, Japan must perform a role in cultural fields if it is to fulfill its responsibilities as an influential member of the international community. Specifically, Japan's cooperation is essential in preserving cultural heritages that are valuable assets for all mankind, developing culture and education in developing countries and promoting cultural exchange among other countries. From such a viewpoint, Japan has been making strenuous efforts to "Strengthen International Cultural Exchange" as one of the three pillars of its "International Cooperation Initiative."
2. "Action Program for International Cultural Exchange"
In May 1989, the Advisory Group on International Cultural Exchange (Chairman: Gaishi Hiraiwa) issued its final report describing a guideline Japan is expected to follow in promoting international cultural exchange. On the basis of this guideline, the Conference for the Promotion of International Cultural Exchange was set up in the Cabinet in June, and drew up the "Action Program for International Cultural Exchange" in September. In the same month, the Round-Table Conference of Ministers Concerned was organized to discuss international cultural exchange.
This Action Program outlines a direction of the measures Japan should take to reinforce international cultural exchange over 5 years from 1989 to 1994. The Program sets forth objectives and ideas of international cultural exchange as follows: (1) to contribute to the construction of peaceful and stable international relations by securing mutual understanding and trust among nations and peoples; (2) to contribute to the creation of a richer culture and to the development of the world's culture by promoting mutual understanding and mutual stimulation among various cultures; (3) to positively respond to the rapidly growing varied interest in Japan; (4) to develop Japan into a country with a richer culture open to the world by increasing the opportunities of contact with different cultures and promoting Japan's overall internationalization. As for international cultural exchange being conducted at all levels ranging from individuals to the government, the Program also prescribes the basic concept that it is important to assign a particular role to each body, strengthen each activity and promote mutual cooperation and affiliation.
Furthermore, the Program presents basic measures to be taken in 8 fields, including cooperation in promoting Japanese language teaching and Japanese studies, enrichment of cultural exchange through the arts and strengthening of its base, enhancement of cooperation for the preservation of cultural heritage and strengthening of the basis for such cooperation, providing information through the audio visual media and promotion of intellectual exchange. At the same time, it underscores the need to carry out these measures effectively, giving consideration to details according to country and region bearing in mind the fact that the situations are different in the respective countries and regions. Finally, it points out that the Japan Foundation, which has been set up as the central organization of Japan's international cultural exchange, has to have the basis of its activities consolidated and its projects expanded.
3. Major Policies to Strengthen International Cultural Exchange and Cooperation
(1) Responding Positively to the Increasing Interest in Japan
In recent years, foreign interest in Japan has grown rapidly as has been evidenced by a marked increase in the number of people learning Japanese and stepped-up Japanese studies. Japan has been taking various measures to respond to such moves quickly and adequately.
The number of foreigners learning Japanese overseas increased from about 580,000 in 1954 to 730,000 in 1988. Japanese cooperation in this field includes sending of Japanese language teachers and donating teaching materials. In addition, the "Overseas Japanese Language Centers" will be established in Sydney, Jakarta and Bangkok in fiscal 1990. On the other hand, the study on Japan has proliferated, in terms of interest and objectives, from such traditional areas of cultural sciences including literature, history and religion to social sciences covering modern Japanese society and the economy. Responding to such moves abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been cooperating with major overseas institutions for Japanese study.
In addition, the Ministry has been actively holding various cultural events and also assisting various cultural events abroad. For example, large scale cultural events the Ministry sponsored or participated in in fiscal 1989 included the "Europalia Japan '89" (in Belgium) (Note), and 7 Japan Week' in the Soviet Union (Moscow). Cultural activities by Japanese diplomatic establishments overseas, lectures, exhibitions and audiovisual events by the Japan Foundation were also held.
Furthermore the design competition for the Japan Culture House in Paris (scheduled to be completed in 1993) was held to decide architectural design for it in fiscal 1989, which attracted much public attention.
International cultural exchange should be of course two-way activities, therefore, various foreign cultures should be introduced to Japan. The events on foreign cultures such as the Art Festival of Russia and Soviet Union were held in fiscal 1989. In January 1990, the Japan Foundation ASEAN Culture Center, which aims in the main to introduce cultures of ASEAN countries to Japan, was established in Tokyo. In May, a joint concert of Japan's court music and Korean national music was held during the visit to Japan of the Republic of Korea's President Roh Tae Woo.
(2) Personnel Exchanges to Promote Mutual Understanding
As part of personnel exchanges which are the basis of international cultural exchange, the Ministry has been conducting such activities as exchange of students, the JET program, invitation program for people from industrialized democracies, opinion leaders, press personnel and youths, as well as dispatching and inviting academicians, scholars and artists through the Japan Foundation.
Registered foreign students in Japan numbered 31,251 as of May 1989, more than a fivefold increase in these 10 years. The ministry provides foreign countries with information on studying in Japan, accepts applications and screens students for studying in Japan at government expense. Various after-care measures are also provided for students back in their own countries. Further efforts are being made to improve the living conditions of foreign students helping to cope with their problems, including the problem of accommodation.
In 1989, 1,987 persons were invited to Japan from 8 countries under the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) program. These foreign youths are contributing to the improvement of foreign language education in Japan and promotion of international exchange at the local level and mutual understanding between Japan and other nations.
(3) International Cooperation for World Cultures
The cultural properties scattered all over the world are the invaluable common heritage for all mankind. However, quite a few of them are on the verge of destruction due to lack of sufficient maintenance and restoration work. It is therefore necessary to take cooperative measures urgently to maintain and restore these precious assets which cannot be retrieved once they are lost.
Japan has for long been cooperating in the international campaigns of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to safeguard cultural heritages from destruction. In fiscal 1989, the "Japanese Trust Fund for Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage" of $3 million was established in UNESCO, and through the Trust Fund were funded the restoration programs of the ruins of Angkor Vat in Cambodia, Moenjodaro in Pakistan and some others. Japan is to contribute an additional $2 million to the Fund in fiscal 1990.
Japan has also been extending Cultural Grant Aid to help developing countries promote their culture and education since 1975. In 1989, such grants were extended to 39 projects, such as the installation of acoustic and lighting equipment in the Papua New Guinea National Cultural Center. In the future such activities should be further expanded by increasing the supply of software such as videos and films for broadcasting more firmly in concert with technological cooperation on the basis of past experiences.
In fiscal 1990, the Japan Foundation initiated a program designed to dispatch specialists to foreign countries on a long-term basis in order to participate in the preservation of important cultural proper-ties; in addition, a new fellowship program was begun to invite foreign specialists in this field to Japan. Also begun were programs for both the dispatch and invitation of specialists for the purpose of nurturing culture-related personnel in developing countries.
In fiscal 1989, financial contributions were also disbursed to the Japan Scholarship for ASEAN Youth and the Japan-ASEAN Exchange Projects as international cooperation in cultural and academic development. The contribution to the Japan Scholarship for ASEAN Youth was completed in 1989, and from fiscal 1990, the Ministry starts contributions to a new program evolved from the scholarship mentioned above.
(4) Enrichment and Strengthening of the Implementation System for Cultural Exchange
Japan has cultural agreements with 25 countries and cultural arrangements with 8 countries to enhance cultural exchange with them. During fiscal 1989, cultural consultations or meetings of mixed commissions on cultural exchange were held with Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Mexico, Finland, China and Republic of Korea to discuss the ways of further promoting cultural exchange in the future.
The Japan Foundation, which was established in 1972 as the central organization to carry out international cultural exchange, has since been playing an active role in various fields covering Japanese language teaching, Japanese studies, exchange of persons, exchange of arts, audiovisual and exchange of publications. Since the basis of the Foundation's activities is still by far limited compared with similar organizations abroad, efforts should be made to expand its budget, to enrich its activities, and to train necessary personnel, in compliance with the "Action Program for International Cultural Exchange. "
Recently, as the private sector has come to take much more interest in international cultural exchange than before, it is essential for the government and the private sector to further promote joint activities and cooperation. Thus, tax incentives (the so-called "tax deduction for international exchange activities") for public utilities corporations whose primary objectives are international exchange
should be expanded. Furthermore, in November 1989, the Consultation Office was established in the Japan Foundation to strengthen cooperation and joint activities with local governments and private organizations.
Comparison of Japan Foundation and Cultural Exchange Organization in U.K. and West Germany (FY 1989)
(5) Joint campaigns to attract the Winter Olympic Games to Nagano Prefecture
In June 1989 the Cabinet approved Nagano's candidacy as the host city of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, and both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors adopted a resolution supporting the candidacy in June 1990. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been gathering and providing information in support of the activities of Nagano city and has sought support from members of the International Olympic Committee.
1. Rapid Increase of Japanese Going Abroad and Internationalization
Japanese who made overseas trips in 1989 numbered 9,860,000 or nearly 10 million, a 10-fold increase in less than 20 years from a little over 1 million in 1971. The boom in foreign travel has contributed to the improvement of Japanese understanding of the international community as traveling has provided them with a chance to see the outside world.
Japanese who go abroad discover differences in many aspects and realize that they cannot impose their own customs and values on foreign nationals and learn to accept cultures different from theirs. Thus, to visit a foreign country gives the Japanese an opportunity to change their perception and awareness. Such a change may proceed naturally through the experience of living abroad, but at the same time, conscious efforts are required for each person. It is expected that real internationalization of Japanese will be realized through such experience and efforts.
2. Problems of Foreign Tours and Living Abroad
(1) Security of Japanese
The number of Japanese going or living abroad has increased so much that they are now seen almost in every part of the world, exposed more and more to various types of dangers, ranging from civil war and coups, terrorism to theft and other crimes. The incidents in which Japanese embassies and legations are called upon to provide support and protection for Japanese nationals have recently increased at a pace faster than the growth in the number of Japanese going abroad.
Diplomatic establishments have an important mission, that is the protection of the people of their country. Japan takes every possible means to protect Japanese who have been involved in incidents and particularly to ensure the safety of Japanese in an emergency.
Last year, saw a series of emergencies develop, which included an abortive coup in the Philippines, U.S. military action in Panama and a coup in Romania. During those emergencies the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic establishments operated round the clock taking all possible precautions to ensure the safety of the Japanese.
When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, the Japanese people in Kuwait moved to Baghdad and were detained by the Iraqi Government. Their whereabouts were not disclosed. In addition, the Iraqi Government banned the exit of the Japanese who were in Iraq. The Japanese Government has exerted the maximum effort to have the Iraqi Government release the Japanese and let them leave the country of their own will. Such efforts were made also through the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
(2) Harmonizing with Host Communities
Recently on the increase is the number of incidents in which Japanese nationals or corporations abroad are criticized for their behavior, arid planned establishment of some corporations or schools are opposed by the host communities. The occurrence of such incidents may give the local people a misleading impression of Japanese people and corporations. Furthermore, Japan's image abroad may suffer when such incidents are reported widely by local mass media.
In this regard, Japanese tourists going abroad are encouraged to understand the society and culture they are visiting and to act with due regard to local customs and culture. In addition, corporations and Japanese people doing business abroad should try hard to be accepted as "good corporate citizens" or "good neighbors" in the host community aware that they are constituents of the host community in the same way as local citizens are. For example, in addition to making donations to charitable causes in the local community, for instance it is important for them to work hand in hand with local people actively taking part in various community events including volunteer activities and PTA activities. Furthermore, educational facilities abroad such as schools for Japanese have recently started Japanese language classes for the local people to promote exchanges with local communities.
In support of such activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds Conferences of Public Information and Cultural Affairs in many parts of the world as well as the Joint Conference on International Communications in Tokyo.
Item 4. Non-Japanese Residents in Japan
Japan's rapid economic development attracts more and more foreign workers including Asians who want to work in Japan. As a result, to address problems concerning foreign workers has become an important issue. Some countries have requested the Japanese Government to accept workers from their countries.
The Japanese Government put into force the amendments of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law in June 1990. The amendments have expanded the acceptance of skilled foreign workers with technological or other professional expertise, while continuing to refuse unskilled workers. Whether Japan should open its doors to unskilled workers is a question of serious debate in Japan because of its far-reaching economic and social impacts. One important area that has to be studied is the improvement of the environment to accommodate foreign workers, including a social security system for them and cooperation of the local communities.
It is estimated that about 100,000 unskilled foreign laborers are working illegally in Japan.
The situation developed due to attractive wages and a serious manpower shortage in Japan. It has been often reported that these foreign nationals suffer from infringement of human rights; they are exploited by job brokers or forced to work in dangerous and unhealthy environments as they are taken advantage of because of their position as an illegal worker. This is a serious problem that may impede the development of friendly relations between Japan and Asian countries.
Careful counter-measures must be taken, especially for the protection of their human rights.
Note: Europalia, the largest festival of culture and art in Europe, has been held every two years in Belgium since 1969, selecting a country as a theme country for the festival. Japan was picked as the first theme country from non-European regions.
With 150 events held during the three-month period attracting 1,650,000visitors, it was the largest Japanese culture-introducing festival ever held abroad. The events were highly acclaimed internationally.