In 2015, Former CEO of the Microsoft, Mr. Bill Gates said that we invested much in nuclear weapons but we have to invest more to prepare the anti-virus which could spread to world cities through people appearing in a good health. What we are now expiring vis-à-vis COViD-19, originated from Hunan, China and proliferated to all over the world is just what Bill Gates predicted.
(See the following site : https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_the_next_outbreak_we_re_not_ready?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tedspread)
It reminds me what Dr. Taro Nakayama, a Medical Doctor, and Former Foreign Minister of Japan, Founder of the IMPO (International Medical Parliamentarians Organization), non-profit-organization associated with the WHO, said, watching at people walking at streets.
'If the human beings may be perished, it would not by the nuclear wars, but by any virus which we can not see.
The threat we can not see might be more dangerous than the threat we can see.
But why can we, human beings survive on this earth, without having strong tusks or fangs, spines or thorns, without having huge bodies like elephants or dinosaurs. It's because we have
a wisdom, but also the survival of human beings is based on cooperation, solidarity, benevolence and love. In Japan, 'Omoiyari' (Thinking of others) and 'Tasukeai'(Helping each other) are high valued virtue, because people living in Japanese archipelago are always facing natural disasters like volcano
explosions, typhoons, earthquakes,, etc. If people do not help each other, they can not survive.
On February 1, 2020, when the COVID-19 from Huan, China already penetrated in Japan, I was participating in an international event on 'Tokyo 2020, sport without borders'. It is true that in the Olympics, regardless of race, culture, languages, etc. people can be friends, through fair play competitions.
We have been opening the borders and welcoming the outsiders, which promote the dynamism and diversity of a country. But this COVID-19 without borders became a world threat and it coming into the every corner of the world as a no-seen killer monster. Many countries shut suddenly the borders and asked people to stay home or close their shops. It is something totally contrary to the globalization. We considered that the life of individuals is the most important, and the national-border is the best way to protect people's lives.
What have we learnt from this experience? One is that the life is more important than economy. It is said that money can buy a house, but not a home, money can buy food, but not appetite, money can buy goods, but not love and respect. Too much globalization for economy put the world in a greater risk. The second is that we need a nation to protect ourselves, our identity, our culture, our history and our lives. It is not a contradiction to the internationalization. If you see the Olympics, people respect each other, each nation, each identity. That means the respect of the diversity.
If we respect each other and help each other, we will overcome this difficult time.
On May 1, in 2019, in Japan, His Majesty the Emperor Akihito abdicated his throne to his first son, HIH Prince Naruhito, who became the 126th Emperor of Japan.
For Japanese people, the May 1, 2019 was like the New Year's Day and we celebrated the starting of the new Era called 'Reiwa'.
At this special celebration day of Japan, the U.S. President Donald Trump made statements both to the out-going and the in-coming Emperors (As there is the difference of time over the Pacific, President Trump's statements were issued on April 29 and 30, 2019).
In his statement on April 29, President Trump said, ' I want to recognize the tremendous importance that the United States
attaches to its close relationship with Japan. Emperor Akihito welcomed
five United States presidents to Japan and reigned from the end of the Cold War
to the present day. Our bilateral relationship was critical to navigating
the global challenges of those times. ' and 'we look forward to continuing the tradition
of partnership and cooperation with Japan, our great ally, in the new era.'
President Trump continued on the next day, 'we will
renew the strong bonds of friendship between our two countries. “Reiwa”
means “beautiful harmony,” and it is our sincere wish that our alliance
continue to flourish and deepen in this spirit. '
How much the U.S.-Japan alliance has been important during the Cold War and even after, and its tremendous importance won't change through the new Era of Reiwa.
Why so important? If you see the present situations around the world, nothing is sure, so many phenomena are uncertain : To which course China is going? North Korea? Russia? Europe? Venezuela? Iran, Syria, etc... However, U.S.-Japan alliance is quite solid and even strengthened. This special relationship will continue to contribute to the world peace and stability. As President Trump said in his statement above, Japanese will say the same, 'we look forward to continuing the tradition
of partnership and cooperation with the United States, our great ally, in the new era.' Japanese people will welcome President Trump and the First Lady as the first state-guests of the new Era of Reiwa. Hope 'Beautiful harmony' will reign in this Indo-Pacific region.
Just 24 years ago, on March 20, 1995, at the very center of Tokyo, the chemical weapon, Sarin was used in the subway terrorism attacks occurred by the Aum Shinrikyo, a cult religion group in Japan.
13 people died and more than 6000 people were injured.
On that day in the morning, I was commuting by the Tokyo metropolitan subway to my office, located near the Diet and the Prime Minister's Office. The subway station Kasumigaseki, where the Sarin was spread out is just next to it.
In the subway, there was an announcement. It said that the subway would not stop at the Kasumigaseki Station. It was strange,, I felt. I asked myself, a poisonous gas, or something?
Arriving at the office, my family called me to know if I was fine and asked me to watch the TV.
On the TV screen, I saw people suffering and falling down inside and outside of the subway stations.
There were five lines of subway in which Sarin was spread, but when it happened, nobody knew it was Sarin and it took some time to discover it.
It was also mysterious that almost during one week, we did not know exactly who did such a thing and why. I continued to go to office by subway everyday, but sometimes I felt very frightened to take a subway to go out.
Today, I would like to pray for victims and their families. Never this kind of terrorism should happen. It is very difficult to understand why the Japanese government permit to exist the successor groups of Aum Shinrikyo.
24 years passed. The widow of a victim, who was 48 years old is now 72 years old. She could have enjoyed more with her loved husband if it had not happened......