My book entitled 'The Olympics and the Japanese Sprit' (a new version) translated by Dr. Robert Eldridge and his colleague was published.
In this difficult time, the survival of human beings is based on cooperation, peace, solidarity, and love. The life of individuals is the most important. My motivation to write this book is coming from this concept.
The Tokyo Olympics should be postponed, considering the present world situation affected by the COVID-19.
But it should not be cancelled, because for the athletes who are preparing hard for the Tokyo Olympics.
Anyway, what I wanted to say in the book does not change, in any case, it is a hope for the future.
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.
From March 21 to 26 in 2019, President of the Chinese Communist Party, Mr. Xi Jinping visited Italy, Monaco and France. It was the first time that the President of PRC (People's Republic of China) travelled to Monaco, a small but very rich country in Europe. It was also very rare and special that during Xi's State Visit to France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission came to Paris to join President Emanuel Macron of France and President Xi.
In Italy, President Xi succeeded in signing an agreement on a Chinese grand project 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI) with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. China has got an important access to 2 Italian ports ; one is Genova in the west and another is Trieste in the east. China will invest in the infrastructure of Genova and it will build train facilities around Trieste.
Among European countries, already 20 countries (Austria, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Malta, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro) signed the BRI agreement with China. China's strategic to enter Europe is to start with small countries or countries which have economic problems. However, Italy was the first G7 country which signed the BRI agreement. How will it affect other G7 members' decisions?
China has got therefore important sea bases in the world ; this time Genova and Trieste, and Piraeus port in Greece since 2016, then in Sri Lanka and in Djibouti. Of course, Chinese artificial base in South China Sea is a famous one.
Moreover, as for the Road, China is already connected by train to 49 cities of 15 European countries.
In Monaco, President Xi made a great success for Huawei Technologies ; Monaco accepted to introduce Huawei's 5G system. Monaco is a small country, but it was a big deal for China, as the United States and some other Western countries try to eliminate Huawei from the 5G international market.
In France, President Xi and his wife were welcome as State guests. They arrived in Nice near Monaco and went up to Paris where Chancellor Merkel and EC President Juncker joined President Macron and President Xi. President Macron wanted to concert the foreign policy vis-à-vis China, among EU countries, but how far is it possible?
Soon, on April 9, the EU-China summit will take place in Brussel. President Xi will get more confidence, before he may face President Trump in Florida, at the end of this month.
I visited London from March 5-8 in 2019, to see the situation of the UK, just before the Brexit day of March 29.
I flew from Paris to London, and already the borders were established within the EU, between France and the UK. I passed the control to enter Paris and to go out, it means I went through two gates at the airport of CDG in Paris. Then, arriving in London, at the Gatwick airport, I had to write down the embarkment card to pass the passport control.
In front of the Parlement, some people demonstrated their wish to remain in the EU, and to ask the another referendum.
Some are concerned very much of the future of the UK economy ; the Honda decided to close its factory in UK and other companies try to move their European headquarters from UK to other European countries.
However, still many British people support the idea of the Brexit; there are some reasons : some say they don't want to be controlled by the non-democratic political system, the EU commission or its huge bureaucracy. Some say that immigrants from poor countries in EU take over their jobs in UK.
As you know, a famous UK Premier Churchill said in 1947: 'it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…' Even now, in the Parliament, members put the importance of debate, discussions and votes. That's maybe why there is much difficulty to have a consensus on the agreement with EU.
I prayed for the victimes of the terrorism occurred in front of the Parliament a few years ago. Even today, on the day of my arrival in London, there were bombings alert in 3 different places in London, including the Heathrow airport. While I was walking around inside the city of London, a station of the underground (subway or tube) was closed because of the security reason. The alarm did not stop all over the station. I was astonished to know the influence of China in UK ; for example, at a hotel where I was staying, most of guests and hotel staff were European people, however, a Chinese news paper 'China Daily' was exposed on the lobby desk, next to UK news papers including 'The Times' and 'The Daily Telegraph' etc.
Comparing to Paris, I felt the city of London is quite clean and safe, and you can use and read English, but, this time, I don't know why, I met less Japanese in London than in Paris. During my one-week stay in Europe, the weather forecast was every day rains ; however, wishing with a Teruteru boy, a fine day, we had a sunshine! Thanks Gods.
'Xi thinks China will win the U.S.-China competition in the long run.'
That is a conclusion I drew from a seminar of the Foreign Policy Center (FPC) held on February 6, 2019 in Tokyo. The speaker of the day was Mr. Daisuke Kondo, an expert of China.
Since last year of 2018, U.S.-China Trade war was declared. Some said it is a new cold war.
So far, Trump administration looks stronger than Xi's Communist Party.
But if the competition lasts long enough, President Xi thinks China will lead the world.
China could cede to the U.S. in the field of trade, but never in the field of security or souvereignty.
The representative of the Xi Communist Party promised President Trump that it will buy tons of soy beans from the U.S. However China continues to militarize the South China Sea and to try to annex Taiwan. China is trying to take over the Senkaku islands, if there is a vacuum of power.
About the Huawei, Xi thinks China can negotiate with President Trump, even put all the responsibility on the CFO.
China continues to explore the space including the moon and the Mars, and it has the largest cyber offensive power. Xi has been involved in the PLA (People's Liberation Army) since he was 26 years old, so he knows how to control it.
The U. S. should face a tough negotiator for maybe more than a decade.
At the beginning of the year, on the 1st of January, I love to listen to the New Years Concert of the Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra. It is very famous all over the world.
Even in Japan, we can listen to this concert at the same time as in Vienna, and when I was in Helsinki, Finland, in January 2017, I watched the Wiener Phil. New Year's Concert on TV.
The first time when I went to Vienna was in December 1991, when I was living in Paris. The year 1991 was the 200 years after the passing away of Amadeus Mozart and I had an invitation of a concert from a friend who is pianist living in Vienna.
Of course, I discovered the beautiful music of Mozart, and at the same time, the charm of Strauss music which is really very Wiener!
I was again in Vienna in December 2016, the year of 260th anniversary of Mozart's birthday.
On the first day, I went to the Mozart Concert in a Church, on the second day, I listened to the Symphony No.9 of Beethoven played by the Wiener Symphony Orchestra at Koncerthous, and on the 3rd day, I watched the Operetta Fledermaus at Folksoper. Every time I listen to the music in Vienna, it sounds like quite light and enjoyable. It makes people happy.
At the end of the yesterday's New Year's concert of Wiener Phil, it is announced that the next year 2020's conductor will be Mr. Nelsons. Wow, he was the conductor of the Wiener Phil. in Salzburg festival in 2017 where I was exactly listening to.
My dream is that one day I could listen to the real New Year concert in Vienna.
A Happy New Year!!
One more thing : this year 2019 is the 150th anniversary of Austria-Japan diplomatic relations!
Congratulations.
Today is September 11, 2018. In Japan, it is said that 7 years and a half passed since March, 11 of the Big Tsunami Earthquake of East Japan.
In the United States, it is said that 17 years had passed since the September 11 terrorism.
7 and 17, both have the number 7.
The two events, both dramatically changed people's lives and minds, thoughts etc.
One is a natural disaster and another is a terrorism, but both deprived people of happy lives at once.
This morning, at high school, before starting my International Relations (IR) class, I asked my students to pay one minute of silence together.
A silence is an expression, a silence is a universal language. Anyone can share the time and the space together with others under a silence. It creates a harmony and a peace.
We did not talk, but we understood and we prayed for the victims in the world.
Kuniko Suzuki from Tokyo, Japan
The farewell ceremony of Senator John McCain was held in Washington, D.C. this weekend. I prayed for him, his families and friends across the Pacific. Senator McCain was a great Congressman and a great Navy person. He served so much and so long for the country. He was captured and tortured during the Vietnam War, that was a contrast of Barack Obama, when they competed each other in the 2008 Presidential elections. His grand-father and father were also admirals and his first son belongs to the Navy and the second son to the Marine. The family McCain are showing us what the Noblesse Oblige is. Moreover Senator McCain and his wife adapted a daughter from Bangladesh. We, Japanese are very honored to have USS John S.. McCain in Yokosuka, Japan. The Senator told us, 'The most difficult challenges are the sources of the strength.'. Thank you, Senator, You left us so many things and we never forget you. God bless you.
