Ambassadeur Magazine NOV/DEV 2013 by Envoy Japan

Ambassadeur Magazine

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013

ASTON BARRETT

“So Much Things To Say”

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BOB MARLEY’S LEGENDARY BASS PLAYER

AMBASSADOR INTERVIEW

How Kuwait Helped Avoid An Energy Crisis COMPLIMENTARY COPY

EDUCATION

Japan’s Brightest Face Stiff Competition

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We’re back.

Once again it is my pleasure to thank you for picking up this copy of Ambassadeur Magazine. We are determined to widen the appeal of our magazine by featuring a more diverse array of topics than before. A great example of this is Elfateh Merghani’s interview with legendary bass player for Bob Marley & The Wailers, Mr. Aston Barrett, who recently visited Japan. The Wailers’ sold-out shows at the Blue Note were attended by several distinguished members of the diplomatic and business community. A truly remarkable artist with an endless supply of stories to tell. The printed issue of Ambassadeur Magazine remains our priority, but of course we cannot ignore the web. We have therefore decided to consolidate our online publishing to one outlet, our Facebook page. YOUTUBE LOGO SPECS This will make it easier for our readers to discover, view and share our content. From now on, a lot of our interviews will be recorded on PRINT on light backgrounds on dark backgrounds video, and you’ll be able to find this footage on Facebook as well. Enjoy your read! main red

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NICLAS ERICSSON

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Editor-in-chief: Niclas Ericsson 1-53-6 Shimouma Setagaya-ku 154-0002 Tokyo Tel/fax: 03-6450-8777 E-mail: info@envoy.jp Web: www.envoy.jp

Contributors in this issue: Elfateh Merghani, Shaun Joel Ketch, Naoyuki Haraoka, Faaria Kherani, Nadia Sobehart www.facebook.com/ambassadeurmagazine

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Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

EDUCATION

Japan’s Brightest Face Stiff Competion

t is spring 2012. Mariko Haneda sits silently between towering stacks of books in study room 3 at The University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), cramming the stuff Japanese bureaucrats are made of. In her space, complete with a makeshift countdown calendar marking Japan’s Civil Service exam, she combs through constitutional, administrative, international and labor law. Ms. Haneda has been prepping since last September for her April shot at entering Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and on most days spends close to 10 hours poring over material on past exams. The time she allots for teaching herself the material likely to show up on the government exam is separate from the time she dedicates to completing academic requirements for her Master of Public Policy (MPP). The University of Tokyo, colloquially known as “Todai”, has long been a training ground for the nation’s future top bureaucrats and politicians, and houses Japan’s best and brightest. “I study so much because I know I’ll be competing with other students from Todai,” Ms. Haneda readily admits.

BY SHAUN JOEL KETCH

MPP/MIA DUAL DEGREE CANDIDATE THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

As the government actively shrinks its number of incoming civil servants, the country’s top academic institution diversifies its incoming professional classes.

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Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

EDUCATION Not only is the competition stiff, but posts have also become increasingly limited. The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)-led government has consistently scaled back the hiring of civil servants in efforts to meet its pledge to reduce the total labor costs of national civil servants by 20 percent. It slashed government hiring of new recruits by 37 percent in fiscal year 2011, by another 26 percent in 2012, and candidates now prepping for the test face another tight hiring squeeze in 2014. The continuous cuts prompted candid remarks from then Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in 2012. The Daily Yomiuri quoted him as lamenting, “I feel sorry for the young people who study hard day and night to pass a national civil service exam.” In addition to the hiring cuts, the House of Councilors voted in 2011to reduce the salaries of civil servants by 7.8 percent in part to finance reconstruction programs in areas devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Todai’s continuing push for internationalization, specifically it’s target of shifting it’s academic year to better match academic institutions overseas, English language instruction, and its dual degree programs with top-ranking schools in the growing Global Public Policy Network (GPPN), provide its students with a competitive edge in entering the Japanese foreign service. Prospective GraSPP students may now

apply for either an April or October start, and if admitted may elect to earn a graduate degree entirely in English, Japanese, or a mix of both, and spend one year of the two-year professional program earning an additional master’s degree through dual degree agreements with Todai’s partner schools: Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY), and Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po). This has facilitated an influx of foreign students in one of Japan’s top graduate profes-

sional programs. Ms. Haneda, who will study abroad at Columbia in the fall, is currently taking “International Conflict Study” and “Human Security: Asian Perspectives” in English alongside foreign degree seeking, international exchange, and Japanese students. “International students in the MPP program ask more questions and are generally more active. It’s a great chance to get different perspectives.” Takatoshi Ito, Professor of Economics and Dean of GraSPP, says all students enrolled at the professional school are better off for the program’s internationalization. “GraSPP is the most cosmopolitan Japanese graduate school campus, and provides both Japanese and non-Japanese equal footing in competing and cooperating on group projects.” Speaking on how the international program benefits aspiring Japanese diplomats, he offers “The international and multicultural created environment is reflected not only in study but also in student life, which even better prepares our students for the Foreign Service.” A recent GraSPP graduate, speaking on condition of anonymity as he is currently training at MOFA’s Foreign Service Training Institute in Kasumigaseki, also credits the program’s internationalization and partnerships with helping him feel better prepared for Japan’s diplomatic service. “Through mock negotiations with international students, I learned how tough it is to build consensus cross-culturally. Also, studying at SIPA gave me a deeper understanding of UN peace operations as SIPA offers more UN-focused classes.” The recent cuts to Japan’s civil service have not hampered Todai’s efforts to expand its international, interdisciplinary graduate policy institution nor weakened its mandate to produce the nation’s most capable public servants. Footnote: Ms. Haneda went on to pass the exams and is currently working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Yasuda Hall, one of the iconic landmarks at Tokyo University’s Hongo Campus.

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UNKNOWN JAPAN

The Fading of Okinawa’s Most Holy Place BY FAARIA KHERANI

n Kudaka Island, time stands still. Sand roads lead to empty beaches, and ancient rituals conducted by elderly women are held in weathered homes. Kudaka is Okinawa’s most holy place, where residents follow the Ryukyuan religion, an indigenous belief system that has been influenced by Chinese religions (Taoism, Confucianism, and folk religions), Buddhism, Japanese Shinto and Christianity to worship ancestors and the gods and spirits of the natural world. Ryukyuan followers believe all life began from the surrounding sea, and women, who are considered spiritually superior, conduct all the rituals. But nearly half the island’s population is over 65 years old and these women are the last of their kind. Youngsters pursue work and study opportunities in large cities, and young girls almost always marry mainlanders. Over the

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past 20 years, only one person who left ever returned to live permanently on the island. Unseen barriers, like being unable to buy land, keep outsiders from entering the island, according to Mr. Takaesu, a government representative of Okinawa’s Nanzhou City to which Kudaka belongs. Land is owned communally in the same way it was in the ancient days when residents decided to co-op the ocean for lack of a better way of dividing fishing areas between families. To this day, the only employ-

Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

ment options are fishing and growing sea grapes, and climate change is making it even harder for farmers to make enough money. It seems unlikely that Kudaka’s economic situation will change to attract young workers in the near future. “It’s very difficult to change anything here. It’s a hard place to live,” says Sachiko Uchima, a nurse in Kudaka’s only clinic. “There are still some stubborn people who refuse to come into the clinic, too. It’s been the same for the past 20 years. Of course the faces change, Copyright © National Land Image Information (Color Aerial Photographs), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

UNKNOWN JAPAN people pass away, but other than that the general issues are more or less the same.” “When I first came I cried every night,” says Sachiko’s mother-inlaw, Yochuko Uchima, who married a Kudaka man over 50 years ago. “I missed my parents. I was almost the first outsider to come to this island through marriage and my mother was against it.” Sachiko came to the island 14 years ago, and her son now goes to high school on the mainland. “Realistically, there is no job for him here, so of course I want him back, but I can’t really tell him to come,” says Sachiko. With no one left to pass their homes and knowledge down to, the unique, Ryukyuan culture and religious traditions of Kudaka’s less than 250 residents are in danger of extinction. The local government is trying to encourage outsiders to move to the island. Through an exchange program, students can study at Kudaka Island’s primary and middle schools, which would otherwise have only one student per class. The government also encourages people to work on the island, but carving a permanent place in the long-established island culture is a challenge. Megumi Matsuoka, the only doctor in Kudaka’s clinic, came to Kudaka as obligatory public service after the prefectural government funded her six years of study at the District Medical University in Okinawa. She left her husband and two young sons on the mainland to come work on Kudaka Island. “I did not choose to come here. The government takes requests, but in the end it decides where you work. I have been here for over a year now, but I am still on the outside. There is a very clear line.” Outsiders are not permitted to dance in local celebrations or become priestesses. This leaves much of the festival planning to the elderly, and few from the younger generation learn the skills needed to take over these positions in the future. “Older people are always busy with events every month. The rituals are their job,” says Sachiko. “There was a patient that needed attention because he was sure he had cancer. But he asked me if he could go after the Chinese New Year celebration. It’s almost as if these events are more important than their lives!”

Megumi Matsuoka, doctor (right) and Sachiko Uchima, nurse at Kudaka’s only clinic.

Some young outsiders have penetrated Kudaka’s tight-knit society, but success is often short-lived. “There was an American bride here. She married the eldest son of a Kudaka family,” says Yochuko. Eldest sons are required to take care of the family altar in Kudaka homes so it is harder for them to leave the island. “The American couldn’t dance here because this isn’t her island. Her mother-in-law didn’t like outsiders, and eventually the girl escaped. The son went with her to the mainland, but then he came back to take care of the altar. He never hears from his American wife now.” At eight in the evening, the streets of Kudaka are dark and dead. Tiny lights flicker from stone bungalow homes and the moon illuminates the mainland far off in the distance. Kudaka feels like

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an entirely different world, entrenched in ancient tradition and incompatible with modern development. It’s easy to see why outsiders don’t belong. “It’s so quiet here your ears hurt,” says Sachiko. “You won’t be able to sleep, the silence is so loud.”

Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

AMBASSADEUR MAGAZINE

“SO MUCH THINGS TO SAY”

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”

AMBASSADEUR MAGAZINE INTERVIEW BY ELFATEH MERGHANI

FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF WORLD LINKS MAGAZINE IN TOKYO

ston “Family Man” Barrett, the Wailers’ legendary bass guitar player, the man whose magic touch and creative bass lines made Bob’s music more distinct and more beautiful, thank you for agreeing to give us an interview. You have been to Japan before. Does it bring back any memories of your time with Bob Marley? The first time I came here was with

Bob in 1978, then one time with just the Wailers. The last two trips were with Julian Marley, Bob’s son, in the eighties. At that time we were involved in a movie about preserving the earth’s resources. We sailed offshore on a ship to a remote island and there were so many kids waving Jamaican and reggae flags. Yes, I remember when we played with Bob here in Japan. It was a great experience. Your current international tour is receiving wide media coverage. Why did you call it the Revolutionary Tour? We have always worked to raise the consciousness of the people, particularly the youth, with music, to keep them in line so they don’t walk on the wild side. We come from Trench Town, you know! More than thirty years have passed since Bob’s death, but the Wailers still maintain their creative posture. How do you explain that? So many times people have asked me, “Guys, you have been in the music for so long and you are still going strong.” And I say, “We are like the moon. The older it becomes, the brighter it shines.” So you are still carrying on the banner? Yeah. What is your future vision for these talented young Wailers under your leadership? Well! We will continue to play reggae and spread the message of love, equality and dignity. Bob said, “A lot has been said, but little been done.” So we are the ones who want to do the things with the reggae music.

ing majority of the audience was young guys who were born long after Bob passed away, yet they were repeating Bob songs and lyrics by heart. Did that take you by surprise? The reggae music is the heart beat of the people. It carries the roots, the culture and the reality and it is for all ages and all times; the past, the present and the future. You were quoted in an interview as saying “I will not allow the reggae ship to sink down like Titanic.” Could you elaborate a little bit? I am the one who put the band together through the years. I am not only a bass player but the musical arranger and producer. I am the backbone of the band and the back produces energy. So I will always give the reggae ship energy to sail safely, against all odds. So you are betting high on these young and talented “reggae ambassadors.” Yes. In 1966 His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I visited Jamaica. Bob Marley missed the event because he was in America, but Peter and Bunny Wailer were there. Were you present at that historic event? Oh, yes! I was riding my bike. It was a huge crowd so I rode to the top of a hill to be able to see His Majesty in his Jeep. And as his motorcade passed beneath, he watched me from the corner of his eyes. So you were blessed. Yes

During your tour in France, the French press took notice that an overwhelm-

How long have you been a Rasta follower? From birth, but as you grow up it shines out more. The word rastafari, means head creator. And who is the head creator? It is the Lord, the God Almighty. We are the followers of God. The church people would say, “I am a Christian.” I say, I am a follower of Jah Jah.

The reggae legend Aston Barrett, being interviewed by Elfateh Merghani for Ambassadeur Magazine.

When did you become a Wailer? I became a wailer in the late 60s. Before that I used to be a bass player in

What are these things? Peace, love and tolerance. That is why we used to say, “War is ugly but love is lovely.”

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AMBASSADEUR MAGAZINE

different groups, starting with the Hippy Boys, The Upsetters and the Youths Professionals that came to be known as the Wailers International. It has been alleged that when Bob returned from the United States, he listened to your bass line and requested a friend to recruit you for him, and ever since then you remained friends until Bob took his last breath. Is that correct? Yes, Bob heard the beautiful sounds coming out of the little beautiful island of Jamaica. So he came back to blend his vision with the new concept that was emerging. I understand that Aston Francis Barrett is your real name. So, why do they call you the “Family Man”? Because I’ve been the one who leads, arranges and produces the music for the band through the years. In that process we were like a family. And a family has to have its head man (Family Man). During the assassination attempt on Bob’s life, his manager Don Taylor received a barrage of shots and was seriously wounded. Where you in the building at that time? Yeah, Bob was in the kitchen peeling a grapefruit when the incident took place. Rita Marley was also in the building and she was also fired at. I was in my room. I heard the first shot and I dismissed it for a fire cracker, because sometimes people would trigger fireworks while we were rehearsing, but after two more shots I realized that it was an invasion. So I took cover, lay on the ground… stayed flat, as we

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“They hold guns fire on us They trying to conquer us But we were protected by his majesty.” AMBUSH IN THE NIGHT would say in Jamaica. After the incident we wrote the song, “Ambush in the night.” You wrote beautiful songs for Bob such as “Want More” and “Rebel Music.” Was there any other song that you composed or cooperated on with Bob lyrically? Bob was a good friend of mine. We cooperated on so many things, from the structure of the music to the basic melody, vocal harmony, voices... “It is my love that you are running from. It is your love that I am waiting on.” Beautiful lyrics… awesome. “Waiting in Vain” is one of my favorite for all time. The bass line that you devised for that song was no less spectacular. You and your late brother Carlton Barrett were both double talented — he was the one who invented the “One Drop” beat. Where did you get that gift from? Was it something in the family? My late brother Carlton was the heart of reggae and I am the backbone. Life is a gift of Jah. Music is a gift of Jah. There is no doubt that you have been blessed with many gifts. It has been alleged that it was you who suggested that “No Woman No Cry” should be played in the slow version

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that was recorded for the first time on the Live! album. Is that correct? “No Woman No Cry” was shared (lyrically) between Bob and Tartar [Vincent Ford]. But I arranged it for sure. “Small Axe” was a Wailers manifesto for rebellion against the producers’ monopoly in Jamaica. The word ’rebel’ in the view of others is a bad word. But we made it look good. We are the “soul rebels.” So you have always wanted to do things in your own way, right? Yeah, “Don’t care what the world say. We are gonna have things our way”, you know! You were asked once about your favorite song and you mentioned “So Much Things to Say.” Which of Bob’s concerts impacted you most? It is all good, you know! Certainly. all Bob’s concerts were fabulous, I cannot agree more. But is there any particular show or concert that you personally liked most? I say, there were so many, but I can recall when we left Jamaica for England. We played for two weeks, two shows per a night, in a club called Speak Easy, frequented mostly by journal-

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When we finished the show, an elderly man came up to us and said, ‘I am 72

years of age, and I have been listening to a lot of noise. But I like your noise!’

ists and press men. After the show the write-up was, “The first song they did cast a spell, and after that it was like magic.” When we finished the show, an elderly man came up to us and said, “I am 72 years of age, and I have been listening to a lot of noise. But I like your noise!” It was great change and uplifting for music lovers. Everyone who listened to reggae for the first time must surely have been taken by surprise. Because it was so unique, unprecedented and out of the blue. Even Chris Blackwell, when he first listened to the Catch a Fire album, said “I have been in the music industry for years, but from the first time I listened to the album I knew this music had an international dimension.” What gives reggae music such power to overwhelm and thrill people? The reggae music is like a musical bible that comes from the tunes of King

“If you are a big, big tree We are the small axe Ready to cut you down (well sharp) To cut you down” SMALL AXE

Solomon and King David, the chief musicians. And we are the Archangels who were chosen to spread the message across the four corners of the earth. So you are saying that it is the spiritual aspect which gives reggae these sensational qualities? Yes, as I said earlier, reggae music is the heartbeat of the people. It is about roots, culture and reality. It’s a universal language. How do you see the future of reggae music?

”

Bob said, “My music will go on for ever and ever,” and he was correct. Do you have a surprise for your Japanese audience tonight? The Japanese have been an appreciative reggae audience with love for good music, and that is what we will play for them tonight, you know. Mr. Aston Barrett. It has been an absolute privilege to have you for an interview and I hope that your tour in Japan and China will be a great success. Yes, my man.

From right, Ethiopian Ambassador, Markos Tekle Rike, Zimbabwe Ambassador and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, Stuart Comberbach, former Editor-in-Chief of World Links Magazine, Elfateh Merghani, Djiboti Ambassador, Ahmed Ali Arita, Chief Technology Officer of the Arabic Insititute, engineer Saif Mahana and designer Ms. Yuko Iwasaki at the first Wailers show at the Blue Note Club, Tokyo.

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CULTURE

Buraiken

A nihilistic samurai movie made in the 1960s tells us the hidden agenda concealed behind Japan’s prosperity in its highgrowth era.

BY NAOYUKI HARAOKA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF JAPAN SPOTLIGHT, A BI-MONTHLY JOURNAL PUBLISHED BY THE JAPAN ECONOMIC FOUNDATION.

he cultural inheritance of a country is a key to understanding its identity. We can see Japanese identity in its cultural legacies such as short poems like tanka or haiku that express the authors’ emotions in very short lengths of 17 or 31 characters. A painting is another way for Japanese to express their identity and they were so good at describing natural beauty or humanity in tiny drawings called Ukiyoe that eventually influenced French impressionists. The successor of this tradition of artistic talent is Japanese animations, which have achieved overwhelming success in the world today. The film industry of Japan is also, I believe, a very important source of Japanese cultural inheritance.

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Many Western critics highlight Japanese films of the 1950s. Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, and Yasujiro Ozu are the three great film-masters in the history of Japanese film, and many Western film directors such as George Lucas and Steven Spielberg learned a lot from their films, which were mostly produced in the 1950s. Though the 1950s was considered a period of poverty and misery when the Japanese economy had just started its long-run recovery from the devastation of the Second World War, these three great masters and others succeeded in realizing the golden age of Japanese film industry during that period. The prevailing poverty then in fact provided them with an advantage in the sense that people would not be able to enjoy many other pastimes apart

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from going to see a movie. But here I would like to introduce another period of Japanese history when some of the films produced could work as an excellent guide to foreigners attracted by the charm of this wonderland in the Far East. That is the 1960s, when Japan started to pursue the high-economicgrowth era and watching a film was not the sole way to enjoy your spare time as people started enjoying spending money on luxuries with their accumulated wealth, and thus eventually a mass-consumption society finally came into existence in Asia for the first time. A series of movies about a nihilistic samurai named Nemuri Kyoshiro (literally ‘Sleeping Kyoshiro’), an authentic swordmaster who had mastered the

CULTURE

‘Engetsu Sappo’ (a way of handling a sword like drawing the shape of moon) appeared in this period. Though the historical background of the series is set at the end of the Edo period governed by the Tokugawa Shogunate, namely in the 1840s, the films are useful for foreigners to learn about 1960s Japan, when the movies were produced, as well as the age of the 1840s only a few decades before the Meiji Restoration, a Japanese revolution corresponding to the French Revolution. The hero, portrayed by legendary actor Raizo Ichikawa who died at the age of 37 at the end of the 1960s, is a nihilist and a cold-blooded professional killer. Born as a bastard of a missionary from Europe and a Japanese woman, he has never respected any social value or traditional authority. Whenever any official working for either the Shogunate Central Government or a regional government offers him a job, being impressed by his excellent swordsmanship, he turns down the offer. He does not see any value in either highclass bureaucracy or wealth. Since he despises the hierarchy of the samurai community, then the most distinguished cultural identity of ancient Japan originally coming from Confucianism, he has never desired to be a part of it. Whether an official is corrupt or honest does not matter to him. He enjoys the life of an outlaw and he also hates wealth, because a little money is enough for him to enjoy his life as a vagabond. All the prestigious officials and the wealthy merchants are seeking to realize their material desires and thus are leading a meaningless existence, from his point of view. What does matter to Nemuri Kyoshiro? Is he like Meursault in the novel “L’etranger’ by Albert Camus? Like Meursault, he seems to be indifferent to anybody’s death or life. However, what makes him different from Camus’ hero is that he cannot resist feeling instinctive sympathy for people abused by either a person in power or a person with wealth. In one of the films produced in 1966 with the title ‘Buraiken,’ literally meaning ‘reckless swordsmanship,’ he

encounters a young woman who has been exploited by a wealthy merchant. Taking advantage of his wealth, he seduces this poor young woman to steal a secret method to produce oil from her lover, an idealistic philosopher dreaming about a revolution for the poor and the weak agonized by the feudalistic social system in 19th-century Japan. Her lover, a scientist, had discovered a formula for producing oil and was trying to let poor people produce and sell it to the wealthy merchants for lighting houses and streets, believing that he could thus save people from misery and poverty. However, the young woman was convinced by a cunning wealthy merchant to give him much more money by selling this secret formula to the merchant directly without going through the hands of poor people, and stole it from her lover and gave it to the merchant. But this wealthy man eventually monopolized the formula and the poor people whom her lover had tried so hard to help would not get any benefit from it. After having learned this and trying to provoke a rebellion against the government and the wealthy merchants behind the government to set poor people free from them, the scientist was captured and executed by the authorities. Having realized her own fatal fallacy, the young woman tried to avenge the merchant, but in vain. Our hero, having heard her story, tried to help her. There is another swordmaster who is her lover’s friend and colleague, and is trying to avenge him. He and his friends take a more dramatic way for revenge and they eventually blow up the merchant’s house using oil. The explosion inevitably causes a big fire and puts all the city into a turmoil. Our hero Kyoshiro does not like this and in the last scene of the film, the two swordmasters confront each other in a sword fight, both using the same tactics. After a long and thrilling fight, Kyoshiro narrowly wins this battle. Though Kyoshiro and the other swordmaster named ‘Aizen’ stood on the same side against the wealthy merchant, he could not allow this group of revolutionaries to destroy ordinary citizens’ lives through

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their terrorist attack. Kyosiro thus occasionally cannot help revealing his sympathy for the weak and the poor to be sacrificed for the violence evoked by anybody, in spite of his appearance of indifference, which distinguishes him from Meursault and gives him an irresistible charm. The story is very enlightening for people who are learning about the history of Japan, in particular the ending story of the Edo period, since it was true that a group of idealistic philosophers in Osaka failed in a coup d’etat against the government in 1837. At the same time, in the 1960s when the film was produced, college students’ political activities reached their peak and they condemned the government for protecting rich people’s interest and ignoring or sacrificing the interests of the poor. In particular, the whole Japanese political system at the time served the national interests of the US alone, as its subordinate country under the so-called US-Japan security alliance regime and did not work for the interest of the Japanese people. The plot of the film also reminds us of another background factor. As a matter of fact, Kyoshiro was one of the most prominent figures who enchanted young people working in the political movement at the time. His nihilistic appearance and irresistible sympathy for the poor and the weak, and above all his hatred and contempt for the authorities and wealthy people supporting the regime in the 1960s, have continued to be a symbol of their glorious adolescence. The actor Raizo Ichikawa spoke Japanese very articulately, though the language adopted was a bit classical, I would recommend that foreigners learning Japanese see this series of Kyoshiro films. You will be impressed not only by the excellent swordsmanship but also by the beautiful Japanese. More importantly, if you are interested in the contemporary history of Japan, you will learn about an invaluable aspect of this wonderland’s political inconsistencies of the postwar period, which still puzzles us Japanese even now. Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

BOOK REVIEW

“Love with a Western Woman” by Caroline Pover REVIEWED BY NADIA SOBEHART

t was with a cautious eye that I approached Ms. Pover’s book: Love with a Western woman: A guide for Japanese men. As my own memories of love’s conquers and defeats in rural Japan fueled both curiosity and resentment toward the book’s topic, I overcame my reservations and dove straight in. From the first line in chapter one — “First things first, my Japanese male friends — you need to improve your image” — I realized subtlety wouldn’t be an attribute. Any expectation of embellished, flirty prose was instantly pushed aside by the strength of double punctuation: ?! Pover, it seems, doesn’t dawdle with her message. Pover’s book is not just a how-to guide but also a what NOT-to-do tutorial for Japanese men interested in foreign women. From the Top Ten Ways to Be More Attractive to the date-ending kiss, Pover leaves no subject untouched. The label “Warning: Adult Content” only spiked my curiosity. Little did I know that the step-bystep guide to arousing a woman would transform me into a blushing schoolgirl. Pover writes honestly and without excuses, which is sure to have any male reader delving deeply into her guidance and believing every last word. Witty and bitingly frank, Ms. Pover

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comes across as a reliable friend with the wisdom of a protective older sister. Each chapter provides summary, anecdotes, and advice to the targeted male reader. The amount of information may even intimidate the aforementioned male. If Western women are complex enough to require a handbook, then where to take a woman on a first date is the least of men’s concerns. Yet hope remains. While some ideas, such as limiting work activities, may seem dauntingly impossible, there are enough feasible suggestions to aid the quizzical Japanese male in the pursuit of the mesmerizing Western female. Undoubtedly, Love with a Western woman is a fresh approach to helping men. Furthermore, it is insightful for women; it not only embraces a woman’s freedom within relationships but also insists she is right! Yet must a man always let a foreign woman’s cultural needs precede his? Pover’s perspective is undoubtedly unique in the realm of dating advice, which frequently encourages men to flaunt their manliness instead of adapt to women’s needs. Love with a Western woman actu-

Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

ally serves as an essential guide for any man who values respect and cultural understanding in his pursuit of a relationship. The paperback has the power to influence and stimulate thought, and more obviously, to entertain. Key to entertaining are the quotations, which are insightful, heartwarming, and, occasionally, shocking. I couldn’t help but audibly laugh as I read. To someone who has never lived in Japan, many references may make little sense; however, to the targeted audience, several quotes are sure to draw agreement, laughable acceptance, or perhaps even shame. Love with a Western woman isn’t meant for me. It’s about men dating women — or trying to. And if these men are intimidated by believing the commanding narrative voice represents that of the quintessential Western woman, then this is an indispensable guide to capturing the strongest lioness and making the rest of us appear to be mere house cats. In essence, they’ll be thoroughly prepared to conquer love. And us? We’ll just appreciate the humorous anecdotes and sympathize.

Toyota promises hybrid improvements E

ver since the introduction of the Prius in the year 2000, Toyota has been at the forefront of hybrid engine technology. The company has sold more than 5 million Toyota and Lexus hybrids worldwide. The environmental effect has been an estimated 34 million ton reduction in CO2 — the equivalent of taking 4.8 million vehicles off the road. During the next two years, Toyota plans to introduce 15 new or redesigned hybrid vehicles globally. These new hybrid powertrains will deliver significantly improved fuel economy in a more compact package that is lighter in weight and lower in cost. Toyota says the performance of this new generation of powertrains will reflect significant advances in battery, electric motor and gas engine technologies that are part of Toyota’s larger strategy towards the electrification of the automobile through hybrid, battery electric and fuel cell technologies. The next Prius will carry improved batteries with higher energy density – the relationship between the battery’s output and dimensions. Toyota has stepped up its research, development and production capacity of both

nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion and will use these technologies where appropriate in its expanding focus on electrification of the automobile. Toyota has also ramped up development on new battery technologies like solid state and lithium air, as well as devoting resources focused on chemistries beyond lithium, such as magnesium. The next Prius will also feature electric motors that will be smaller in size. The current Prius motors have four times the power density of the first model and Toyota promises “the next will be even higher.” In addition, the thermal efficiency of the gasoline engine in the current Prius is 38.5 percent. The next-generation will boost that level to more than 40 percent – a world best. The next Prius will also utilize Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), featuring a lower center of gravity and increased structural rigidity, which will contribute to greatly improved driving dynamics. Improved aerodynamics will contribute to an all-new exterior design. Toyota also promises a roomier interior and significant refinements in design, layout and ease of operation.

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Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

INTERVIEW

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Affairs Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

H.E. Mr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Otaibi, Ambassador of Kuwait to Japan

INTERVIEW

Kuwait’s Helping Hand How a generous donation helped avoid an energy crisis INTERVIEWED BY NICLAS ERICSSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Describe the history of your country’s relations with Japan. “Relations between Kuwait and Japan go back many years. In 2011 we celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Japan was one of the very first countries to recognize the independence of Kuwait, only six months after it was declared, on December 8, 1961. In terms of trade, Japan has long been a very important partner. After oil exploration in Kuwait began more than 50 years ago, Japan became the very first customer and has since then also become the biggest buyer of oil. Every day, around 20 percent of our total production is shipped to Japan.” “Politically, Japan and Kuwait has enjoyed a very stable relationship. A proof of the friendship between our nations is the support that Japan extended to Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. Japan participated in the international effort to liberate our country. Of course, not militarily – the constitution prohibits this - but financially by donating more than 13 billion dollars. Even today, no Kuwaiti will forget the support we received from Japan during this crisis.” “The Tohoku disaster really gave the Kuwaiti people a chance to show its gratitude and to do the same back. That is why, from the very first day

after the disaster, private citizens and organizations started collecting donations to alleviate the suffering of the people here.” The loss of nuclear power around Japan, as well as the destruction of oil depots due to the tsunami meant that Japan was thrown into a severe energy crisis. Without energy Japan’s industries couldn’t function, which would mean Japan would also be dealt an economical blow. In this time of need, Kuwait came to the rescue. “His Highness the Emir of Kuwait had instructed the government to do their utmost effort to support the Japanese people. The number one resource in Kuwait is oil, and at that time this was what Japan was in desperate need of. The decision was made to donate 5,000,000 barrels of crude, the equivalent of Kuwait’s entire production for two days, to the government of Japan.” “I’m sure this kind of support between nations increases the understanding of the suffering of others. I think it gave people in Japan hope and brought them closer to the people of Kuwait. The relationship between Kuwait and Japan is now stronger than ever before.”

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“First of all I have to say one thing. Kuwait is a major oil producer and member of OPEC. Our policy is to keep the oil market in a stable state by preventing too strong price fluctuations. By supplying this donation in just the right time, we were able to keep the market in good shape, which is good for both consumers and the sellers.” The donation was announced on April 27, 2011. When did the oil arrive to Japan? “A shipment like this needs special arrangements. It’s a huge amount of oil. The problem for the Japanese government was, and is, that they don’t own any refineries – they are all run by private companies. So it was necessary for Japanese oil companies to enter into negotiations with the government and work out how the oil should be distributed. It took some time to finalize the details, but in October 2011 we were allowed to deliver the oil to Japan. The government then proceeded to divide the donation between the three most heavily affected prefectures — Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate.” Have you yourself visited the disaster area? “Yes, in May — two months after the disaster — I went to some of the worsteffected areas, bringing relief supplies with me. I will never forget that visit, Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

AMBASSADEUR MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

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Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

AMBASSADEURINTERVIEW MAGAZINE

because what we saw was beyond all imagination. The devastation was simply unbelievable. What left the strongest impression, however, was not the destruction but rather how the Japanese people dealt with it. I’m sure that if this disaster had happened in any other country the reactions would be very different from that of the Japanese people. They showed responsibility and discipline, which in turn helped the government handle the crisis more efficiently. I really admire the Japanese for this – the whole world does.” In your view, how did the Japanese government handle the crisis? “I’m not in a position to judge the Japanese government - a national disaster of this scale would be difficult to handle for any country. At the end of the day the government managed to keep the country going without any collapse in the economy or any breakdown on the political side. Life outside

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the immediate disaster area has more or less returned to normal. Ultimately, it will be up to the Japanese people to decide whether or not the Kan government did a good or bad job.” What do you think will be Japan’s biggest challenge in the coming years? “Not only Japan but the whole world is facing big challenges. Nations are interconnected so if one suffers, then all suffer. That is why the need for constructive cooperation between coubtries today is more important than ever before. The Japanese government now needs to prove to its own people and to the world that its nuclear policy is safe. People are looking closely. When the decision to shut down all of Japan’s nuclear reactors was made, it actually gave a negative impact. Maybe there’s something wrong? For a country that is exporting it’s nuclear power plant expertise, it’s obviously devastating.” Affairs Magazine • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

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