Toichi SAKATA: We have developed our own brand, owing to borrowed technologies and our mentality

Less then ten months after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, caused by a devastating earthquake followed by tsunami (March 2011), experts believe the situation has stabilized and that there will be no further radiation leaks.

Japan’s experience of dealing with disasters is truly unique. This country has repeatedly proved its ability to find a way out of the most complicated situations, settling them quickly and with the least possible damage to the national budget. Japan also offers the international community an invaluable experience of revising the modernization principles.

Apparently, Japan must now overcome the technological and economic consequences of the March 2011 disaster, and rebuild its international image. Japan will hardly tolerate being associated with another country that has contaminated waste to cope with. To this end, the Cabinet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan worked out the Program for Promotion of Understanding of Japan: Japan’s Progress for Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Ten media people, mostly from Europe (France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, etc.) will take part in it to learn about Japanese culture and lifestyle in the aftermath of the disaster in the northeast of Japan. These journalists will spend a week visiting Tokyo, Osaka, and Sendai (the latter being the closest to the quake epicenter), cultural centers in various prefectures. Apart from briefings with Japanese government and foreign ministry officials, they will have informal meetings with cultural figures and businessmen.

More on Japan’s effort to overcome the March 11 disaster, on the role media people can play, on today’s challenges, on what Japan can expect from this government’s program in the following exclusive interview with Toichi SAKATA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine.

The whole world held its breath watching Japan’s effort to overcome the consequences of the March 2011 devastating earthquake. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster Japan found itself faced up with problems similar to those we’ve had in Ukraine since Chornobyl. What phase of recovery is Japan in at the moment?

“First of all, I would like to thank the Ukrainian people and your government for the tangible aid you provided after the catastrophe in March 2011. Over the ten months since the disaster Japan has made big progress in stabilizing the situation. In mid-December 2011, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda declared that the Fukushima Power Plant was stable and that there was no threat of further radiation leaks. Now the key issue for Japan is to overcome the consequences of that disaster in and around the nuclear power plant.”

What lesson should Japan and the world learn from this disaster?

“I believe the might of the elements defies human imagining. The scope is mind-boggling. All this could not have been predicted using our scientific and technological means. Therefore, Japanese society, the rest of the world should pay more attention to the environment.

“After the quake and tsunami, the nuclear power plant’s emergency system responded as programmed, shutting down the power units, but the tsunami cut off electricity, thus deactivating the entire system, causing a serious breakdown. There is only one inference: you must never underestimate the power of the elements.

“It is further necessary to assess the performance of the operators; whether or not they did their best in terms of technology and management to prevent that disaster. There is a public discussion underway in Japan, focusing on the level of efficiency at Fukushima. We must find answers to our questions as soon as possible, so we can show the world how best to cope with nuclear power engineering problems.

“Some 100,000 persons were evacuated from the contaminated areas at first. I have my doubts about the efficiency of the evacuation plan. I think evacuation drills should be practiced on a regular basis, so that, in case of emergency, the populace could be quickly removed from the affected area. It is also necessary to keep monitoring the physical condition of the residents in evacuation shelters and in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant. Fortunately, there are no casualties in result of the disaster at NPP. This is proof that the rescue measures were taken on time and effectively.”

Printed media apparently mean a lot to Japanese society, as both a source of information and unifying factor. What about journalism in the aftermath of the March 2011 disaster?

“The Japanese press is habitually critical of the government. I believe that was why our journalists tried to outsmart each other providing breaking news about what was happening in Fukushima, radiation level in the adjacent areas, what measures were being taken by authorities, and so on.

“Their main task at the time was to publish facts and figures pertaining to the disaster, the sooner the better, so their readers could have reliable data and analyze it individually, so they could ponder their prospects. The Fukushima nuclear disaster triggered a pitched debate in the Japanese media, focusing on whether those ‘upstairs’ had provided quick and accurate information concerning the nuclear breakdown. This made quite an impact on the Japanese government, so that our journalists started receiving up-to-date information about the Fukushima situation more quickly and more precisely. In this sense the Japanese mass media have played an important role in the overcoming of the consequences of the disaster.”

Your dailies have a world record circulation rate, boasting over a million copies per issue. How does this quantity correspond to quality? How can the editors keep so many readers trusting what they read?

“I know several leading newspaper companies, each printing seven to eight million copies a day. Of course, in terms of numbers, Japan is the world’s printed media leader. All these companies also assume a great deal of responsibility, precisely because of their influence on the minds of the people. A journalist must provide accurate, unequivocal information, to help his/her country move quickly and in the right direction.”

Larysa Ivshyna, the editor in chief of Den/The Day, made a trip to Japan and returned, offering Ukraine the success formula of your country: identity plus modernization. How did the Japanese succeed in combining tradition, cultural foundations, history with modern processes and high technologies?

“You may have noticed a picture on the wall in my office. This is Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto city. We can see spirit of Japanese people in this picture. This wooden temple was built in the early 17th century, but the architectural tradition has been adopted by the contemporary Japanese generation. Preserving construction technologies and architectural traditions is the same as preserving the national mentality, from The Days of yore until the present day. The key features of our mentality are tolerance, coordination, industriousness, and so on — things germane to the samurai spirit. These features helped the Japanese economy achieve its quick progress after the defeat in the World War II. Japan borrowed some technologies from Europe and the United States, then added its own values to each such element, developing its own special brand. Japanese continue to preserve and cultivate the specifics of ancestral tradition.”

What are the main challenges for Japan and the rest of the world? Any recipes?

“Problems in terms of economy, energy, environment — ones that affect any country, anywhere — have become issues topping the world agenda. Solving them requires political decisions. These are the challenges that face the entire world. Under the circumstances, it is important for each country to keep the door open for dialog, so mutual interests can be realized.

“At the moment, overcoming the March 2011 disaster remains the highest priority for Japan. My government adopted three resolutions on additional budget appropriations amounting to 18,000 billion yen (some 230 billion dollars). The financial crisis in Europe is telling on Japan and the rest of the world, so it is important to raise the economic level of each country in 2012. Japan’s economic growth rate is expected to show 2.2 percent the next fiscal year (starting in April). Small percentage, compared to that in other developing countries, but significant [all things considered]. I believe that this prognosis will come true. Public debt is another pressing issue, along with the long-term one of ageing. Japan registers a lowering birth and an increasing retirement age rate. This spells larger social security budget appropriations, heavier company and individual income taxes. Increasing the yen’s exchange rate looks problematic. By the way, Japan is known for both high technologies and its experience of overcoming domestic development problems.”

On the crest wave of Japanese cultural popularity, your cuisine, interior design, and martial arts have long become traditional penchants for Europe, particularly for Ukraine. What elements of Ukrainian culture and lifestyle would you describe as having any significance for Japan?

“Cultural exchanges must be upheld between our countries, along with a more active business and technological collaboration, so that more Japanese business people visit Ukraine, so that larger investments are made in your economy, so that more Ukrainian tourists visit Japan. Given this impetus, such exchanges would allow Japanese to learn more about Ukraine and realize its attractiveness. This has a direct bearing on me as ambassador, and I will try to do my best to boost such exchanges.”

You were posted to Ukraine not so long ago. What about you first impressions?

“I arrived in Ukraine three months ago and became immediately aware of a similarity between your country and Japan. There are lots of traditional architectural sites preserved in Kyiv while many Ukrainians are trying to modernize their country, borrowing from European experiences. Japan took a similar step at one time. I believe that Ukraine will catch up with the developed European countries before long. Another feature common to Japanese and Ukrainians is an attentive and respectful attitude to their close and dear ones. In time of trouble, Ukrainians tend to rally to offer a helping hand and accord welcome.”

The United States, Europe, and Russia have voiced their attitude to the Ukrainian domestic political situation. Japan has made no political statements. How would you describe Ukrainian politics at the moment?

“Japan and Ukraine signed a joint statement last January, during President Viktor Yanukovych’s visit. It reads that both parties will adhere to the principles of democracy for the sake of effective promotion of bilateral relationships. I hope that the Ukrainian government will adhere to these principles. No reform can be made without the electorate trusting those elected to high posts. Political stability is a must, otherwise there will be no economic progress.”

What does Japan expect from its “Program for Promotion of Understanding of Japan: Japan’s Progress for Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake?”

“Its key objective is to let journalists learn more about what is actually happening in Japan and then tell their readers the truth.”

What is the message Japan wishes to send to the international community?

“The March 2011 nuclear disaster caused harmful discharges that contaminated territories adjacent to the nuclear power plant. This, in turn, caused international concern over the environmental situation in Japan. My government is struggling to overcome this crisis. At present, there are no radiation leak risks. Last year, the tourist influx showed a decline in Japan; this disaster also had a negative effect on business cooperation. The situation is stabilizing, so my government would wish Japan’s contacts with the rest of the world to stabilize, as well, so there would be no misunderstanding [radiation] safety in Japan. I hope that this program will help other countries learn the truth about what’s actually happening in Japan.”