November 2007

Winds of Change

Connecting the East

Japan has a very close relationship with neighboring Asian nations not just in terms of geography but also politics and economics. The year 2007 marked the thirtieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Fukuda Doctrine, which, along with the Japan-U.S. alliance, has become a keystone in Japan's diplomacy. The year also marks the fortieth year since the foundation of ASEAN. Our Cover Story this month reports on Japan's relationship with the rest of Asia, with special attention to ties between ASEAN and Japan.

Changing Asia

Professor Takashi Shiraishi, vice president of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, shares his views on international relations in the ASEAN and broader Asian region today, and on Japan's role in it.

A Region Resurgent

The East Asian economy is widely reported to be enjoying a resurgence. Akira Kojima, chairman of the Japan Center for Economic Research (JCER), comments on the nature of the regional revival and the "global economic power shift from West to East."

Networking Asian Science

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has commissioned the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to carry out the "Strategic Program for Building an Asian Science and Technology Community," stepping up the efforts of the JSPS to build a scientific network among Asian countries by coordinating international meetings and other activities.

Backing Business Abroad

There are many small to midsize companies that, having obtained funding from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have moved into other countries and gone on to establish win-win relationships with their chosen locality. The majority of such companies are based in Asia…

Asia's Kitchen

Japan's rate of food self-sufficiency is unusually low among advanced industrial nations. Professor Shinichi Shogenji examines the state of Japanese agriculture and food culture today from a historical, global, and in particular Asian perspective.

Around ASEAN in Fifty Days

The 34th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) was held in fall this year, bringing hundreds more young people from Japan and ASEAN countries together as efforts continue at all levels to strengthen ties among countries in the region.

The Nuclear Renaissance

Many countries around the world are turning with increased interest to the benefits of nuclear power. Taizo Takahashi, director of the Nuclear Energy Policy Division at METI, outlines Japan's policy pertaining to nuclear power, which the country has long adopted as its principal energy source, and details ways in which Japan is assisting in the global expansion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Forecasting the Future

The Earth Simulator, which is located on the premises of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) in Yokohama, was the world's fastest supercomputer when it became operational five years ago. Tetsuya Sato details the awesome predictive power of the machine, drawing on examples of some of the many projects to date.

Hymns from the Eco-village

In towns and cities across Japan, attempts are being made to bring about an energy revolution using homegrown environmental technologies as the driving force. Ryu Arakawa introduces three such initiatives.

Time and a Half

What should be the ultimate objective of the fight against global warming? Mitsutsune Yamaguchi comments.

Ruling the Waves

The imminent termination of analogue TV broadcasting in Japan will free up a raft of radio frequency bands. How will these valuable resources be distributed? Yoshio Utsumi, former secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, comments.

Sushi World Championships

Tony McNicol watches "Seven Sushi Samurai" battle it out in London to become sushi chef champion of the world.