APRIL 2013

Fostering Growth in Africa CONTENTS

4 PRIME MINISTER’S DIARY

Ceremony to Commemorate the Second Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake/TPP Negotiations Brief reviews of two of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent addresses. COURTESY OF CABINET SECRETARIAT, OF CABINETCOURTESY SECRETARIAT, CABINET PUBRIC OFFICE RELATIONS

5 COVER STORY Fostering Growth F o s t e r i n g in Africa gr o w t h i n AFr i c A In this month’s Cover Story we introduce some of the activities being undertaken by Japan to assist in Africa’s growth, beginning with a preview of the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) and an interview Front cover: Some of the variety with TICAD V Ambassador Makoto Ito. of ways in which the Japanese people profiled in this month’s issue are interacting with Africa

8 Open for Business 18 Support for the Future of South Sudan Profiling some of the many African and Japanese individuals who have been contributing to economic Interviews with two high- growth in Africa through private enterprise. ranking officers of the JSDF who have been dispatched 14 Giving Children a to the world’s newest

Better Chance country, South Sudan. OF MINISTRYCOURTESY OF DEFENSE

In this feature we look at a campaign led by a Japa- 20 Join with Us as nese private company to improve sanitation in Partners Uganda via the installation in schools, clinics and other places of hand-washing facilities, and at the Zimbabwe Ambassador to Japan and Dean of the well-known continent-wide project led by the Japan African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) His Excellency International Cooperation Agency to strengthen ­Stuart Comberbach shares his thoughts on Japan- math and science education. Africa relations today.

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 2 EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY THE CABINET OFFICE, GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN READERS PLEASE NOTE The views expressed in this magazine by the interviewees or contributors do not necessarily represent the views The next issue of Highlighting JAPAN of the Cabinet Office or the government. will be the June issue. No article or any part thereof may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through a form available at www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/mailform/inquiry.html

SERIES

22 STUDENTS’ CORNER 28 47 PREFECTURES: FROM A TO Y

Ways of Japan: Fukuoka/Fukushima Hideyo Noguchi

Learn about the famous Japanese bacteriologist Dr. Hideyo Noguchi and answer our quiz! SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/AFLO SCIENCE PHOTO Fukushima 24 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Fukuoka ADLib® system to Speed Generation of Therapeutic Antibodies A Japanese bio-venture company has developed a new technique for quickly producing large quantities Continuing this series introducing places or things of of human antibodies from a cultured cell line de- interest in each of Japan’s forty-seven prefectures, rived from chickens. Rob Gilhooly visits the Hakata, Fukuoka flagship store of perhaps Japan’s best known ramen noodles 26 JAPANESE ABROAD restaurant, Ippudo, and one of Fukushima’s oldest sake producers, Suehiro Sake Brewery in Aizu- On Broadway wakamatsu. Introducing influential Japanese theater, film and special event producer Kumiko Yoshii. TSUYOSHI TOYA TSUYOSHI ROB GILHOOLY

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 3 PRIME MINISTER’S DIARY

Ceremony to from every part of our nation. Japan also received a Commemorate the tremendous amount of cordial and encouraging Second Anniversary assistance from various countries and regions of the Great East around the world, from which we have dignitaries Japan Earthquake attending today. I would like to express our grati- tude once again.”

TPP Negotiations

On March 15, 2013, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office, following the decision to participate in the TPP negotiations. The Prime Minister said: “The significance of the TPP is not limited to the BOTH PHOTOS COURTESY OF CABINET SECRETARIAT, CABINET PUBRIC OFFICE RELATIONS OF CABINET COURTESY SECRETARIAT, PHOTOS BOTH Prime Minister Abe delivers his address at the Ceremony to economic impact on our country. Japan is creating a Commemorate the Second Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. new economic zone with our ally, the United States. Other countries who share the universal values of On March 11, 2013, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe freedom, democracy, basic human rights, and the attended the Ceremony to Commemorate the Sec- rule of law are joining. I firmly believe that creating ond Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earth- new rules in the Asia-Pacific region with these quake held in Tokyo in the presence of Their Maj- countries is not only in Japan’s national interests, esties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. but also certain to bring prosperity to the world. The Prime Minister delivered an address Furthermore, I have no doubt that deepening as follows: economic interdependence with these countries in a “Today I pledge firmly that we will achieve common economic order will significantly contrib- reconstruction of the disaster areas and livelihood ute to the security of our country and also to the rehabilitation for disaster victims at as early a time stability of the Asia-Pacific region.” as possible by investing all the energy we can muster and by considering the sensitivities of the disaster victims, while also moving forward on creating a nation with a high degree of resilience to disasters all throughout the country, in keeping with the les- sons learned through this disaster. In this earthquake disaster, the power of helping one another was demonstrated at a grand scale. This was of course true with the efforts of the local people and of relevant organizations, but it was also seen in the great many hands of assistance extended Prime Minister Abe speaks at a press conference on March 15.

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 4 COVER STORY

Fostering Growth in Africa OF SARAYA COURTESY

The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) is a global platform that brings together stakeholders with an interest in African develop- ment, not only from Japan and Africa but from around the world, as well as inter- national organizations, donor countries, private sectors, NGOs, and others, to engage in dialogue on issues relating to Africa, such as economic development, poverty, and conflict. The 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Devel- opment (TICAD V) will be held from June 1-3, 2013 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Pre- fecture, jointly sponsored by the Japanese government, African Union Commis- sion, the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank. This month’s Cover Story introduces some of the activities being undertaken by Japan to assist in Africa’s growth.

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 5 COURTESY OF ONE PLANETCOURTESY OF CAFÉ; COURTESY ONE PLANET OF SARAYA CAFÉ; COURTESY

eld once every five years, 2013 marks wide-ranging, and includes infrastructure, educa- the twentieth year since the first Tokyo tion, public health, and agriculture.” H International Conference on African The international reputation of TICAD grows Development (TICAD) in 1993. Makoto Ito, the each time the event is held. ambassador for TICAD V, looks back at the interna- TICAD IV, held in 2008, was attended by some tional situation when the first Conference was held. 3,000 participants from 51 African countries (includ- “In the early 1990s, after the end of the Cold War, ing 41 heads of state and top-level dignitaries), 62 the attention of the international community was international organizations, over 30 private corpora- drawn to the former Soviet Union and Eastern tions and civil society organizations, and 23 donor Europe, which were democratizing, so interest in countries, making it one of the largest international Africa had faded. Japan held TICAD to stem this meetings ever held in Japan. trend, with the aim of raising international attention Africa has witnessed enormous growth in recent to Africa, having the global community join with the years, averaging 5.8% per year. An abundance of nat- African nations to think about the issues facing ural resources, including oil, natural gas, and rare Africa, and take concrete action to resolve these metals, and an increase in population that is expected issues. As well as holding TICAD, for many years to overtake that of China in the mid-2020s indicate Japan has provided official development assistance that Africa is set to grow even further. However, it (ODA) and private investment to support the eco- continues to be burdened with the severe challenges nomic and social development of Africa. This area is of poverty, infectious disease, and conflict. “The diverse challenges confronting Africa, such as the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals or the eradication of terrorism, are the con- cern not only of Africa but of the entire world,” says Ambassador Ito. “TICAD’s role is to create a global link between knowledge, funds, and technology to surmount Africa’s negative aspects and further develop its positive aspects.”

African Ownership, International Partnership TICAD’s basic philosophy is African “ownership” and international “partnership,” including Japan. “Ownership” is the notion that African development MASATOSHI SAKAMOTO MASATOSHI Ambassador for TICAD V Makoto Ito is not something that is undertaken by donor coun-

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 6 COURTESY OF JICA; COURTESY OF ONE PLANET COURTESY OF MOFA CAFÉ; COURTESY OF MINISTRY OF DEFENSE is highly appreciatedis highly by nations African the too.” follow-upand of kind this includesprocess TICAD Ito. “Referred to as the ‘TICAD Process,’ the ongoing Ambassador TICAD,”says at made we pledges the meeting. the at announced Plan Action the in indicated health, public and education,agriculture, infrastructure, as such developmentsectors in initiativesfrom results 2012, and has fulfilled this pledge. It has also achieved double its ODA and private investment for Africa by IV,TICADTICAD.At to at Japan pledged adopted goals the of respect in made progress the ascertain Follow-upterial Meeting hasheld been each year, to Minis - TICAD the initiatives, specific ofmentation imple- of state the monitor to IV TICAD at duced self-reliant efforts. own efforts. International partnership supports such its through itself Africa by out carried is that thing tries or international organizations, but rather some- “Follow-up is vital to ensure that we stick firmly to As such, based on the follow-up mechanism intro- nomic growth.” - eco of benefits the share can people more which on. Discussion will be aimed at building a society in so and legislatureresources, human infrastructure, ment that can attract private investment, in terms of environ- investment an building about go should Africa how be will therefore V TICAD at cussed says economy,” dis- be African to theme important “OneIto. Ambassador the of growth erating having it its set own goals. as such Africa, by ownership strengthen further to all is andaim The prepared. be will participants V TICAD organizations, international the Africa, bility.”involvingPlanJapan,Action the addition, In “Inclusive and Resilient Society,” and “Peace and Sta- on the themes of “Robust and Sustainable Economy,” held be will V TICAD at debates Africa” Dynamic “Private investment must play a central role accel- More a with Hand in “Hand of theme the Under participants from 51Africancountries. Prefecture in2008wasattended bysome3,000 TICAD IV, heldinYokohama, Kanagawa Fostering Growth in Highlighting JAPAN APRIL2013 Africa 7 COURTESY OF ONE PLANETCOURTESY CAFÉ YOSHIFUSA HASHIZUME TADASHI AIZAWA TADASHI Open for Business

The expansion of industries and the increase in domestic demand have been moving ahead in Africa thanks to its wealth of natural resources. In recent years, the region has attracted international attention due to its stable economic development. Direct investments in Africa from overseas have also been increasing, giving a boost to economic growth. Toshio Matsubara and Osamu Sawaji of the Japan Journal profile some of the African and Japanese individuals who have been contributing to Africa’s economy through business.

Promoting Recycling

ahfkenn Associates is located in an indus- ing Nigerians, Ghanaians, and Japanese are silently trial park in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, dismantling engines and sorting electric wire. N which is adjacent to Tokyo. Dismantled A huge machine installed in a corner of the factory vehicles, engines, and scrap electric wire are piled up makes copper from scrap electric wire. The particles in the company’s recycling factory. Employees includ- look like sand as they pour smoothly into a drum.

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 8 Fostering Growth in Africa

“About three drum cans are filled with copper every day,” says Kennedy Fintan Nnaji, the president of Nahfkenn Associates. “The copper that is recycled here is used for industrial purposes.” Nnaji came to Japan from Nigeria in 1992. His brothers and cousins lived in the United States at the time, but Nnaji was interested in living in a non- English-speaking country. The country he chose was Japan, an economic giant in Asia. After he arrived in Japan, he attended a Japanese language school and worked part-time for a toy manufacturing company, where he acquired skills in operating various machine tools. He also learned Japanese calligraphy

to help him remember the Japanese characters and AIZAWA TADASHI Nahfkenn Associates President Kennedy Fintan Nnaji attended a computer school, acquiring knowledge alongside a drum filled with recycled copper. eagerly. He founded Nahfkenn Associates in 2000 and established an office in Tokyo. Initially, the com- sions, to customers in Nigeria, but also exports these pany was involved in interpreting and translation. parts to neighboring countries. He was involved in interpreting and translation “I believe that the recycling business is indispens- related to import and export, which led him to able in every country. Without the recycling busi- launch an export business. His company’s main busi- ness, countries become polluted. Japan is clean ness was purchasing used automobile parts and used because vehicles, cans, food, and a variety of other home electronics and exporting them to countries in goods are recycled here,” says Nnaji. “In Nigeria, a Africa and other regions. lot of recyclable goods are disposed of. I want to The export business went well. After the Automo- contribute to Nigeria one day by using Japan’s recy- bile Recycling Act came into force in Japan in 2005, cling technologies.” resulting in stricter regulations to encourage the In 2010, Nnaji established an incorporated non- recycling of automobiles, Nnaji established a recy- profit organization called Imo State Union Japan cling factory in Yashio and launched a vehicle dis- together with people from Imo State of Nigeria liv- mantling business. ing in Japan. The organization provides livelihood “I thought that the introduction of new rules support to Nigerians living in Japan and undertakes would lead to the generation of new businesses activities for introducing Nigerian culture and tradi- related to the rules,” says Nnaji. “I was also handling tions to Japanese people. In addition, Nnaji fre- automotive parts, so I viewed it as an opportunity to quently receives requests to give interviews to the expand our business.” press and hold lectures as a Nigerian entrepreneur. He also began producing and selling copper by “I have never been discriminated against in Japan purchasing a machine for separating copper from because I am a foreigner. I have been very lucky scrap electric wire, including a huge amount of wire because I have met a lot of nice people. I want to say harnesses (electric wire for vehicles) generated in ‘thank you’ to the Japanese people,” says Nnaji. the dismantling of vehicles. He founded another “There are a lot of outstanding people in Nigeria. I company in Nigeria, employing local people. The hope that more students from Nigeria will come and company not only sells used automotive parts study in Japan, and that they will work successfully exported from Japan, such as engines and suspen- as the next-generation leaders one day.”

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 9 Protecting Nature and Creating Employment with Banana Paper

ananas are a global food. They are grown One Planet Café is managed by Satoko Ekberg in around 125 countries, and their annual (Japanese) and her husband Peo Ekberg (Swedish), B production amounts to around 100 mil- and Billy Nkhoma (Zambian). The Ekbergs have lion tons. However, it is not widely known that paper been involved in consulting, writing, lecturing, and is made from bananas in some banana-producing other activities related to the environment for many countries. The fiber taken from banana canes is the years in Japan. They were motivated to start pro- raw material of high-quality paper. ducing banana paper when they visited Zambia to One Planet Café, a stock company based in Tokyo, implement a plan to construct elementary schools strives to protect Africa’s environment and create in Africa. employment in the region with this banana paper. “As we visited schools and talked with the teachers The banana paper produced and sold by One Planet and parents, we became aware of the reality that even Café is made from bananas grown without pesti- if schools are constructed, children will not attend cides in Zambia, a landlocked country located in them if their parents do not fully understand the southern Africa. importance of education or have jobs,” says Satoko Ekberg. “So we decided to start by cre- ating a place where adults learn the importance of education and acquire skills for getting jobs.” In 2007, the Ekbergs established an educational institute for adults, One Planet Café Zambia, in Mfuwe village, together with people from the village. The village is located close to the South Luangwa National Park, which is one of the most biodiverse national parks in Africa. They initially held computer classes at the institute, because com- puter skills would increase people’s chances of being employed by compa- nies as clerical workers, for example. They also came up with the idea of pro- ducing banana paper as a method of creating employment while protecting the environment. In Zambia, bananas are grown as a common food, and there were many banana farms around Mfuwe village as well.

COURTESY OF ONE PLANETCOURTESY CAFÉ “The problems faced by the village, Women in Mfuwe village hang banana fibers, which will be made into high-quality banana paper. including poverty, a lack of education,

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 10 Fostering Growth in Africa

banana paper and studied how to produce it in Zam- bia. After trial and error, he succeeded in rubbing water off the canes by using treated wooden boards and producing the fiber by sun dying fibers. He taught this skill to women in Mfuwe village, and the task of producing the fiber became their job. The fiber thus produced is processed in Japan with “Washi (Japanese traditional paper) knowledge” and made into a high-quality banana paper called One Planet Paper®. Currently, eight Japanese companies have developed and sell products made of One Planet Paper®, including business cards, origami paper, notebooks, and wallpaper. The business of producing banana paper was soon in full swing, and seventeen women and men are now involved in its production. A fair salary enables them to solve basic poverty challenges, and their children now can attend school. Some of the com- pany’s sales proceeds are used to give classes in Eng- lish and mathematics to adults who have not had the chance to attend school. COURTESY OF ONE PLANETCOURTESY CAFÉ Banana trees near Mfuwe village “Based on the case example of Zambia as the model, our goal is to establish One Planet Cafés in forest destruction, and poaching of wild animals, are ten locations around the world in the coming ten all connected. It is because they don’t have jobs that years,” says Satoko Ekberg. “They may deal in fair they cannot send their children to school, and they trade products or function as a type of school. We become involved in poaching. Or they cut down trees would like to contribute to the sustainable develop- because they cannot afford to buy fuel,” says Peo ment of Africa and the world through a variety of Ekberg. “We thought that if they obtained an income fair businesses.” by producing banana paper, they would no longer need to cut down trees or engage in poaching.” Toshio Matsubara is a freelance writer. Banana canes, which are the raw material of banana paper, are cut down after the bananas are harvested in order to grow new bunches of bananas. They would ordinarily simply be disposed of after being cut down. They are sustainable resources because they regrow within just one year after being cut down. In 2011, a project with the aim of producing banana paper made in Zambia was launched with the cooperation of a printing firm in Hokkaido, which made business cards using banana paper from YOSHIFUSA HASHIZUME Satoko Ekberg (right) and her husband Peo Ekberg at their Bangladesh. Peo Ekberg learned how to produce office in Tokyo

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 11 Flowering Trade

n Kenya, horticulture is a major export indus- NGO that supports the construction of primary try, being the third largest foreign currency schools. While there, she undertook activities in I earning industry following tourism and tea. rural areas on weekdays and returned to Nairobi on Above all, fresh flower exports are growing rapidly. weekends. One day, some roses that were being sold Kenya is located at a high altitude and its climate fea- on a street happened to catch her eye. Hagiuda loves tures significant temperature differences between flowers and is licensed as a master of kado, the Japa- night and day, along with long daylight hours, mak- nese art of flower arrangement. However, she had ing it highly suited to growing roses. The roses grown never seen such roses before. in the abundant sunshine are very colorful, have “The gradations of red, yellow, and white were thick stems, and live for a long time. beautiful and there was a wide range of varieties. I Megumi Hagiuda, the representative of the com- was surprised, and doubted whether they were really pany Africa-flower, was attracted to the beauty of roses at all. They remained beautifully in bloom in Kenyan roses. She imports roses from Kenya to Japan my room two weeks after I had bought them, although and sells them mainly online. I wasn’t able to take sufficient care of them,” says As a student of international relations at an Amer- Hagiuda. “When I was about to return to Japan after ican college, Hagiuda participated in the Model spending six months in Kenya, I began to wonder United Nations held in New York, where she learned whether I could sell those beautiful roses in Japan.” how serious the problem of poverty in Africa was. Hagiuda decided to launch a business importing “I had a strong desire to visit Africa one day to flowers from Kenya. Due in part to the limited num- see the situation with my own eyes, talk with the ber of exporters and the problem of the minimum people in person, and think about what I could do,” number of lots, the current quantity of roses exported says Hagiuda. from Kenya to Japan is less than 1% of all the roses After graduating, Hagiuda returned to Japan and exported from Kenya. However, Hagiuda thought worked for a global pharmaceutical company for six that the creation of a large market in Japan would years. In 2011, she went to Kenya as a member of an help promote employment and resolve the problem of poverty in Kenya. Hagiuda was introduced to a rose farm by her acquaintance. Hagiuda concluded a contract for direct imports with the rose farm that employed a Kenyan and did not use child labor. The farm understood her enthusiasm and accepted orders for small lots of flowers of several hundred each. Hagiuda launched the online store “Africa-flower” in October 2012. - Cur rently, the company imports 500 to 1,000 flowers from Kenya every month and sells them in Japan. Her customers love the flowers’ bright colors and durability. YOSHIFUSA HASHIZUME Megumi Hagiuda with flowers from Kenya “We are still at the stage of collecting

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 12 Fostering Growth in Africa market data. I hope we can expand the sales channel gradually and contribute to increasing employment in Kenya as much as possible. We are planning to expand the sales channel to hotels, wedding centers, and other locations while focusing on Internet retailing,” says Hagiuda. “Flowers enrich people’s minds. I want to spread the beautiful roses of Kenya all over Japan and all over the world.” YOSHIFUSA HASHIZUME Toshio Matsubara is a freelance writer. A Kenyan rose

Border Crossing Made Simple

In Africa, people and goods cannot move around easily and setting the authorities of the ministries con- because infrastructure and transportation systems are cerned, including the police, and the establishment not fully developed. This lack of mobility is a drag on of domestic laws. Second, it supports the develop- the region’s economy. For example, a truck loaded with ment of infrastructure by helping with the construc- supplies may have to wait for several days or even tion of border posts and donating information equip- weeks before it is permitted to cross a border. ment and vehicles for border surveillance, for example. To improve this situation, the Japan International Finally, JICA also dispatches customs officials from Cooperation Agency (JICA) assists in the establish- Japan to the region to foster local human resources ment of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) at borders in such as customs officials and cleaning agents. Africa. Currently, at many borders in Africa, proce- In 2007, JICA began supporting the introduction of dures such as immigration examinations and customs an OSBP at Chirundu, where there is a border between clearance are conducted on both sides of the border Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa. It began when supplies are transported from one country to operating in 2009 as the first OSBP in Africa. It is said another. The system of OSBPs enables the officials of that the time taken to cross this border has been two countries sharing a border to complete the exam- reduced significantly thanks to the OSBP. inations and procedures, which used to be conducted In addition to the one at Chirundu, JICA is now sup- twice, jointly (simultaneously). JICA supports the porting the introduction of OSBPs at thirteen borders, introduction of OSBPs mainly in three fields. First, it mainly in East Africa, including one at Rusumo, between supports the conclusion of agreements between coun- Rwanda and Tanzania, and one at Namanga, between tries for securing the positions of customs officials Kenya and Tanzania. COURTESY OF JICACOURTESY The customs office at the Namanga border between Kenya and Tanzania

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 13 Giving Children a Better Pupils at an elementary school in Uganda wash their hands using simple hand- Chance washing facilities provided by Saraya.

Despite stable economic growth, Africa still faces serious social issues, including poverty, low levels of education, and poor sanitation. The children who shoulder the destiny of the region live in a harsh environment. In Africa, it is still not uncommon for children to lose their lives because they have no access to safe drinking water or sanitary facilities. Many children have no opportunity to find a stable job or escape from poverty because they are denied a high-quality education. Toshio Matsubara and the Japan Journal’s Osamu Sawaji highlight two projects being conducted by Japan to improve this situation. Improving Sanitation

n the 1950s, immediately after World War II, as 90 per 1,000 live births (according to FY2011 sta- Japan was ravaged by many infectious dis- tistics). The leading causes of death are diarrhea and I eases, such as dysentery. Saraya Co. in Osaka acute respiratory infection (pneumonia). The death Prefecture, founded in 1952 amid these conditions, rates for these diseases could be significantly reduced significantly helped to reduce the number of patients if people washed their hands with soap at appropri- contracting infections by becoming the first com- ate times. pany in Japan to develop and sell antibacterial liquid In 2010, Saraya and UNICEF launched the Wash a soaps for hand-washing. Since then, Saraya has Million Hands Project to promote hand hygiene and worked to improve sanitation in Japan by making save children’s lives. The project involves conducting available a wide-range of sanitation-related prod- an information campaign on hand hygiene, estab- ucts, including gargling solutions and alcohol hand lishing simple hand-washing facilities, and training sanitizers. The company is now harnessing the sani- volunteer staff to promote proper hand hygiene. As a tation expertise it has built up over more than half a result of the project, in the space of three years, more century to help people in Africa. than a million mothers throughout forty districts of The target of Saraya’s campaign is Uganda in East Uganda have learned about proper hand hygiene, Africa. Uganda’s under-five mortality rate is as high 1.2 million simple hand-washing facilities have been

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 14 BOTH PHOTOS COURTESY OF SARAYA Ugandan andJapanese staff ofSarayaEastAfrica. Saraya PresidentKazumasaMiyamoto (center)alongside because unsanitary are that hospitalsmany also are aresoapwater.ofinadequate withlack todue There hand sanitizers inUgandan hospitals. alcohol of diffusion the for research conducting by ness inUganda.” busi- a as sanitation expanding for potential mous have a high economic activity rate and there is enor people “Ugandan Miyamoto. says possible,” as far as principles market follow to is resources limited in Uganda, extending loans small mainly to farmers. AISUD NGO microfinance a runs Volunteers, who Cooperation Overseas Japan the of member former Kazumasa is Africa Sarayadentof East tion to Wash the aMillion Hands Project. The Presi- improvement in sanitation through business, in addi- sustainedUganda,achieving of objectivein the with access to improved people sanitation. more giving of aim the with districts, 107 cover to expanded was project the year, this From cholera.” of because school missing children fewer also are There hands. our washing started we when school teacher who said “Cases of cholera decreased elementary the by illustrated as diseases, reduce infectious helped has project The districts. forty the staff havebeentrained in 13,500villages throughout volunteer and tap), simple a fitting and water with tank container metal plastic or a filling (by installed In many Ugandan hospitals, rates of hand-washing With the support of JICA, Saraya East Africa began best “The way to pursue sustainable activitieswith In May 2011, Saraya established Saraya East Africa ­Miyamoto, a - Toshio Matsubara afreelance is writer. save as many lives as possible.” to hope we this, doing “By Miyamoto.holds,” says house- generaland include schools targetmarketto publichospitals.Wetomainly our expand then will helps create jobslocally. sanitizers in Uganda not only reduces costs, but also the Producing year. the of end the before Uganda in grown sugarcane from extracted high- ethanol purity using sanitizers hand alcohol high-quality producing start to plans and company sugar local hands their tize with alcohol the hand sanitizers.” and tell those accompanying hospital patients to sani- initiative the taken have nurses the more, is “What and they are now happy to use them,” says there were now no maternal deaths due to sepsis. sanitizers,hand beforeintroductionalcohol of sepsis four or fivecases of maternal deathsper month due to been had there whereas that, said also hospitals the number of children contracting diarrhea. The head of geted survey, inthe there was aclear reduction inthe tar hospitals the of staff nursing the to According apparent.became so doing of benefits the sanitizers, and after going the to toilet. before meals sanitizershandalcohol the withhands their sanitized always they that ensured then and them, use to how on guidance staff medical other public hospitals in Uganda, gave doctors, nurses and two to test a as Japan in made sanitizers hand hol as only expensive imported products are available. water.However, Ugandain are notused widelythey without even bacteria kill can they that advantage major the have sanitizers hand Alcohol sepsis. to many mothers die immediately aftergiving birth due hospital.Also, in while diarrhea contractto malaria with hospital to admitted children for uncommon havetherefore,not flushing toilets. do is, notIt they T bgn ih w itn t sl te sanitizers the sell to intend we with, begin “To a with alliance an formed has Africa East Saraya “Nurses say the alcohol hand sanitizers are fantastic Within six months of introducing the alcohol hand In its research, Saraya East Africa introduced - alco Fostering Growth in Highlighting JAPAN APRIL2013 ­Miyamoto. Africa 15 - Strengthening Math and Science Education

n the 1990s, Kenya set forth a national plan of lesson,” says Akiko Komori of JICA’s Human Devel- strengthening mathematics and science in opment Department. “One of the main objectives in I secondary education to promote industrial- starting SMASSE was to change these teacher-cen- ization and achieve sustainable growth. In order to tered lessons into student-centered lessons.” achieve this national goal, Kenya asked for support In mathematics and science lessons at the lower from the Japanese government, which had already secondary level in Japan, the emphasis is on experi- been lending teaching support to institutions of mentation to engage students and develop their abil- higher education in Kenya in the areas of science ity to think for themselves. Teachers also make efforts and technology and mathematics. In 1998, the Japan to create teaching materials that help their students International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the understand, and work with each other to improve Kenya Ministry of Education, Science and Technol- teaching methods. ogy launched the Strengthening of Mathematics and Using mathematics and science education in Japan Science in Secondary Education (SMASSE) Project. as a reference, the SMASSE Project is reforming “In Kenya, all lessons used to be teacher-centered, mathematics and science education in Kenya. The with the teacher writing on the blackboard and single most important step in achieving reform is explaining everything to the students, an approach the training of local teaching staff. At the Centre for commonly referred to as the ‘Chalk and Talk’ method. Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Mathematics and science lessons were no exception. Africa (CEMASTEA), located in Nairobi, experts It was difficult to engage students with this style of dispatched from Japan are working with Kenya’s

As part of their biology studies, pupils learn how to nurture healthy livestock using a variety of real feed.

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 16 matics and science lessons at primary schools and schools primary at lessons science and matics dispatched bers fromJapan chargearein ofmathe - mem- (JOCV) Volunteers Cooperation Overseas Japan the of Some lecturers. these to advice giving to themselves confine experts JICA and principle, in sessions, training facilitate themselves Kenyans own ideas.” “I theirexpress to learners andencourage to how learned teaching,” my support to aids other and materials teaching use to how learned “I saying, useful, practically was it that view the expressed expensive equipment. introduce to difficult is itwhere situationAfrica, in present the for appropriate is materials available and inflating and deflating theballoon. Using locally bottle plastic a inside balloon a in puttingby humans respiration pulmonary of mechanism the ing visible without changing the is viewing angle, coin or the - learn until glass the into water pouring and seen be cannot it so glass a of bottom the in coin a placing by light of refraction the about learning example, for materials, available locally using als materi- teaching produce and experiments science toscience upper the of grades elementary schools. to provided 60,000 teachers who are delivering is mathematics and training the and education, mary pri- of grades upper the coverto extended been has program training the 2010, Since date. to training havereceivedteachers mathematicsscience and ary second - 20,000 around arrangement, this Through secondary schools outside Nairobi public during the schools’ 108 vacation. at teachers train then TEA CEMAS- at trained teachers The teachers. service in- teach to going are who teachers the trains TEA standpoint.nical guidance to Kenyan their counterparts from atech- teacher technical and advice provide in-service They system. training an prepare and methods ing educational administrative bodies to improve teach- o epc Knas wesi o te project, the of ownership Kenya’s respect To have training the received have who Teachers conduct to how taught are teachers training, In For a period of around one to two weeks, CEMAS - basic educationbasic future.” inthe supportingcontinue to intends“JICAKomori. says sustainability,” Kenya’s improving in instrumental requirement. I believe the SMASSE Project has been has a teachers Government in-service for training make Kenyan to decided The increasing. also is mathematics and science choose who students of dents’ willingness to learn increases and the number ingenuity. their use teachersagingto Moreover, stu - dents participate in lessons more actively by encour patch of Kenyan trainers to member countries. and experience with member countries, knowledgeand the dis- share to meetings countries, member its and activities include training in Kenya observers, for teachers from including countries, member The established. thirty-five has currently networkSMASSE-WECSA was network Africa) Southern Western,Educationandin Central Science Eastern, and Math of (Strengthening SMASSE-WECSA the attractedinterest 2001, countriesfromotherand,in of lessons.” their ing than for a student to grow to like a subject because Komori. “For teachers, there is nothing more reward- training,”received says had who teachers by taught being university after enter to qualified became and to improve. who have received teachers training and give of them advice on ways lessons the evaluate sometimes Kenya.schoolsin memberssecondary JOCV These in Rwanda. A JOCVmembersupervisesascienceexperimentatschool “Due to the success of the SMASSE Project, stu- Project, SMASSE the of success the to “Due has Kenya in launched Project SMASSE The “Instudents some cases, tolikemathematicsgrew Fostering Growth in Highlighting JAPAN APRIL2013 Africa 17 - BOTH PHOTOS COURTESY OF JICA Support for the Future of

JSDF members carry out road South Sudan rehabilitation work in Juba, South Sudan.

Japan has been involved in a number of activities for contributing to the peace and stability of Africa. One of these activities is the participation of Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in UN peacekeeping operations in South Sudan. South Sudan is the newest country in the world, having become independent in July 2011 after the end of a civil war that lasted more than twenty years. The JSDF is currently assisting with South Sudan’s nation-building effort. Osamu Sawaji of the Japan Journal interviewed two high-ranking officers of the JSDF who have been dispatched to South Sudan.

udan initially became independent in 1956, ernment has been dispatching a contingent to but the civil war that broke out in 1983 UNMISS from the JSDF since January 2012 in addi- S between the northern and southern parts of tion to staff officers. the nation resulted in a death toll of over two million “As the JSDF has earned a high international rep- and more than four million internally displaced peo- utation for the activities it undertook overseas in the ple. However, following the conclusion of the Com- past, there were strong expectations from UNMISS prehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 between and the South Sudanese government regarding the the north and the south, an Autonomous Govern- activities of the JSDF, particularly in terms of infra- ment of Southern Sudan was formed in Juba, and in structure developments,” says Lieutenant Colonel July 2011 South Sudan became an independent state Teruo Sakama. “As the JSDF was thoroughly trusted as the 54th country in Africa. due to its strong performance, we also felt the pres- On the sidelines of its independence, the United sure of not betraying such trust.” Nations established the United Nations Mission in Lieutenant Colonel Sakama headed approximately the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS). The mis- 210 members of the 1st Unit of the JSDF engineer unit sion of UNMISS is to help South Sudan create an during the period between January and June 2012. environment in which it can work to achieve sus- As most of the roads are unpaved in South Sudan, tained peace and security and nation-building. At many become covered with puddles and mud when the request of the United Nations, the Japanese gov- it rains, making driving difficult. Moreover, the accu-

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 18 carefully listening to the requests of the local peoplecarefully listening requests the tolocal of the “By Namatame. Toru Colonel says future,” great a has it believe I and vibrant extremely is country tional toy, and stilts. and playing with badminton, toys, such as and volleyball as such children, the with sports playing time spend and buildings, the workonrepair and cleaningout carry volunteerand basis a on weekend every almost the orphanage now visit members unit The in. live to guard NGO in Juba afterthey built a house for the security an by run girls for orphanage an with munications com- commenced they example, For Sudan. South bridge two the countries.” between a create that operations accomplish can we believe I but km, 10,000 by separated are Sudan South and “Japan Sakama. Colonel Lieutenant manner,” says friendly a in us to Japon’ ‘Japon, called, often ple - peo local the roads, wereworking the weWhenon operations. appreciatedour greatly people local the But psychologically. unit and physically both the members, for demanding extremely were degrees back to native their land. way their on shelter take can war civil the escaped facilities who people displaced where station, accommodationway the within constructed JSDF the Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to taking care of the roads, in response to the United additionaway. rainwaterflows In the that ensure to surfaces, and gutters are built at the sides of the roads sloped so that the rainwater does not remain on their unit areroadsgentlysurealways membersthat the make the operations, the During rollers. road and bulldozersequipment asusing suchroads main and unit members have been developing residential roads improvetounit is conditions the roads.The ofthese engineer the of missions primary the of one sons, rea- these Forpeople. local the among diarrhea and malaria as such problems health to lead and ment mulated rainwater can cause an unhygienic environ- “South Sudan has numerous problems, but the the but problems, numerous has Sudan “South people the interactof with unitalso The members 40 over of heat scorching the in “Operations kendama , a Japanese - tradi same path as Mozambique for future prosperity.” Colonel says development,” Namatame. “I hope that South Sudan follow will the social and nomic I understand that Mozambique is now enjoying - eco However,devastated. was war,country civil the and its from emerged just had Mozambique when time the was Itago. years twenty Africa in Mozambique possible to supply more crops to Juba. is it it make will and road the completed,once that belt, believed grain a become to expected is Yei surrounding area the The near Uganda. of located border national and Juba from km 120 mately approxi- city a Yei, to Juba connecting road main a of rehabilitation the is unit engineer JSDF the of taken by approximately 330 members of the 3rd Unit ness of benefitspeople. the for the local effective- the account into taking by as well as date deliberations between the JSDF and UNMISS in throughline with its man- determined are bilitation, reha- road as such undertakes, JSDF the that tasks The UNMISS. with tasks to engineering is coordinate Center Coordination the of duty The 2012. Center during the period from January to December the forfuture of South Sudan.” way the pave will that support providing are we sites, actual the to plans work tailoring and children atthe orphanageinJuba,SouthSudan. JSDF membersmakeandplay withwaterballoons “I also served in UN peacekeeping operations in operations peacekeeping UN in served also “I under operationsrehabilitation road the of One Coordination the headed Namatame Colonel Fostering Growth in Highlighting JAPAN APRIL2013 Africa 19 -

BOTH PHOTOS COURTESY OF MINISTRY OF DEFENSE Join with Us as Partners In March, ahead of the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) to be held in Yokohama in June, Zimbabwe Ambassador to Japan His Excellency Stuart Comberbach spoke with the Japan Journal’s Alex Hendy about the nature of Japan-Africa relations today.

You are the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) in Japan. Tell us about that.

This is my eleventh year in Japan and as the longest are divided into a series of thematic or sectoral com- serving among my colleagues of the ADC, I serve as mittees. Whereas our primary task, as African Dean of our Group. We are a big group of thirty- Ambassadors is to pursue the bilateral relationship eight African embassies here. We have found that as between our own countries and Japan, we are far as possible it is better to coordinate and go with a increasingly working together for the preparation of collective position than to invade the Foreign Min- TICAD V, and there is a lot of interest and support istry thirty-eight times. We meet regularly and, so as from colleagues. We try to work out collective posi- to bring more focus to our collective endeavors, we tions so that we work from a collective brief.

How have Japan-Africa relations developed in recent times?

The relationship is encapsulated in the TICAD ment of the private sector. Within three months of process, which started in 1993. With Japan at the the end of TICAD IV, three joint public and pri- core, TICAD has played a very significant role in vate sector missions had been dispatched to differ- raising awareness and mobilizing support for the ent parts of the continent, and there have been African development agenda. TICADs I, II and III around twenty such trade and investment missions focused on social development, largely education in the five years since. This has brought home to and health, and TICAD at that stage was largely the Japanese private sector some of the opportuni- an ODA-based conference. One of the key new ties which are there. components for TICAD IV [2008] was the involve-

What interests the Japanese private sector in Africa?

Of course there is tremendous interest on the now been put into a continent-agreed blueprint extractive side—oil, gas, rare earth minerals, pre- called PIDA, the Programme for Infrastructure cious minerals, strategic minerals—but also in Development in Africa. There is quite a lot of things like electric power generation, water systems, interest from the Japanese private sector in partici- renewable energy… Africa’s requirement for this pating in the building of certainly some aspects of kind of infrastructure development is huge and has this infrastructure. In a large sense now I think

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 20 Fostering Growth in Africa

Africa has got its act together in terms of setting basis of ODA but on the basis of investment and its own development agenda and is now saying, public-­private partnerships. these are our blueprints, come with us, not on the

What about the potential for agriculture?

There are 7 billion people in the world now, rising there is this knowledge about how to work the land to 9 billion [in 2050]. We have to try to find a way to and a willingness to do it. So the land is there, to a feed those extra billions. Africa has something like large extent the water is there too—we have these 52% of the world’s unused arable land. Just in that huge rivers—it just needs a kind of targeted infra- statistic alone there is tremendous opportunity for structure put in place: canalization, irrigation, the the development of agriculture. Between 50 and building of dams, and to a large extent in our coun- 70% of the population in all our countries is tries and regions the blueprints for all of this are involved in one way or another in agriculture, so there. What we need now is partners to join with us.

What is on the agenda at TICAD V?

The overriding concern is that we have an expand- to add value to our raw materials, minerals, agricul- ing population, the vast majority of which is young tural produce. But for that, we need a certain mini- people below the age of thirty-five, and there is no mum of infrastructure, electric power being proba- work for them, or not enough. Therefore our focus bly the most essential, then road and rail networks as a continent is on building industry, promoting which interlink the countries of the continent. It is development which creates employment and gives very difficult to sell a banana to Japan or a grape to the youth on the continent some stake in the Europe or a fruit juice to South America, so one future. Our exports worldwide are generally raw answer to that is boosting trade between and commodities, basic materials. The thrust from the amongst ourselves. For that you need a minimum whole continent is that we need to industrialize; we of infrastructure. need to boost our manufacturing capacity; we need

What about Zimbabwe- and Southern Africa-Japan relations today?

We have a very correct relationship with Japan. a collective to promote the region here in Japan. Other countries have put sanctions on Zimbabwe, Last year we had an SADC-Japan infrastructure but the Japanese have never done that or supported investment seminar which was attended by more moves by western countries or their G8 colleagues than 170 Japanese private sector representatives, and to isolate Zimbabwe or ramp up the pressure. We’re in May this year there is a seminar being organized holding a referendum this month and that should by METI [Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and lead to full blown elections around July, and the Industry] and JOGMEC [Japan Oil, Gas and Metals Japanese have been very supportive of that. Zimba- National Corporation] involving many countries in bwe is a member of SADC [the 15-member South- southern Africa, which is an indication again of this ern African Development Community], twelve of growing Japanese interest in natural resources devel- whose member states have embassies here in opment as Japan debates the future of nuclear power Tokyo—and, as with the larger ADC, we engage as and the need to diversify its sources of fossil fuels.

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 21 SERIES STUDENTS’ CORNER Ways of Japan

apanese people have long worked in Africa in a variety of fields including ag- riculture, education and medicine. One of the pioneers in such endeavors was J bacteriologist Dr. Hideyo Noguchi (1876–1928). Born in a small village in Fukushima Prefecture, Hideyo Noguchi suffered a seri- ous burn injury as an infant, but overcame the deformity to his left hand to obtain a physician’s license at the young age of twenty. In 1900, Noguchi traveled to the United States and worked as a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania and the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, where his work studying infectious diseases would be recognized with three Nobel Prize nominations. One of the subjects Dr. Noguchi investigated was the cause of yellow fever, which is endemic in South America and Africa. Prompted by the death of a fellow researcher who succumbed to yellow fever in Africa, and brushing aside objections from those around him, Dr. Noguchi traveled to Accra in the British colony of the Gold Coast (cur- rently Ghana) in October 1927. Dr. Noguchi extended the length of his stay from three months to six months in order to continue his research when he felt a breakthrough seemed close. However, just as he was planning to return to Japan, he contracted yellow fever and died in May 1928. As a way to honor the doctor’s achievements and continue his intentions, the ­Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research was established with Japanese support at the University of Ghana in 1979. The Institute is one of the leading laboratories researching infectious diseases in Africa today. In 2006, the Japanese gov- ernment established the Hideyo SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/AFLO SCIENCE PHOTO Dr. Hideyo Noguchi Noguchi Africa Prize to honor in-

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 22 Ways of Japan Hideyo Noguchi

dividuals with outstanding achievements in the fields of medical research and medical services to combat infectious and other diseases in Africa. Following the first award at TICAD IV in 2008, the ceremony for the second Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize will be held at TICAD V in June this year.

Award ceremony for the Hideyo Noguchi

Africa Prize at TICAD IV in May, 2008 SHIMBUN/AFLO YOMIURI

1: A portrait of Dr. Noguchi can be found on items in Q circulation in everyday Japanese life. What? A. Postage stamps B. Paper currency C. Coins AP/AFLO

2: By what nickname was Dr. Noguchi known among his colleagues at research laboratories in the Q United States? (Photo: Statue of Dr. Noguchi in Ghana)

A. The human locomotive B. The human printing press C. The human dynamo AFLO

See the back page for answers.

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 23 SERIES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ADLib® system to Speed Generation of Therapeutic Antibodies

Besides breakthrough discoveries such as regenerative medicine using pluripotent stem cells , another discovery currently attracting a great deal of attention in medical circles is antibody drugs. These are drugs which use an organism’s immune system to fight disease and, already, around thirty different antibody drugs have been approved around the world, including anti-rheumatic drugs and anti-cancer drugs. However, the downside of these antibody drugs is that it takes a long time to produce antibodies that are effective in treating disease and it is difficult to produce antibodies to some antigens. A completely new technique that will significantly shorten this development time and open up a new antibody market is about to be put into practical use by a Japanese bio-venture company. Takashi Sasaki reports.

henever we eat or breathe, When pathogens or other antigens enter the unnecessary molecules enter body, antibodies protect the body by attach- W our bodies, and it is the immune ing to them and dissolving them or detoxify- system that identifies harmful pathogens ing them. Put very simply, an antibody drug and suchlike from among these molecules is medication that directly removes the cause and eliminates them. The battle between the of the disease by administering exogenously- immune system and non-self antigens is con- generated antibodies to the patient. stantly being fought in many different living Many of the drugs currently available are organisms, not just human beings and ani- used as symptomatic treatments, relieving mals, and one of the key roles in this process the symptoms of disease or taking away pain. is performed by antibodies. There are also some drugs which attack spe- Antibodies are proteins made in response cific target substances such as pathogens or to antigens, and they are found in large quan- cancer cells, but since they are artificially tities in the bloodstream and body fluids. synthesized substances, there is a risk— depending on the constitution on the patient—that they will not work or may cause serious side effects. Antibody drugs, on the other hand, are substances naturally equipped in the body and act only on the specific anti- gen that is the cause of disease and are, therefore, believed to offer a radical cure as well as having few side effects.

TAKASHI SASAKI TAKASHI Tokyo-based biotech-venture company Masa Fujiwara, D.V.M., President & CEO of Chiome Bioscience Inc. Chiome Bioscience Inc. is focusing its efforts

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 24 on a technique for creating anti- How antibodies are obtained with the ADLib® system bodies known as the complete ADLib® DT40 cells human ADLib® (Autonomously Activates recombination Diversifying Library) system. The TSA treatment ADlib® system was originally developed just over ten years ago Provides antibodies Antibody selection: in about 10 days 30 minutes by Kunihiro Ohta, a Unit Leader at Acquisition of specific monoclonal IgM RIKEN, Japan (now a professor at antibodies Antigen Magnet the University of Tokyo). The sys- Cultivation for 1 week tem can generate various antibod- Magnet beads COURTESY OF CHIOMECOURTESY BIOSCIENCE INC. ies by applying special chemical treatment to DT40 cells, a cultured cell line revolutionize the world of medicine.” In the derived from chickens, to activate genetic future, he adds, the ADLib® system could recombination. Chiome Bioscience uses mag- realize “the ultimate made-to-order medi- netic beads, fine magnetic particles that bond cine,” identifying the optimum antibody for with specific antigens, to select specific anti- an individual patient and then producing a bodies that will react with pathogens, etc. safe effective antibody drug.” And given the from its libraries of diverse antibodies pro- ADLib® system’s ability to produce antibod- duced in this way. It also intends to generate ies in a short space of time, it may even be antibodies that are effective in treating dis- able to prepare an effective drug before a par- eases in humans by cultivating these antibod- ticular disease becomes a pandemic. ies and converting a part of the antibody One of the antibody drugs developed genes of chicken cells into human antibodies. using the ADLib® system that is on the verge The main reason the ADlib® system—the of clinical application is a treatment for sys- first of its kind in the world—is attracting temic inflammatory response syndrome enormous interest is the speed with which it (sepsis). Sepsis is a type of infection in which can generate antibodies. Whereas conven- bacteria multiply in the bloodstream. It is a tional techniques like the mouse-human disease that often occurs in premature babies hybridoma technique for generating antibod- and elderly people with a low resistance to ies in individual mice and other animals and illness and people who have undergone che- the phage display technique that uses coli- motherapy, and it affects tens of millions of forms took anywhere between seven and six- people worldwide. Already, beneficial effect teen weeks, all of a sudden it is now possible of the antibodies has been confirmed in ani- to shorten this period to around ten days. mal studies and the antibodies could be avail- Masa Fujiwara, president & CEO of able as a new drug in as little as four or five Chiome Bioscience Inc., says that his first years from now. impression of the ADLib® system was, “If this technology becomes established, it could Takashi Sasaki is a freelance writer.

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 25 series JAPANESE ABROAD 4 On Broadway Kumiko Yoshii is the president and co-founder of Gorgeous Entertainment, a New York-based theater, film and special events production company which also promotes exchange among American and Japanese people and entertainment businesses. The Japan Journal’s Osamu Sawaji caught up with the influential Japanese producer.

umiko Yoshii fell in love with musical mov- graduating and subsequently changed her career to ies and theater when she was in grade go into investment banking as a financial analyst school, having been moved by films and specializing in M&A. This is when she discovered stageK productions such as the Wizard of Oz, Sound of Broadway as a business. One of the owner’s sister at Music and My Fair Lady. When she was in high school, her company was a playwright who often had her she was passionate about the Takarazuka Revue. plays performed on Broadway, so there was frequent “Back then, I was always attracted to theater, but it talk about work related to Broadway at the office. did not occur to me to make it my career,” says Yoshii. “I realized that there is business side to the world “I was mesmerized by the world on stage, so much of Broadway. If it’s a business, I thought that there so that I was not aware of the numerous people, like must be a place in it for me, so I decided to get into directors and producers, who were involved behind the show business,” says Yoshii. “Until then, I did not the scenes.” have a specific carrer goal, but I was able to clearly Yoshii transferred to a university in New York in have a dream for my future for the first time.” 1987. She got a job at a law firm in New York after From that moment on, in an effort to create a con- nection to Broadway, Yoshii made a point of telling everyone she knew and met that she would like to work on Broadway. She continued to expand her network by meeting people who were involved in the business through friends or friends of friends. Before long, she started a part-time job at a small company that produces musicals on Broadway, but since she was unable to make a living that way, she also took on jobs with specialist M&A magazines and management consulting. In addition, she attended graduate school at night to study perform- ing arts management. Yoshii then established Gorgeous Entertainment Inc. in 1997. Ever since, she has been working across genres, including producing plays and movies, pro- viding consultation on investing in musicals and coordinating special events such as fine art exhibi- tions and food festivals. Kumiko Yoshii One of Yoshii’s achievements has been introduc-

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 26 serving as an expression of gratitude toward the city of New York and reinforcing the solidarity of the community consisting of Japanese and Americans of Japanese descent. Japan Day is an event that offers many different kinds of activities, including stage performances of Japanese drums, karate demonstra- tions, and live-band performances as well as booths in which one can try out origami or calligraphy and eat Japanese foods. It also holds the Japan Run, a

MICHELLE HA four-mile run within Central Park. An ice-breaking demonstration at Japan Day @ Central Park in 2008 “We also introduce a fusion of Japanese and U.S. culture, which is something that is unique to ing Japanese directors to the United States. One of New York, such as a collaboration of jazz and the leading works in this area was the Broadway shamisen [a traditional Japanese musical instru- revival in 2004/5 of Pacific Overtures, which was ment],” says Yoshii. directed by Amon Miyamoto. Pacific Overtures, Last year, the number of visitors stood at around which was first performed on Broadway in 1976, is 45,000, and many people have become interested in set in Japan in 1853 and portrays the state of the Japan. The seventh event this year will be held on wavering mindset of the Japanese people as Japan May 12. opened its doors to the rest of the world. Miyamoto’s Yoshii has helped to introduce numerous works of Pacific Overtures, which was the first work in Broad- Broadway to Japan to date. Last year, she was involved way history to have been directed by a Japanese, in work on staging Shrek the Musical in China, and achieved high praise. In 2005, it was nominated in currently, she is pushing ahead with preparations of four categories at the Tony Awards, the Academy a musical targeting Broadway. Awards of theater in the United States. Yoshii is planning on bringing a U.S. national “As a producer, I was always thinking how I would tour of the musical Dreamgirls to Tokyo and Osaka like to assist artists in realizing their dreams,” states this summer. Yoshii. “Miyamoto’s foray into Broadway was “Going forward, I would like to continue to assist undoubtedly his dream as well as mine.” in collaborations between Japan and the United Yoshii has been involved in numerous other proj- States,” says Yoshii. ects that connect Japan and the United States. One of them is Japan Day @ Central Park for which Yoshii serves as the Executive Producer. Supported by the Consulate General of Japan in New York, and sponsored by Japanese and U.S. corporations, Japan Day has been held in Central Park every year since 2007, aimed at promoting exchange among American and Japanese people,

Curtain call for a performance of Pacific Overtures, which was directed by Amon

Miyamoto at Studio 54, New York, in 2004/5 TOYA TSUYOSHI

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 27 SERIES 47 PREFECTURES: FROM A TO Y FUKUOKA—Ramen City Fukuoka is well known to all Japanese as home to some of the country’s best ramen noodles. Rob Gilhooly paid a visit to perhaps the most famous ramen house of them all, Ippudo.

oreigners might assume that sushi is around the Nagahama Fish Market. Locals call Japan’s national dish, but a walk through this ramen “Nagahama ramen.” The ultra-thin, F any commercial district on the archipel- easily boiled noodles were developed for time- ago will confirm that when it comes to gastronomic starved fishery workers with a big appetite. Kae- adulation, ramen is the king of Japanese cuisine. dama, the system whereby customers can order Nowhere is this more true than in Fukuoka, additional servings of noodles for their broth, also home to one of the country’s best known types of started in this area, along with the option to choose ramen noodles and broth. In Fukuoka, the num- the consistency of the noodles. What the nation ber of ramen houses per capita population ratio is knows today as “Hakata ramen,” featuring creamy- one of the highest in the country, and when Japa- colored tonkotsu soup, ultra-thin noodles, the nese talk about the nation’s “Big Three” ramen kaedama system and choice of noodle consistency, centers, most likely the first place that springs to traces its roots to Nagahama ramen. mind is the Hakata district of Fukuoka. The person credited for developing Hakata “Hakata ramen” is characterized by its ultra-thin ramen into a nationwide brand is Shigemi noodles and rich tonkotsu soup, a creamy-colored ­Kawahara, who opened Hakata Ippudo Ramen in broth slowly extracted from pork bone and several Fukuoka in 1985, earning himself the nickname other ingredients. “Ramen King” in the process. What started off as a Although Hakata ramen is named after the small back street eatery with counter seating for Hakata district in Fukuoka city, it actually origi- ten today has grown to around seventy stores in nated in Nagahama, a ten-minute drive away, Japan and sixteen overseas, including New York, ALL PHOTOS ROB GILHOOLY ALL PHOTOS

Manager Yusuke Osako (left) serves a bowl of Shiromaru ramen (top right) to appreciative customers at Hakata Ippudo Ramen’s main store in Fukuoka’s Daimyo district, Fukuoka Prefecture.

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 28 Other Things of Interest in Fukuoka Prefecture Hakata-ori Woven Textiles Hakata-ori woven textiles are traditional silk textiles dyed and woven in Fukuoka City. The textile is lustrous and at the same time very practical being resilient to strain and loosening. For these reasons it is a popular textile for the manufacture of obi belts for kimono. Nokonoshima Island This island in the middle of Hakata Bay is a popular destination for swimmers and hikers. Visitors to Nokonoshima Island Park enjoy displays of seasonal flowers such as cherry blossoms, rape blossoms (photo), and azaleas in the spring and cosmos flowers in the autumn.

Hong Kong and Sydney. here it simply doesn’t bother me,” says Yusuke Ramen houses in Japan have often been charac- Takahara, 23, who had traveled from Kyoto to try terized by the “three ks”—“kitanai, kusai, kowai” Ippudo’s ramen. According to Kiyomiya, Ippudo (dirty, smelly, scary)—an image that Kawahara was employs a special process in the preparation of keen to overturn, says Toshiyuki Kiyomiya, COO the soup that extinguishes the peculiar odor of of Ippudo operating company Chikaranomoto pork stock. Company Co. Etsuko Miyahara from Hiroshima, who was vis- “The original concept was to create an environ- iting the store with her six-year-old daughter, ment where female customers would feel comfort- Koyuki, says that she loves ramen but rarely feels able,” he says. like going to her local ramen stores. “If you look Ippudo achieved this goal through stylish inte- around you will notice that a great number of cus- rior designs and a cheerful staff service rarely tomers here are female,” she says. “Where I come found in the male-dominated and often rough- from, you rarely see that.” looking ramen establishments in Japan. Ippudo will open its seventeenth overseas store “Ippudo’s reputation is a result of this forthright in August, and starting next year plans to open fif- effort in customizing the stores’ appearance and teen to twenty overseas outlets per year on aver- staff training, which are worlds apart from typical age, according to Kiyomiya. “We plan to place ramen eateries,” Kiyomiya adds. increasing emphasis on overseas expansion and Ippudo’s flagship offerings are the standard “Shi- introduce the real Japanese national dish to a romaru” (white) tonkotsu ramen and the “Aka- wider audience.” maru” (red). These unique namings were intro- duced by founder Kawahara but are now Fukuoka Facts commonplace at ramen eateries in Japan. Fukuoka is located at the northeastern end of the Kyushu “But we don’t get too hung up on being tonkotsu- region. It has long served as a gateway to the Chinese only as other Hakata ramen stores tend to do,” continent and the Korean peninsula. The Kyushu National Kiyomiya says, explaining that Ippudo includes Museum and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum are among the cultural institutions located here, offering visitors the op- miso-based soups and other seasonal varieties on portunity to experience Asian history and culture. its menus as well. Population Approx. 5.07 million The main store in Fukuoka’s Daimyo district is Area Approx. 4,977 km2 visited by customers who travel from far and Prefectural Capital Fukuoka City wide to try the noodles. “Tonkotsu usually has a Best in Japan Railway rail export volume (2012) pungent odor that sometimes puts me off, but

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 29 47 PREFECTURES: FROM A TO Y FUKUSHIMA —Consistently Good Sake Fukushima Prefecture is one of Japan’s leading sake production areas. Rob Gilhooly paid a visit to one of the Prefecture’s oldest and most widely known producers, Suehiro Sake Brewery in Aizu-wakamatsu.

spicy-sweet and fragrant aroma per- Suehiro’s seventh-generation president Inokichi meates the cavernous halls of the Sue- Shinjo, is the country’s No. 2 for quality after Nii- A hiro Sake Brewery. Standing atop a gata Prefecture, “But the water is the key. For raised platform, two men use long paddle-like instance, sake is brewed in the Napa Valley in Cali- implements as they stir a froth-topped milky-­ fornia and in Australia. The taste is very different colored liquid that fills a 1500-liter vat. The process from sake brewed here in Aizu. But bring the same is called kai-ire (putting in the paddle), and despite rice here from those areas and there is only a slight the complex aroma that effuses from the viscous difference in the taste.” moromi liquid, its content is uncomplicated: rice Pure water is plentiful in the mountainous Aizu and water—which is given a boost by a koji fer- region, which is located in Fukushima Prefecture, menting agent to create Japan’s national drink. a unique sake production center in Japan, Shinjo Sake has no better-known production center says. The prefecture’s three regions—Hama-dori than Aizu-wakamatsu. The Aizu region’s rice, says on the coast, Naka-dori in the middle, and Aizu to

Workers perform the traditional kaiire technique (top left) at the 160-year-old Suehiro Sake Brewery (top right) in Aizu- wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. Bottles of the Brewery’s high-grade sake (bottom left); Inokichi Shinjo, brewery president

ALL PHOTOS ROB GILHOOLY ALL PHOTOS (bottom right).

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 30 Other Things of Interest in Fukushima Prefecture Aizu’s Traditional Toys In the Aizu region, toys reflecting the area’s unique customs and religion have been made since the Edo period (1603–1867). For example, akabeko papier-mâché cow toys are often given as a gift to wish for the healthy growth of a newborn baby. Lakes Region, Ura-Bandai Goshiki-numa The Lakes Region, Ura-Bandai Goshiki-numa, is located in the highlands in the northern part of Fukushima Prefecture. Because of the effects of minute particles in the water, each lake has its own unique shade of blue. the western inland extreme—produce unparal- of the sake on their menus,” says Shinjo, who is leled varieties of the beverage, from sweet and also chairman of the prefectural sake brewers’ rich, to dry and delicate. association, “and I have heard that sake brewers “Unlike other production areas in Japan, there is from Fukushima now find it more difficult to sell no one Fukushima taste,” he says. to restaurants.” At around 11 million liters, Fukushima’s sake Like other breweries in the prefecture, Suehiro’s production is the eighth biggest in the country. ingredients and final products are all strictly Suehiro leads the way in exports, selling around 8 scanned for radiation decontaminants—four percent of its 900,000 liter annual output overseas, times in total. The sake industry’s self-enforced compared with 1 to 2 percent for the prefecture, acceptable safe level is fifty times lower than that says Shinjo, who followed a 160-year family tradi- stipulated by the Japanese government and 100 tion and changed his first name to Inokichi after times lower than the acceptable level in Europe, the sixth-generation Inokichi passed away. Shinjo says. “It is probably safer than any sake in The company first exported to France more than the country.” twenty years ago, but with the market already One of Suehiro’s great institutions is head brewer flooded by a few big-name brands, Suehiro barely Juichi Sato who has worked there for about one- got a look in, according to Shinjo. third of the brewery’s 160-year history. The sake So the company turned its attentions to the brewed in the prefecture today is as good as it has United States, where over the past several years it ever been, he says. “No matter what,” says Sato, 76, has garnered a healthy following. “people always want good sake.” With a continued diversification of products— including its Puchi-Puchi sake champagne and Fukushima Facts another aged in oak barrels that tastes almost Fukushima Prefecture is located at the southern end of the like sherry—it has made inroads into other mar- Tohoku region, and is the third largest prefecture in Japan. kets. In 2007 its high-grade Yamahai label won a The prefecture is divided into three regions by its highlands gold medal at the International Wine Challenge and mountains, which stretch from north to south, and the weather varies greatly, depending on the area. A unique in London. culture has also developed in each region. Yet, the Fukushima sake industry has suffered Population Approx. 1.95 million considerably since the nuclear accident that Area Approx. 13,782 km2 occurred on its coast over 100 km away from Prefectural Capital Fukushima City Aizu-wakamatsu two years ago. “This is because Best in Japan Production of Paulownia wood (2011) restaurants typically list the prefecture of origin

Highlighting JAPAN APRIL 2013 31 Seasonal Foods APRIL 2013 Vol. 6 No. 12 桜 餅 Sakuramochi

Sakuramochi are the taste of Japanese spring, a treat almost as transient as the cherry blossoms which inspired their creation and prompt their appearance in confectioners nationwide. There are many regional varieties of sakuramochi today (“sakura” means “cherry,” “mochi” means “rice cake”), but that pictured here is the Chomei-ji (temple), Tokyo original, a timeless 300-year-old combination of sweet anko red bean paste, thin mochi shell, and moth-puckering wrapper of salt-pickled cherry leaves. The texture and flavor contrasts of the Chomei-ji sakuramochi make this a unique traditional sweet.

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Answers for p. 23 Q1: B. Dr. Noguchi’s portrait has appeared on the 1,000 yen note since 2004. Q2: C. So deeply was Dr. Noguchi immersed in his research that his colleagues wondered when he ever slept. Impressed with Dr. Noguchi’s energy, his col- leagues gave him the nickname the “human dynamo.”