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VOLUME 2 — 2004 JAPANESE TROOPS ENTER IRAQ IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM

On Feb. 7, a contingent of Ground Self Defense Force troops crossed into Iraq from Kuwait as part of the country’s first deployment to a third country since 1945. The troops, most of them engineers, are part of a deployment slated to total about 1,000 troops in a humanitarian mission. The troops traveled in a 25-vehicle convoy from the U.S. Camp Virginia in Kuwait. The convoy included armored vehicles, trucks, personnel carriers, and an ambulance. Air Self Defense Forces have already dispatched advance teams and three C-130 cargo planes to the region. The troops will purify water and carry out other humanitarian tasks in Iraq. The deployment to Iraq is Japan’s largest since World War II.

ead of the Japanese Self Defense Forces, Shigeru Ishiba, said a mission to purify water and carry out other humanitarian tasks in the government wouldn’t order its forces out of Iraq until the southern city of Samawah. Advance teams have already been Hthey have completed their humanitarian mission. While deployed, and a contingent of about 80 ground force soldiers has sent soldiers on peacekeeping missions in the past, were sent to Kuwait for training. Armitage praised Prime Minister they have only gone to areas where fighting has subsided. Japan’s , a strong supporter of the U.S.-led coalition constitution, adopted in 1947 during the U.S. postwar occupation forces in Iraq, and said Koizumi’s more assertive defense stance was of the country, renounces the use of military force. On Dec. 9, the helping to build a “new era of self-confidence’’ for Japan. government decided to go ahead with the deployment, authorized The Prime Minister recently told the Japanese parliament, by the Special Measures for Iraq approved by the Diet July 25, that, “In the midst of the ongoing fight against terrorism by the which approved a non-combatant Japanese military support role for international community, if we were to now yield to terrorism, the coalition forces in Iraq. The Japanese troops in Iraq will be armed allowing Iraq to become a base for terrorism, the threat of terrorism with pistols, rifles, machine guns and light anti-tank munitions for would hang not only over Iraq, but also over the entire world. It use in self defense only. The decision by the government of Prime is the responsibility of the international community to ensure Minister Junichiro Koizumi to deploy the troops follows the 1991 that a government by the people of Iraq, for the people of Iraq, is Gulf War when Tokyo shouldered a major portion of the financial inaugurated and to develop an environment in Iraq whereby the burden of the international coalition’s actions. people of Iraq can endeavor, filled with hope, for the reconstruction U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, in a visit to of their own country.” Tokyo in early February, said Japan’s dispatch of military forces on a humanitarian mission to Iraq signals a ``historic moment’’ in Tokyo’s growing leadership role and its deepening alliance with the United States. He also said that Japan is earning respect for contributing $5 billion to the reconstruction of Iraq. “It’s such a historic moment in the life of your nation and indeed of our alliance. Prime Minister Koizumi has set a new benchmark not just in the dispatch of Japanese Self Defense Forces to Iraq, but also in redefining Japan’s role in the world,’’ Armitage told the Japan National Press Club. “In this time of change at home, in the region and around the world, Japan has not been caught standing still,” he added. “Japan is putting its skillful hands on the tiller of the international community.” Japan is sending some 1,000 military personnel to Iraq and surrounding countries on Iraqis welcome Japanese troops. AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia CONTENTS Policy Watch Culture in Japan; JET Human Heritage; Cities Summit Koizumi tells the Diet he’s committed to Theme restaurants are all the rage; a JET Japan historical sites high on the list; reforms and a firm foreign policy...... 2 reminisces about links to Japan...... 4 cooperating with US cities...... 6

Business Digest or “Japanimation” Japan Information Network Self-motivated entrepreneurs flourish; World-class director, Rintaro, describes Toyota is second in the world...... 3 the ins and outs of the industry...... 5 www.jinjapan.org POLICY WATCH

On Jan. 19, Prime Minister number of job openings and a bottoming is being steadily implemented. , Koizumi delivered a keynote out of commodity prices. The supplementary which is gearing up for a dynamic expansion policy speech to the 159th budget for FY2003 was formulated for the of the European Union (EU) in May 2004, is Session of the Diet, expressing first time in 14 years without increasing an important partner of Japan that shares optimism about the prospects for Japan in the issuance of government bonds. Even similar values. Mutual understanding and 2004. The address covered a broad range without public spending, the results of exchanges between the peoples of Japan of issues, with his main themes centering structural reform are now beginning to be and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have never on the need to press ahead with reforms seen.” been stronger. With regard to North Korea of the economy, and that Japan perform • On the Information Age: “Internet use in we will continue to aim for a comprehensive a constructive role as a member of the Japan has become the fastest and cheapest solution, including abduction and security, international community. The highlights of in the world and Internet stock transactions nuclear and missile issues. The achievement his address: have rapidly increased in the past three of a stable and democratic administration years, now accounting for 19 percent of total in Iraq is extremely important for the he Prime Minister opened by saying stock transactions. By the end of FY2003, international community and Japan. “without structural reform there will almost all applications and notifications I have decided to dispatch the SDF T be no rebirth or growth in Japan,” and to government agencies will be able to which have had daily training in operating promised that “I will continue to promote be submitted from home and company efficiently and avoiding danger in hostile reforms with firm resolve.” He continued, computers. We will realize a society in which environments. They will not use force. They “We will support efforts made by the people, people can truly take advantage of IT in will operate in regions free from military the regions and companies, and promote their lives through promoting the spread action...We will take every possible measure science and technology to develop the of digital television broadcasting which will to ensure their safety. The fight against foundation for Japan’s future development. lead to the development of the basis of terrorism in Afghanistan still continues This year, in addition to utilizing the results household IT.” unabated. The decision by Libya to abandon of reforms implemented to date, we will • On Science and Technology: “Our goal is a development programs for weapons of materialize reforms that have been difficult “nation built on scientific and technological mass destruction is of great significance. to achieve, including privatization of creativity. We will strategically advance The We strongly expect that other countries, postal services and highway-related public Project to Create the Future as a research including North Korea, will likewise make corporations, the reform packages of three and development project that will foster a responsible response. We will continue to issues that promote decentralization, and economic revitalization and improve actively participate in the efforts to prevent pension reform. In this sense, the rebirth of people’s lives. Research and development terrorism and the proliferation of weapons Japan will take a firm step forward this year.” will be conducted in such fields as of mass destruction…We will engage in the innovative cancer treatment utilizing the development of a ballistic missile defense achievement of human genome decoding. (BMD) system so as to respond to the We will promote science and technology as changes in the security environment. “ we advance industry-academia-government • On Protection Against Terrorism: “We coordination and draw on the vitality of will strengthen domestic countermeasures regions and the private sector.” for terrorism through controls at the • On Foreign Policy: “The relationship shoreline, including airports, ports and with the United States of America is the harbors, development of the crisis linchpin of Japan’s diplomatic policy, and it management system and protection of is of extreme importance for Japan that the important facilities. We will also work to two countries cooperate to demonstrate protect diplomatic establishments abroad leadership on the various issues facing and ensure the safety of overseas Japanese the international community. Continuing nationals. We will develop a system so that our close partnership and dialogue across we can appropriately respond to emergency Office of the Public Relations, Cabinet wide-ranging areas, we will work to elevate situations such as the occurrence of large Secretariat the credibility of the Japan-U.S. security scale terrorism or the appearance of • On the Economy: “The Japanese economy arrangements and build a solid Japan- unidentified armed ships...I am now seeking is steadily recovering, as seen in the U.S. relationship. Japan-China relations to realize a country where the buds of improvement of corporate revenues and are one of the most important bilateral reform are nurtured into a large tree and a increases in capital investment. The economic relationships, and we will develop a future- country granted the trust of the world with growth rate has been positive in real terms oriented Japan-China relationship together. full of pride and confidence...In this, from for 18 consecutive months...Although the The “Japan-Russia Action Plan,” which Mr. my heart, I ask for the understanding and employment situation is adverse, there is a Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian cooperation of the people of Japan and the trend towards recovery such as increasing Federation and I agreed on in January 2003, distinguished members of the Diet. 2 BUSINESS DIGEST

Fujii has sound advice to offer. “The three decisive factors are CHANGES IN THE JOB whether you like doing it, whether you have the ability to do it, and MARKET whether it’s in tune with what people want. But another key to success is the use of Internet-based management tools, such as the publication Among the many new trends associated with recent advances in information technology in Japan, is the proliferation of “weekend entrepreneurs.” These are people with regular salaried jobs who manage to turn their hobbies or talents into profitable sidelines or even full-fledged businesses. Although their enterprises vary widely in substance, the vast majority of them are made possible by the Internet, thanks to which an ordinary individual can now launch a commercial venture without risking large sums of money. And while most weekend entrepreneurs continue to wear two hats, some become successful enough to quit their “day jobs” and devote themselves full-time to their own business. of an email newsletter to get a sense of the market for your product.” Evidence of the large number of actual and aspiring weekend Weekend entrepreneurs face very real obstacles, including the entrepreneurs includes the response to a series of seminars on the attitudes of their regular employers. A 1995 survey indicated that 80 subject offered by 37-year-old business consultant Fujii Koichi, the percent of Japanese companies had rules prohibiting moonlighting; author of Shumatsu Kigyo (The Weekend Enterprise). In just one year, employees violating such rules run the risk of being fired. Companies membership in the Weekend Entrepreneurship Forum has grown to are especially likely to come down hard if the employee’s outside 1,500. A typical success story is that of S, a 48-year-old employee of a work has interfered with his or her regular job or competes with the major airline. An avid reader of business books, S had made a hobby of employer’s business in any way. And of course, making use of the writing reviews and sending them to interested readers in the form of company’s client list is a serious offense. an e-zine. Eventually he was publishing a review a day, his readership That said, times are changing. Few Japanese companies today can had grown to 10,000, and he was able to collect advertising revenue. As guarantee lifetime employment with regular promotions and raises in word of the e-zine spread, S was asked to appear on a radio show and exchange for absolute loyalty. In today’s changing environment, many now has his own program. employers have begun to adopt more liberal policies on moonlighting, M, a 40-year-old former editor at a large publishing house, had turning a blind eye if the employee makes the case that the activity previously self-published some books of his own, including one about in question is basically volunteer work or a matter of helping the wife night views of Tokyo. Then two years ago he put together a website out with her home business. The fact is that the genie of weekend that recommended hotels based on their views of the city after dark, entrepreneurship is out of the bottle, and it is unlikely that anyone can collecting a fee from the hotels for each reservation made through put it back. the site. Last year 2,000 reservations were booked this way, including 400 for Christmas Eve (viewed by many Japanese as an evening for Briefs romance). • On Jan. 26, figures proved that The Japanese automaker Toyota Of course, successes on this scale are the exception, not the rule. Motor Corp. has become the world’s No. 2 automaker. Toyota Those in the know advise against thinking in grandiose terms or even confirmed that worldwide sales for 2003 amounted to 6.78 million worrying about making money at the outset. “First you need to hone vehicles, up 9.9 percent from 6.17 million the previous year. The your skill or your interest until you’re preeminent in that area and have world’s largest automaker remains General Motors Corp. of the U.S. something special to offer others. If you do that, then you have a good which sold 8.6 million vehicles in 2003. But the previous second chance of making a paying proposition out of it,” says Fujii. Examples largest automaker Ford, also owns 33 percent of Japan’s Mazda of people who followed this path are an avid cyclist who launched a Motor Corp. Based in Toyota City in central Japan, Toyota now has school of bicycle repair and a man who found a way to capitalize on plants not only in the U.S.. and Japan, but also in China, France, his flair for acting as master of ceremonies at weddings. Those with no Mexico and other countries. Once making its fame on fuel-efficient special skills or knowledge to offer - just a desire to make money - are compacts, it now has strong offerings in the most lucrative U.S. auto unlikely to succeed in the world of weekend entrepreneurship. segment, that of trucks. Needless to say, weekend entrepreneurship is riskiest for those • Japan’s large manufacturers were more optimistic about their who quit their regular jobs. By last March, M’s income from his hotel business outlook in the latest quarter, marking the third straight website roughly matched his salary at the publishing house, and he quarter of improvement, according to a Central Bank survey. The decided it was time to leave the company. On the other hand, S, the ``tankan’’ survey is the latest indicator that Japan’s reviewer of business books, still works in the office during the week. Of economy may be recovering, largely due to export growth. The these two paths, Fujii advocates the latter. “Don’t quit your job; just use survey shows that business confidence among big manufacturers your time off work to nurture your own business. That’s the new thing: for the latest quarter stood at plus 11, above expectations of plus-six low-risk entrepreneurship.” by analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires and Nikkei News.

3 CULTURE IN JAPAN

Ever woken up while in At another restaurant, if you don’t Japan and been yearning for scream out “Ninniku-ya” at the entrance, the something a little bit out of door won’t open and you won’t be able to the ordinary? Until recently, get inside to sample the almost 50 dishes a “theme” restaurant might have only that feature as their main ingredient, garlic been a place that served Italian, French or or ninniku. Needless to say, this may not Korean food, but this is changing rapidly, be the best place for a first date. A popular as can be seen in from Kyushu style of restaurant that it is actually hard to to Hokkaido. To be successful, all it takes is get out of is the prison-theme restaurant. a little imagination, some money, and the Customers are escorted into dark areas that many young people that enjoy dining out . are sectioned off with steel bars. All around One restaurant in Western Japan you there is creepy music, surreal lights offers food and atmosphere from about and strange sounds coming from various eight different countries around the world. corners. The staff puts you inside and locks Citizens from the eight countries work you in until the dining experience is over. If there and come up with ideas for authentic you need to get out, one has to be shackled abroad, lending a more realistic feel to the cooking, décor and most important, upon leaving. No dine and dash here. experience. entertainment. The menu generally doesn’t English and Irish style pubs are also There are theme restaurants for all change, but the music changes each day. booming in Japan. What better place for types of people in Japan. When you are One day, you might walk in and people a lively atmosphere with dartboards and looking for a little bit more than white rice dressed in peacock feathers and green and sometimes pool tables, where standards and miso soup, do a little research and find yellow will be doing a Brazilian-style dance. such as haggis, fish and chips, and blood one of the many theme restaurants that The next day, it could be a dance one might sausage are served along with Guinness have been popping up all over Japan. For see when visiting an African village. It is draught to wash everything down. A great places in Tokyo, see issue 308 at: http://met fascinating to watch and even more fun to thing about many of these pubs is that they ropolis.japantoday.com/default.asp participate, if you dare. often hire live bands featuring artists from Views of a JET I am now an immigration I am far from my life in JET. I do miss it. Japan attorney in El Paso, Texas. Before infected my personality and my sensibilities. El Paso, I lived in Washington D.C. I hand over documents in court with the for four years while attending document facing the receiver. I remove my law school. I participated in the DC-JET Alumni shoes before walking on carpet. I cringe when Association: judging Japan Bowl competitions, people yell across the room or street to catch volunteering at the Sakura Matsuri and someone’s attention. I thank people for taking going to Japanese restaurants and Asian art my picture and am keenly attentive to detail. exhibits. There were many opportunities to I still look for opportunities to meet meet , use my Japanese and other Japanese to allow myself to connect participate in cultural events. to a part of me that was left in Japan--to find Before law school, I held a number of people who can relate to me on a level most return to Japan some day, especially to visit Japan-related jobs, including one where I met Americans cannot. I have not turned Japanese all the many friends that I made and have I Japanese tourists at the airport and escorted nor do I have a desperate desire to return to left behind, but I have many more countries them between the domestic and international Japan, however, there is a lonely part of me and cultures to experience. Japan helped me terminals as part of their tour packages. I who yearns for things Japanese. develop a curiosity to really see the world. But landed a full-time job translating and actually My interests and hobbies keep my even as I am immersed in the culture of the teaching Japanese to engineers at a Japanese Japanese sensibilities from stagnating. I eat Southern border of the United States, I am okonomiyaki R&D company in the Detroit-area, but I left it to sushi on occasion, make my own , sure Japan will remain dearest to me for years origami anime go back to DC. Detroit & DC both have quite practice , watch a little , read to come. deep Japanese and JETAA communities in Crayon Shinchan, and seek out opportunities which I was quite active. to speak Japanese or play Mahjong. I also April J. Mears was a JET Coordinator of In El Paso, I have to dig hard to find any enjoy Japan-related novels. People often ask International Relations in Kitakyushu trace of Japan in my life here. I enjoy my work me if I want to return to Japan. I usually glibly City, Fukuoka from 1994- as a government attorney in immigration, but answer, not on my own dime. I would like to 1996. “JAPANIMATION,” OR “ANIME,” SWEEPS THE WORLD

“Japanimation” often known as anime, boasts a tradition spanning several decades. Among the many cultural arts Japan provides to the world, its animated films have attracted a large global following, particularly in the U.S., such as in recent films like Metropolis and Sailor Moon. Metropolis Director Rintaro, one of the most famous in Japan, recently addressed a full-house audience at the Japan Information and Culture Center in Washington D.C. and explained the industry’s success.

r. Rintaro noted that there are currently 60 animated TV pieces a week on Japanese television and that the Mmarket abroad for Japanese animated films and their products has now reached $50 billion, from the U.S., to Italy, Spain, Holland, Germany and France. The films are then dubbed into the local language, but he has noticed that more and more On the other end of the spectrum, the ability to create buyers are interested in running them in the homemade anime on an inexpensive personal computer has He explained that animation, in the Japanese context means, made it possible for amateurs and semiprofessionals to get in “There is life in everything in the natural world, something on the act, swelling the ranks of the industry’s anime creators. without life has life in it. The heart of animation is that everything With the use of digital technologies on a desktop computer, can move.” He said that the success of the Japanese industry was pictures can be colored in with a click of the mouse. It is also an unprecedented combination of thinking and technology. easier to redo work, and the range of colors available is virtually Disney paved the way, he said, but with the launch of unlimited. Cameras are no longer needed, and editing can easily AstroBoy in 1963, Japan took a leap forward, and had a TV viewing be accomplished on the keyboard. audience of 50 percent every week; “The streets were empty,” he Mr. Rintaro dispelled the notion that anime may end up said. “Many countries in Southeast Asia discovered anime and being outsourced to other countries such as South Korea or then it moved to Europe and the U.S. It was originally targeted China, saying that the labor costs remain about the same, and for children, but then adults started watching and now as the that the strength of the anime industry in Japan has more to do original child audience gets older it has become mainstream. with the ideas, storylines and plots that it does with the high-tech Even Hollywood cannot ignore it.” productions. He further pointed out that the films are basically a result of He also sees a huge future ahead, noting that Japanese the comic book boom in Japan or , and that directors get animated films have been winning major industry awards much of their inspirational ideas from those. But beyond that, he worldwide in recent years, and been the talk of Los Angeles and said, there are deep historical roots to the phenomenon, dating New York. He says his next project “is a secret,” which he has been back to the 18th century, when ancient pictures show a sense of thinking about for 15 years. He does say however that it will be a progression in a story. He also sees connections to Kabuki theater, combination of 2- and 3-dimensional film and be ready in about Noh and Haiku, all of which he described as “Japanese DNA.” three years. That should be treat. In terms of the production process, he explained that as in the industry everywhere, financing is a constant struggle Anime as a Reflection of Life because the expenses are significant. Proposals often come from students in arts schools, or just from people off the street who emale literary critic Minako Saito, recently observed that are comic book fans — but mostly from comic book themes. He in almost every anime the lineup of heroes reflects the often writes most of the scripts himself. It is also and extremely Fvalues of male society. Usually there is but one female in complicating process, usually involving as many as 150,000 the group of star figures. Beginning around the latter half of the frames (with 24 pictures per-second) all of which must be created 1960s, anime aimed at boys and those created for girls parted individually; the average movie takes about 3 years to complete. ways. The token female among a group of males is primarily a Most of it is still done by individual artists, drawing feature of films produced for the male audience. Anime films each picture in sequence before they are filmed. But the aimed at the female market, on the other hand, tend to feature advancement of digital technologies and falling software prices female characters mainly in daily-life backdrops: at school, in are revolutionizing the anime industry in some respects. Once the home and in the neighborhood. Increasingly popular are dependent completely upon hand drawings by professional anime like Sailor Moon, in which the heroines possess magical artists, the major animation studios are now starting to fully powers. They change their body forms and solve the problems integrate digital technologies into the anime production process, that have cropped up around them. Anime heroines reflect he said. That cuts production cost and allows more significant present-day Japan, where women are becoming increasingly special effects. more independent.

5 HERITAGE OF HUMANITY; CITIES SUMMIT

Bunraku Puppet Theater Declared Japan-U.S. Cities Cooperate on a Masterpiece of Human Heritage Responsible Development

Ningyo Johruri Bunraku Puppet Theater, one of Japan’s The first of these forward-looking conferences is best-known classical art forms, was officially declared being held in , Japan from Nov. 17-19, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of 2004. The Summit was established to allow Japanese Humanity on November 11 by UNESCO (the United and American and Chamber of Commerce Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). UNESCO leaders to meet in person and establish long-term networks that instituted the list of intangible masterpieces in 2001 to complement can get the most out of U.S.-Japan relations in the 21st century. its World Heritage program, which designates natural and cultural The Summit emerged out of the Japan-America Conference of properties of special value to humanity. Mayors and Chamber of Commerce Presidents (JACMCCP) that Unlike conventional puppet theater, bunraku gives originated ties in 1951. The first JACMCCP was sponsored by the approximately equal weight to its three components: chanted Tokyo Metropolitan Government to commemorate the signing narration, shamisen playing and the manipulation of large puppets. of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. The role of the tayu, or narrators, is comparable to that of the chorus • TACKLING ECONOMICS, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT in classical Greek drama, while the shamisen accompaniment The Japan-U.S. roughly corresponds to the orchestra in Western opera. But for Cities Summit builds many viewers, the most captivating aspect of bunraku is the skill on the past relationship with which the puppeteers - three to a puppet for major characters and will allow more solid - imbue their puppets with movement and emotion so human they possibilities for Japan-U.S. surpass the real thing. inter-city relations. With During the (1603-1868), bunraku was a popular the growing number art beloved of the urban masses. In the period directly following of difficult challenges World War II, it came perilously close to extinction, hanging on facing city leaders in only with the help of government subsidies. Recently, however, both countries, and with more and more Japanese, including many younger people, have the distance between been rediscovering bunraku’s artistic appeal. Bunraku’s most the countries growing ever smaller, the Summit gives city leaders a chance distinguished living puppet master, 84-year-old Yoshida Tamao, to discover realistic solutions to these problems and will help them devise who has been designated a Living National Treasure, received the measures to encourage city development and regional activities. “It is our news of UNESCO’s decision joyfully. “Whenever we’ve performed hope that by gathering together to discuss problems facing our cities and abroad the audience has been extremely enthusiastic,” Yoshida sound out paths to possible solutions, we will discover ways for cities to remarked. achieve sustainable development and become the driving forces behind our nations,” says Dr. Tadatoshi Akiba, of Hiroshima. The 2004 Japan-U.S. Cities Summit (JUSCS) focuses on developing a stable international society and sustainable city development. With Shiretoko Nominated to World Heritage List programs on city planning, information technology, education and youth, On Jan. 16, 2004, the Government decided to nominate nvigorating city centers, and international peace and cooperation, the goal Shiretoko for inclusion on the World Heritage List. s to bring about new opportunities and result-oriented solutions that For more information on the conference, The Government of Japan will submit the nomination to the cities have to increasingly face. the history of the JUSCS, and list of member cities go to: www.juscs.org/ UNESCO World Heritage Center on Feb. 2. After a series of expert inspections of the site, a

Shiretoko final decision on the inclusion of the site will be made at JAPAN NOW is a publication of the the 29th session of the World Embassy of Japan for distribution to readers in the United States. However, the opinions and material Hokkaido Heritage Committee to be contained herein do not necessarily represent the held in June in 2005. Currently, views or policies of the government of Japan. there 11 World Heritage sites, 2 Natural heritage sites, Japan Information and Culture Center and Cultural Heritage sites EMBASSY OF JAPAN inscribed on the World Heritage List in Japan. The site is on the [email protected] Shiretoko Peninsula, in the northeast Hokkaido, facing the Sea www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm 1155 21ST STREET, NW of Okhotsk and the Nemuro Straits. The highest peak on the WASHINGTON, DC 20036 peninsula is Mt. Raus at a height of 1,661m. www.mofa.go.jp/ 202-238-6900 policy/culture/w_heritage/shiretoko.html