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 AFRIC 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 Fostering Growth in Africa COURTESY OF JICA; OF ONE PLANETCOURTESY COURTESY OF MINISTRYCAFÉ; COURTESY OF DEFENSE tries or international organizations, but rather some- Under the theme of “Hand in Hand with a More thing that is carried out by Africa itself through its Dynamic Africa” debates at TICAD V will be held own efforts. International partnership supports such on the themes of “Robust and Sustainable Economy,” self-reliant efforts. “Inclusive and Resilient Society,” and “Peace and Sta- As such, based on the follow-up mechanism intro- bility.” In addition, the Action Plan involving Japan, duced at TICAD IV to monitor the state of imple- Africa, the international organizations, and all mentation of specific initiatives, the TICAD Minis- TICAD V participants will be prepared.