"Can Japan Keep Pace with a Changing America?"

Following the inauguration of the new US President Barack Obama, our speaker for the ESUJ New Year's Lecture on January 28 was Mr. Sadaaki Numata who is exceptionally well-versed in US current affairs. Before a full house at the Japan National Press Club, Mr. Numata spoke with wit in exquisite English about whether the Obama government under the banner of "change" will really bring about major change. With the US in the midst of attempting radical change, what will happen to the Japan-US relationship, which has become like that of an old married couple?

The new president is the child of a woman from the American Midwest, full of 1960s youthful idealism, and of a Kenyan exchange student. His upbringing in Indonesia, community work in Chicago’s South Side, super-elite education at Harvard Law School followed by practice as a civil rights lawyer, sowed within himself a keen understanding of the value of diversity in race, culture and class as well as of the importance of hope and tolerance. All of this led to enthusiastic support for him from a broad cross-section of people including African-Americans, and brought a surge of expectation that triumphed over concern about his lack of experience. Given the 78% pre-inauguration approval rating for Obama, the euphoric atmosphere of the inauguration ceremony was unsurprising. President Obama appealed to every single American, in the face of critical challenges, to be prepared to work for the common good. His message this time was, “Yes, we will! But it won't be easy...".

Under this new president a cabinet of diversity, experience and competence has been brought together. In foreign policy, instead of following the footsteps of the previous administration that antagonized the Islamic world, they intend to employ "smart power", combining hard military power with soft power such as cultural attractions. They also intend to take a more positive stance in tackling global warming. There are familiar faces for Japan in the new line-up. Instead of “ABB” (Anything but Bush), compared to “ABC” (Anything but Clinton), which some had ascribed to the previous administration, there is likely to be continuity of policy from the previous administration. As they considered Japan’s role in Asia important, there is reasonable hope that they will refrain from actions that may incur the criticism of “Japan Passing.”

Japan, for its part, should not just react passively to whatever policy that the U.S. might take, but should try to shape the Japan-U.S. relationship in the way they desire. That would require Japan’s willingness to devise the scenario for collaborative actions to cope with such global challenges as the environment, terrorism/Afghanistan and nuclear non-proliferation as well as its own initiatives toward the building of a new international financial and economic order. Above all, Japan should break out of its inward-looking shell and start acting proactively, conscious of its role as a major actor on the global scene.

In sum, Mr Numata concluded, Japan should be saying, "It won't be easy - but, yes, we will!"

The English Club met on January 20 (Tue). The theme of the first meeting of the year was outer space. As 2009 is the “International Year of Astronomy”, there is particular interest in space exploration. Our speaker was Mr. Shinichi Sobue, Associate Senior Engineer of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, (JAXA) who spoke under the title of “A Trip to Outer Space 2009: An Invitation to the Moon”, mainly about Japan’s lunar explorer KAGUYA launched in September 2007.

The audience listened raptly from beginning to end to Sobue-san’s fascinating talk, which covered such topics as a comparison of the earth and moon, the moon’s origin, the Apollo program and contemporary moon probes, Kaguya’s composition and objectives, and the beauty of the rising earth as viewed from the moon (which actually is not a possibility!). The talk was interspersed with images and photographs and was an unparalled opportunity to hear about such things directly, which ordinarily would not be possible. Here’s hoping Japan’s space exploration program goes from strength to strength! Sobue-san, thank you!

Thank you, everyone, for your understanding to pay a fee to attend E.C from this month. This year we hope to recognize those members who attend English Club all ten times at our Christmas Party.

February 17 (Tue) Speaker: Dr. Stephen Givens.
"The Grammar of Legal Rights and Obligations: Why English Became the Global Language of Law and Contracts"

March 17 (Tue) Speaker: Mr. Toshiyuki Inoue
"The Art of Public Communication in English: How Is It Learned?--Actual Training through Simple Impromptu Debate-"

Haiku in English by Ms. Emiko Miyashita
Wednesday, 25th February 18:30-20:00 @Japan National Press Club

Ambassador’s Lecture Series:
The Czech Republic Today: Form EU Presidency Holder to Japan-Czech Relations
Tuesday, 10th March 18:30-20:00 @Japan National Press Club

Spring Gala 2009
Thursday, 23rd April 18:30-20:30 @Meiji Kinenkan