Features, Opinion

The view from Japan: The new determination a post-3/11 nation

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Japan will not forget those lost to the earthquake and tsunami, and nor will it set aside the lessons which have to be learned from the tragedy, says Noriyuki Shikata

Japan

The first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and of the terrible tsunami that followed, is a sombre marker for the start of this new feature on Japan and public affairs. March 11th is a date now etched in Japan’s collective consciousness and the horrors triggered on that day are critical in understanding the country, not simply at the anniversary but as we look to the future. 

The landscape of Japan – literally and metaphorically – is irrevocably changed and the impact is profound and abiding. One year on, we give pause to commemorate those who suffered as a result.  As well as being a time of reflection, the anniversary undoubtedly re-enforces Japan’s sense of resolution and its commitment to learn from all the challenges it has faced.

Remarkable progress has been made in responding to the disaster over the past 12 months. The Japanese people have reacted with stoic determination and the country has rallied around reconstruction efforts. For all the damage it wreaked, the disaster in Tohoku has undoubtedly brought about a sense of national solidarity, clarity and urgency.

There is still much work to be done and it is essential that Japan continues to look ahead. Japan has the collective will to tackle its most pressing issues, namely, the reconstruction of areas affected, progress towards the full decommissioning of TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and the revitalisation of the Japanese economy.

Hard lessons learnt

Japan has learnt, in the hardest possible way, that it is no longer acceptable to claim that events had been unforeseen. In order to build more resilient communities and a country able to withstand such forces of nature, disaster management measures are undergoing a comprehensive review and will be dramatically strengthened.

In the past 12 months, a budgetary and legislative framework which expounds a strategy for reconstruction has been fully established. This included the Reconstruction Agency, which now acts as mission control for all reconstruction planning and serves to significantly streamline and expedite all relevant activities.

Last March’s earthquake and tsunami resulted in a transformation of perceptions, attitudes and public opinion across Japanese society, nowhere more so than in media and communications. Immediately after the earthquake, as conventional phone lines were unavailable and TV crews struggled to gain access to affected areas, people increasingly sought information online.

Social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter, became the fastest way of disseminating and obtaining valuable information. Certainly 2011 became the year that Japan latched on to global trends in new media and online interaction. Smartphones and PC’s experienced a resurgence with record sales and strong performances in both sectors.

Changes abroad

Beyond Japan’s shores, we witnessed changing perceptions from abroad. The outpouring of grief and solidarity, as well as outspoken admiration for the dignified  conduct of the Japanese people, represented something quite unprecedented in recent times. As ‘anniversary’ stories in the international media showed that Japan continues to be portrayed in a new and positive light.

Certain conventional wisdoms in Japanese politics also seem to have given way. On November 11 Prime Minister Noda took the bold move of announcing Japan’s interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The attempt to establish a regional free-trade area is fraught with difficulty and naturally the scheme has its critics.

What is significant however, is the sentiment behind Prime Minister Noda’s decision on this issue. Japan became an enthusiastic early-starter and opted for swift action rather than compromise or pusillanimity.

Whatever the outcome, Japan is taking a crucial first step in strengthening ties with its neighbors in Asia and in North America, creating opportunities and seeking to meet new challenges with vigor and positivity.

Of course, the challenges that Japan faces clearly go beyond those caused by last year’s disaster and it would be a grave injustice to all victims of the Tohoku tragedy if this did not mark a turning point. For my part, I firmly believe the current period will come to mark the start of a Japanese revitalisation. The challenge of building Japan anew is an historic one and one that Japan is determined to meet head-on.

We will not forget the loved ones; the family, friends and colleagues who were lost. Neither will we forget the continued support that Japan has received from the international community. For this we feel deeply indebted and I take this opportunity to reiterate Japan’s heartfelt thanks.

It was through catastrophe that this bond of community was forged between Japan, its neighbors in Asia, and the world. It will be through our collective efforts and renewed determination that the bond is maintained.

Noriyuki Shikata is the Secretary for Public Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office in Japan. He won The 2011 Gold Standard Award for Political Communications and has agreed to become a regular columnist in this new ’View from Japan’ column

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