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 <Let’s
begin from a love of this country>
The memory of this country being destroyed strengthens daily. When did the country
of Japan become lazy like this?
The aspirations and resolutions of individuals in high positions who should have
been models of great responsibility could not be seen. The children responsible
for the next generation also wasted their own time drifting without the display
of high values from adults or society.
With the crisis of the death of the nation at losing the war, the Tokyo Junior
Chamber movement began in 1949 with the proclamation, “reconstruction of
a new Japan is the job of the youth”.
Even now we must again be cognizant of the spirit of this beginning and our social
missions, hold high aspirations and strong resolution, and build a new Japan for
the 21st century.
With a strong sense of love for Japan based on the public and individual interests
of “citizens of a nation” and “national society of individuals”,
we must accomplish this enormous feat. We should revise our warped psychological
structure that is akin to an after-effect of defeat in war and start by loving
this country.
<Missions and roles for JC in a period of major reform>
What sort of society is the “bright, prosperous society” of which
we are striving? Precisely because we are in an age of chaos we must return to
the starting point and act on our own accord to do the things that should be done.
Japan is founded on being an “independent nation”, a “democracy”,
and having a “democratic economy”. However, each of these has fallen
into a state of profound dysfunction.
While being an independent nation, the primary obligation as a nation of protecting
the lives and assets of the people is not being addressed, and our own decisions
at the time of international conflict are not being expressed
Those with voting rights do not feel the representatives they elect have any principles
or aspirations, and are apathetic towards politics itself. The result is a sad
vicious circle of parliamentarians really needed to address this issue not being
elected.
In the field of economics, as a result of doing too much, egalitarianism and various
old-fashion regulations, and even an education that does not teach challenge have
stripped the economy of vitality. While Japan has the second largest GDP in the
world, the grading of its national debt has become the lowest among the developed
nations.
It is urgent to construct a society in which the principles of “independent
nation”, “democracy”, and “democratic economy” function
distinctly. If we, the generation responsible, act on initiative, the children
of the future will be proud of their society and country, and there will be a
bright, prosperous society in which children can have big dreams and high aspirations.
What is now required is a shift from a time when JC stood alone to a time when
JC stands with others, and what we can achieve because we are JC. Now as many
NPOs operate publicly in a wide range of fields, the Junior Chamber must truly
become the foundation or backbone of the nation.
We must act as “civil citizens” who promote activities towards achieving
a fair and flat society whereby striving individuals are rewarded for activities
that help towards the establishment of a truly autonomous constitution for restoring
pride and spirit as a sovereign nation, system reform for making democracy function,
introducing a prime ministerial election system/system of fixed number of lower
house parliamentarians, making it compulsory to hold public debates at the time
of elections, and economic regeneration, and tackle compounded issues such as
involving education, welfare, the environment, and internationalization.
Policy planning and the development of the movement in various regions are essential
for solving a range of problems. We will strengthen further our ties with various
sectors including NPOs.
In addition to proposals directed at cabinet members and government officials
or intellectuals, we will establish social problem investigative and policy planning
functions that support the legislative work of parliamentarians with ties to NPOs
in various fields. From the aspects of both “social system reform”
and “reform of individual awareness”, we will also promote more specifically
activities of Jaycees as an organization and activities via individual members’
personal areas of expertise (such as social or industrial, and regional or school).
<Will reform or disappear? Actions to take again now to
instigate reform>
Tokyo Junior Chamber members take their own risks as instigators of reform and
operate at the front line for the reconstruction of Japan in the new century.
If venture companies do not grow and the economy is not activated, they themselves
create venture companies. If politics proves dysfunctional, they enter the political
arena and put reform into practice. As a public-service corporation, the Tokyo
Junior Chamber cannot support and collaborate with every member for such activities.
However, we intend to continue as an organization comprised of members that have
such spirit, resolution and power.
In previous eras of great reform it has been the youth who have sacrificed their
lives to rebuild the country. The main reason the present feeling of impediment
cannot be broken is that we youth have not fulfilled an historical mission that
should have been accomplished. In particular, we at the Junior Chamber who are
the instigators of reform must now clearly recognize the enormous significance
of that mission. If we forget our traditional social missions and become an organization
with the objective of simply surviving, we should dissolve ourselves.
After more than 50 years of being instigators of reform, are we to become simply
content with vested interests? We must precisely refute this through actual and
concrete activities and display the high values shown by the original Junior Chamber.
Without fear of discord, we will clearly provide an image of a national society
worth striving for and promote activities with high aspirations and resolution.
Let’s believe in the potential of the nation Japan and create a beautiful
and proud country! Should we also not unashamedly play a role that is perfectly
fit for Japan for the benefit of peace and prosperity in the world? I believe
that if each and every member of the Tokyo Junior Chamber exhibits such strength
in abundance, a bright and prosperous society can be realized.
As the 54th president I will fully devote myself to this role and charge ahead
with my obligations.
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Views of the President