 Tokyo Junior Chamber, Inc.
FY2006 57th President Katsuyuki TAKAHASHI
Tokyo Junior Chamber, Inc. FY2006 President's Policy Speech
Discuss Japan's Future in Earnest and Act Seriously
It's Our Mission, Not Duty.
How to face our nation in peril?
Dr. Steven R. Covey (author of 典he Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) proclaims that the model of interpersonal maturity goes through the three levels: 1) dependence (the stage at which an individual requires someone's support), 2) independence (the stage at which the person can think, act, and accept the results by himself or herself), and 3) interdependence (the stage at which the independent persons do not stay in solitary selves but rely on each other aiming for higher stages).
Apathetic hands-off attitudes and indifference prevailing in this country are the representation of neglected democracy, staying at the stage 1) of the maturity model. Even worse, attitudes to claim his or her own freedom or rights solely despite their hands-off approaches, which represents an irresponsible democracy, can be seen. The country that consists mainly of dependent, indifferent, and irresponsible people cannot satisfy the criteria of an independent nation. Recognizing these trends as the critical situation, I am truly concerned that our country would decline near future.
Further facilitating citizens' independence and regional self-reliance
In order to resolve the challenges, a society of regional autonomy we have promoted should be evolved further to accelerate the self-reliance.
For example, a substantial transfer of authority to each local government promotes competition among the regions. The region would decline if the social participation of the local citizens were not available. Therefore, the citizens would not be able to leave everything up to the government and would become possessed with a sense of responsibility and commitment. 撤articipation is a duty, a notion of passive action, must be changed to 菟articipation is a mission, a notion of proactive action initiated by the person's own will.
It is important to build the system in which citizens' voices can be reflected as well as the system that supports citizens' organization responsible for the administration of the local society, and to introduce the administrative reform accompanied by a fundamental financial reconstruction including the reduction of officials' roles.
By setting the establishment of a society of regional autonomy as a vision of our policies, we will develop dual approaches: policy proposals to the national government aiming to realize the vision and regional practical movement to realize an administrative reform by citizens' initiative. Through these development, we will attempt to make people aware, who are dependent on the government or indifferent to political affairs, to facilitate citizens' independence and regional self-reliance, aiming for true popular sovereignty; that is, true democracy.
For the dynamic future ? Motivate people in Tokyo 23 wards earnestly
If our country can make the people expect promising future again, the source to activate must be the people's energies. In today's atmosphere, too much importance is placed on individualism while losing involvement with others and compassion for others. I believe that opportunities to participate in the local communities will make people aware of the importance to cooperate and involve with others, a joy of contribution, and their own possibilities through experiencing actually changes in the society. This will lead to a vitality of society.
When promoting the participation, it is required to tell people earnestly why Tokyo JC proclaims the social participation of the people in 23 wards, why we promote a society of regional autonomy, and what we intend to make this region like. Following this step, we will consider the practical approaches together, and take actions.
To establish self-reliant local communities, it is important to promote practical movement in the Tokyo 23 wards where Tokyo JC develops our activities. We need to work together with citizens' organizations including NPOs, to motivate people in the 23 wards and the governmental organizations. At the time, the people who work together must be self-reliant aiming for higher stages based on interdependence and compassion, not solitary independent individuals. It will be the first step forward to a promising and dynamic future.
Our mission, as an activator of reform
What does the society ask for Tokyo JC? What are the things achieved only by us? What is Tokyo JC's meaning to exist, as an organization different from other economic organizations or citizens' organizations including voluntary groups and NPOs? The answers can be derived from our characteristics.
The first answer is our attitude to keep fair and neutral standpoint. Some members may join other organizations with certain opinions or support a political party as an individual. However, Tokyo JC itself does not belong to any organizations or political parties ? it is in the fair and neutral position. Keeping such attitude especially towards political affairs articulates our standpoint that we would not seek for our own interests, collusion, or certain rights only. Tokyo JC is an organization to appeal an ideal image of this country as well as basis and principles in a straight logic, thinking of the future and directions of this country seriously.
Second answer is an attitude to take actions in frontline, not just giving proposals. Based on the reliance built by the predecessors, Tokyo JC can collaborate with other organizations and/or the governments promptly. It is one of a few organizations that can take a realistic approach to realize a policy.
Third answer is its 適eep Young composition. Tokyo JC set a retirement age of 40 so that the organization is kept young. It is an organization of a responsible generation with possibility to keep acting even 30 years later.
With these characteristics, Tokyo JC should seek for an ideal image of this nation, not with stopgap visions but with our future-oriented policies based on the image of the country Japan should pursue, and should develop a movement ahead of our time, not following the time. Our significance of existence must be our attitude to present a sound argument, even though some people might regard it as a naïve, square opinion. And then we will take actions based on our past experience.
For many years, the problems have been handled just as a precedent, or postponed to the future, so they are now accumulated. We are not allowed to pass whole of them to the next generation. Introducing paradigm shift with a sense of mission and responsibility, Tokyo JC, an activator of reforms, is what this era requires for the movement.
As a representative of the responsible generation
What is the country supposed to be about? (Basis) What should we do to be what it needs to be? (Principles) If such basis and principles were clearly presented to the citizens at first, they would understand the necessity of the reform, and would recognize what they should do spontaneously. If we just keep appealing our own freedom and rights, our country goes ahead toward destruction. To halt the trend and present another direction to develop a prosperous country is the commitment to the future that Junior Chamber, which represents the responsible generation, should make. We should be afraid to be criticized not today, but in future.
With its huge task of rebuilding new Japan, we, Junior Chamber, must be an activator of reforms and creations, always envisioning the future and pursuing essential objectives, not restrained by constraints.
In any age, there are things to tackle with all efforts. This is our responsibility for a dynamic future.
As the 57th President, I will take actions together with our members, having high spirit and unshaken commitment, with ardent passion form the bottom of my soul.
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