Yasuo Saito has learned many things during his recent tour of the southern United States, but none more interesting than the meaning and pronunciation of the word, “y’all.” Saito, Former Ambassador of Japan, and a group of panelists were on campus for the Seventh Annual Introduction to Asia Conference.
Sponsored by The Freeman Foundation, the UTC College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies, the Japanese government, and the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta (TECO), the conference featured programs on Japan and Taiwan.
Speakers for the Japanese portion of the conference included the former ambassador, a diplomat, a trading company employee, a think-tank researcher, and a current university student. For the Taiwan section, the Director General of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta, Steven Tai, presented “Taiwan & the US: Closer Than You Think,” and Director of UTC Asia Program Dr. Lucien Ellington presented “Taiwan’s Cultural and Tourist Treasures.”
The speakers from Japan were selected to participate in a government-sponsored program called “We Are Tomodachi,” loosely translated into “We Are Friends.” The group visited the southeastern cities of Memphis, Tuscaloosa, and Birmingham before making their way to Chattanooga.
“We’re visiting different parts of the United States to talk about today’s Japan. We hope our talks will deepen the mutual understanding between our two countries,” Saito said.
During his presentation, Saito delved into issues related to the Japanese economy and politics. He focused on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe’s plan to curb deflation.
“Abe’s approach is three-pronged. He wants to employ an aggressive monetary policy, a flexible fiscal policy, and a growth strategy to restore consumer confidence and ignite the dampened economy. It’s not easy to eliminate deflation, but we’re on the right path.”
Saito also mentioned the current political climate in Japan, including the country’s strained relationship with neighboring China and prospects of Japan taking a more active role in combating international terrorism.
“Like the United States, we’re facing the challenge of the rise of China. China has passed us in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and continues to increase their military spending. They’re not a threat—per say—as long as they respect international law. If they do that, the rise of China will be beneficial for the international community,” he said.
“Japan wants to make a more active contribution to the stability and safety of our region and support the fight against international terrorism. Last July, cabinet members adopted a policy to relax a part in the Japan’s Constitution that disallows the use of military action for collective self-defense. Public opinion is split on this issue. Some people fear that Japan may eventually be forced into a war far away from the country, but officials see it as necessary step to be able to make a greater contribution to regional and global peace and security,” he continued
The economy and political stability is a hot topic for many in Japan, but none more so than for Mio Iwai, another panelist at the conference. Iwai is a student at the University of Tskuba, one of the country’s oldest and largest colleges. She will graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in international law. During her break-out session, she discussed her job searching process with a group of UTC students.
“In Japan, it’s hard to get a job without a college degree. A bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement for many jobs now. The job hunting environment is very competitive. During the interview process, you have to take written tests like surveys and personality questionnaires. If you pass, you’re invited to back to do multiple interviews, often with dozens of other people. It’s tough, but I’m optimistic,” she said.
