|
On January 31, in a session of the House of Representatives Committee on Budget, DPJ Diet member Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi followed Sumio Mabuchi to the podium, questioning Prime Minister Naoto Kan on the Cabinet’s resolve regarding the running of the government, and asking him to explain his position on the economic partnership agreements, followed by the economy, agriculture and education.
First, Yamaguchi asked what kind of nation Kan was intending to create through the budget for fiscal 2011. Kan explained his vision for Japan, saying, “Through the budget for the next fiscal year I would like to overcome Japan’s crisis through employing such concepts as ‘the opening up of Japan in our modern Heisei era’, ‘achieving a society with minimum unhappiness’, and ‘politics that rectifies absurdities’.”
Next, Yamaguchi asked Kan for his impressions of the recent Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, at which Kan had given a special address. Kan commented, “The Davos Annual Meeting was an exciting occasion for me.” He added, “In my speech, I focused on the two themes of opening up Japan and kizuna (personal ties). I put forth my idea for a society with minimum unhappiness while expressing my thoughts on how we can regenerate such ties, and received the understanding [of my listeners].”
Finally, Yamaguchi referred to the way in which the administration’s stated goal of nation-building should take place, asking what kind of education was thought to be desirable when promoting the concept of “opening up Japan”. Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Takaki responded, “I believe that we must nurture human resources who will open up the path to the future, who have a high international awareness, and are capable of communicating their own opinions on the world stage.” He stressed the importance of enhancing language education, and of promoting overseas study and universities and graduate schools that are highly competitive internationally.
Prime Minister Kan commented, “We need to put emphasis on academic ability, including basic language ability, and universities. Moreover, it is currently difficult for those who have been active overseas to find suitable employment once they return to Japan, and so we need to create an environment where going overseas will provide an opportunity to embark on other challenges.”
|
