FROM THE EDITOR (IWAO Sumiko)

CHRONOLOGY (May - June 2002)

THE POLARIZATION OF EDUCATION (KONDÔ Motohiro)

A Positive View of the New Curriculum (KATÔ Yukitsugu)

In April this year revised curriculum guidelines were implemented in Japan’s elementary and middle schools, featuring a shorter school week and the launching of “integrated study” periods to take up topics not covered in the regular school program. Katô has been tracking the results in three elementary schools that have been carrying out integrated study and aiming for individualized instruction since the 1980s. One key aim is to achieve a better balance between time spent on structured teaching of the basics and time spent more enjoyably. (Sekai, June 2002)

The Truth About Declining Scholastic Achievement (KARIYA Takehiko, SHIMIZU Kôkichi, SHIMIZU Mutsumi, MOROTA Yûko)

Based on a comparison of test results from a set of elementary and middle schools in 1989 and 2001, there appears to have been an alarming drop in pupils’ achievement levels over the past decade, following the education ministry’s adoption of a “new view of scholastic achievement” emphasizing children’s motivation and interest over rote learning. Average scores on a set of basic elementary school arithmetic questions plunged from 80.6% to 68.3%. Public schools must take more responsibility for ensuring that basic material is taught in an easily understood manner and is understood by children. (Ronza, June 2002)

JAPAN IN A CHANGING WORLD (WATANABE Hirotaka)

Washington Takes an Alarming Turn (TERASHIMA Jitsurô)

A calm look at the United States’ conduct after September 11 reveals the image not of a great global leader but rather of the hero of a cowboy movie. And the Bush administration is veering into even more dangerous territory as it considers plans for an attack on Iraq. At this juncture Japan should establish its policymaking autonomy and work toward a scaling down of the U.S. military presence on its territory. (Sekai, June 2002)

A More Assertive Economic Diplomacy (NARIAI Osamu)

Japan has been providing large amounts of official development assistance to other countries, but it has not clearly articulated the philosophy underlying this foreign aid. The focus over the years was on the “Japanese model” of economic development, but not enough was done to explain how this differed from the Western free-market model. The task before Japan now is to elucidate an alternative to Anglo-Saxon capitalism. Another priority is to achieve closer regional cooperation in Asia. And to serve as the base for its economic diplomacy, Japan must implement its own reform agenda at home. (Voice, June 2002)

Environmental Governance in Asia: Toward a Regional Approach (YOSHIDA Fumihiko)

The environment has taken a back seat to economic development in East Asia since the 1980s, and now the region is paying the price in the form of environmental degradation. Many of the problems, such as acid rain, span national borders. Asia can learn from the example of Europe, which has made considerable progress toward policy integration on regional environmental problems. One idea would be to set up an Asian institution modeled on the European Environmental Agency. (Ronza, June 2002)

LEGISLATING FOR AN EMERGENCY (KAWACHI Takashi)

A Basic Law on National Security (NAKASONE Yasuhiro, interviewed by ÔSHIMA Shinzô)

The government has drafted a set of bills intended to deal with national security emergencies, but the underlying framework is still missing. An institute headed by former Prime Minister Nakasone has drafted a proposal for a basic law on national security to provide this framework. In addition to securing passage for such legislation, the government should revise its interpretation of the Constitution to allow the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. Consideration should also be given to the defense of the sea lanes on which Japan depends for the supply of oil and other resources. (Seiron, June 2002)

REPORT CARD ON THE KOIZUMI REFORMS (NARIAI Osamu)

Pressing Ahead with the Reform Program (TAKENAKA Heizô)

Koizumi’s minister of economic and fiscal policy likens the first year of the reform program to an approach run. The public has largely come to recognize that structural reform is essential for Japan’s future prosperity. The next two years are to be a period of intensive adjustment, focused on energizing the economy. This will be followed by concentrated efforts to overhaul the tax system and balance the national budget. (Chûô Kôron, June 2002)

Recovery from Recession May Take Decades (KOBAYASHI Keiichirô)

During the 1990s the government attempted to prop up the economy with fiscal stimulus. But this approach is no longer sustainable, because the national debt has ballooned to unmanageable proportions. Meanwhile the public has lost confidence in the future of the economy. The government should balance three elements in its economic policy: (1) disposing of bad loans, (2) fighting deflation, and (3) revamping the business sector’s business model. Completing the process is likely to take another 10 to 20 years. (Bungei Shunjû, May 2002)

The Inevitability of Change (MATSUMOTO Ôki, interviewed by MIYAO Osamu)

Japan has ample technology, capital, and human resources. The problem is that they are not being allocated optimally, partly because people have yet to recognize the shortcomings of the system under which the country achieved its growth after World War II. If Japan wants to maintain its global standing and economic scale, it will have to bring its setup more in line with the West. Though there is no need to follow the American model slavishly, the Japanese can learn from America’s flexibility in dealing with changing circumstances. (Voice, May 2002)

ASIAN FOCUS

Tapping Tokyo's Great Potential (OJIMA Toshio)

From an international standpoint, Tokyo’s position has been declining sharply. Concerted efforts are needed to make it more competitive with major cities in other countries. Among the untapped resources that should be used are the massive amounts of wasted water, energy, and materials, the underutilized land of the metropolitan area, and the potential of Tokyo’s many universities. The area around Waseda University is a prime target for urban renewal. (Chûô Kôron, June 2002)