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From: "Koizumi Cabinet" <
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Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 9:50 AM
Subject: [Koizumi Cabinet E-Mail Magazine No. 222] Making Japan a country whose charms appeal to foreigners (February 16, 2006)
[Lion Heart — Message from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi]
(Provisional Translation)
Making Japan a country whose charms appeal to foreigners
Junichiro Koizumi here.
The other day a public survey conducted by the BBC World Service
and the University of Maryland in the United States between October
2005 and January 2006 revealed that Japan was viewed as having the
most positive influence on the world. The results were based on
responses from approximately 40,000 people in 33 countries around
the world.
Last week, I invited foreigners residing in Japan to my office and
asked what appeals to them about life in Japan seen from the eyes
of foreigners.
Among them were a young proprietress of an old-established ryokan
(Japanese inn) who hosts her guests in a kimono in the spirit of
Japan, a company executive who restored the business of a sake
brewery, a tour guide who has climbed 90 of the 100 mountains in
Japan recognized for their scenic beauty, and a journalist who has
lived in a row house in the old part of Tokyo, built during the
Taisho Period. All of them were women from the US.
There was also a female associate professor from Canada who is
promoting Taste Japan, a campaign for people to experience the
profound charms of Japan. Also, I met a Korean lady who runs a
travel agency, who told me that lately an increasing number of
Korean tourists are visiting Japan to go golfing and enjoy the hot
springs.
And then there was a gentleman from Australia who heads a company
and promotes skiing in the winter and outdoor sports such as river-
rafting on rubber boats in the summer in Niseko Town in Hokkaido.
I also met a person from the US who is the chairman of a company
that preserves old urbane houses, as well as offers courses to
experience the traditions and culture of Japan.
There was a female associate professor originally from an inland
town in Germany who was drawn by the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea
which she now works to protect. A university professor from China
told me that he now knows that Japan is a peaceful and beautiful
country, unlike the impressions of others in his country, even
stories he had heard from his own mother. He added that he wanted
to do more to introduce these aspects of Japan to the people in his
country.
The people I met were all unique, and they taught me about the many
draws and charms of Japan that go unnoticed by the Japanese people.
Professor Shosaburo Kimura, the moderator of the meeting, says that,
"What is vital is to build a community that is women-friendly, safe
for the elderly, and easy to navigate for foreigners." He has
kindly contributed an article to this week's issue of the e-mail
magazine (Japanese version).
Three years ago the number of tourists visiting Japan from abroad
annually was five million people. Nowadays this number is close to
reaching seven million due to such factors as the hosting of the
EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan and the exemption of visa requirements for
people from the Republic of Korea and Taiwan. I intend to advance
efforts in making Japan a country that draws foreigners with the
goal of "reaching ten million people by 2010."