Kiyoshi Kurokawa's blog （en）

From Seoul

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I went to Seoul from October 13th to 17tth.

Departing early morning from Tokyo on the 13th, this is to join the reunion I organized of Mr. Sadamu Sasaki, the first grandson of Dr. Gozo Sato who devoted his life to the modern time Korean medical education and Dr. Sato’s 3 students (ages 83-86), which took place in the evening of 13th.  Exactly one century has passed since Dr. Sato went to the Korean Peninsula as a staff doctor of a hospital.  It also marks the 100th anniversary of the Korean Medical Institution (now the Seoul National University College of Medicine).  Mr. Sasaki was born and lived in Seoul with Dr. Sato for his initial 14 years.  He returned to Japan in 1945 after the end of the world war and this was his first visit to Korea ever since then.  What a surprise, what a centennial coincidence.  We also visited the house where Mr. Sasaki used to live.

Photo1  from left Dr. Ishida, Mr. Sasaki, Dr. Ju, and myself

Photo2  With Dr. Ju （Vice Chairman of the Korean Academy of Sciences）

Photo3  At the Korean Medical Institution

Photo4  Keijo Imperial University School of Medicine (now the Seoul National University College of Medicine)

I hope that this visit helps to further our understanding of our history between the 2 closest countries and opens a new door to the future.  The detail of this visit is reported in Mr. Deguchi’s mail magazine （Oct. 10 and 17 edition） who joined this trip: his background is a journalist, thus write much better and professionally.  As he wrote properly of our encounter, the story is much real and very touching; I hope you have a look.

The following day, Mr. Sasaki, Dr. Ishida and I strolled around places associated with Dr. Sato.  At night, we had a “luxurious” dinner where fresh fish were cooked in front of us at the fish market.

Photo5  At the fish market in Seoul

On the 15th, I met with a charming woman scientist, Dr. Narry Kim of the Seoul National University (Photo 6).  I wanted to pay this visit because I recognize her outstanding achievement on micro RNA.  I wanted to know how she could establish her independent research as an assistant professor while being a mother of 2 children.  I will touch upon this on a different occasion.  There are things that I can’t disclose at the moment, but please look forward to the story sometime later.

Photo6  With Dr. Narry Kim of the Seoul National University

On the 16th, I joined the World Knowledge Forum held at the Walkerhill Sheraton.  The following day, on the 17th, there was a Keynote Lecture by Mr. Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State of USA. With no paper, no memo, he talked for 45 minutes right off the reel about Vietnam War, his stay in Korea, his visit to the former Soviet Union during the Cold War, his visit to China, his secret rendezvous with Gorbachev before the end of the Cold War, etc.  He shared some specific episodes with us and talked about the current China and expectations for the future.  It was such an outstanding well constructed and presented speech with full of grace.

As for me, I joined a panel with Dr. D. Bangalore who is playing an active role in India and Silicon Valley, and Yoko Ishikura who is my co-author of the book “How to build a world class career.”

After this panel, I went straight to the airport to catch a flight back to Haneda.

The aged Japan withdraws into herself

A few weeks ago, several French journalists visited some 30 leaders of political, government, business and other sectors of Japan. They also visited me. A few days later I received emails from some of them telling that somehow most of interviewees were quite pessimistic about Japan, and it seem that I was perhaps only one who firmly recognized the problems and issues in Japan and what to do with them. One of them wrote in Le Figaro, September 25th issue (document #1) and its Japanese translation (document #2) is attached.

　#1　Original (French)

　#2　Japanese translation　"The aged Japan withdraws into herself"

Interviews with foreign press are of value and should be welcome opportunities for effective public relations.

The young people and the leaders of the world, and Sir. David King of the British Embassy ～Issues and Expectations of Japan as seen from the world

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This is an activity report from October 7th to 9th from the following day after I returned back Japan from the selection of UNESCO-L’Oreal prize in Paris.  8 o'clock in the morening on October 7th, I went the BioCamp.  This is a “Camp” conducted once in a year by Novartis, the global company, for about 40 young Asian people since 2005 （Refer:1, 2）.  The first camp was conducted in Taiwan, and the keynote was addressed by Dr. Yuan T Lee, the 1986 noble prize winner in chemistry.  The second camp was conducted in Singapore, and the keynote address was given by the Science Minister Mr. Philip Yeo.  And this time, Mr. R. Horwitz of MIT, the winner of medical student noble prize of 2002, and I made the keynote address.  There were probably about 40 participants and the male : female ratio was 5 : 5.   Amongst them, there were 15 participants from Japan and the ratio was 7 : 3 which shows the large number of male participants （this means that there were more female participants from other countries）.  I was a bit sad as I had just selected a woman researcher in Paris the previous day.

I came to know later that the event was telecast in the "Mino-Monta’s" morning show on the following day for about 90 seconds, included some parts of my speech.  The program reported this camp as an example of that the private enterprise's contribution towards the growth of young people.

I had to go Kyoto just after the address.  There was the 4th STS Forum.  There was a short greeting by Prime Minister Fukuda in the morning session.  I could not reach in time for his speech and so I participated from the afternoon session.  This year, the event attendees have considerably increased to about 4 times.  It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the leaders, friends and have new acquaintances （Picture1～4）.  The discussion, such as about problems and policies of the world, have progressed quite well since the last year’s conference.  After all, there is no doubt that the climate changes or sustainable society are the main issues of the world, from the last year's conference.  In this world's issues, there are huge expectations to Japan, I think・・・.

Picture1　From left myself, Dr. Yuan T Lee, Dr. Yoshikawa and Dr. Waldvogel

Picture2　From left myself, Mr. Charles Vest and Mr. Youngsuk Chi

Picture3　From left myself and Dr. Serageldin, Egyptian ambassador and Alexandria library superintendent

Picture4  Mr. George Atkinson and Ms. Nina V. Fedoroff, the science advisor of Ms. Rice Secretary of U.S State Department

After the STS Forum, I came back to Tokyo on the 9th and I headed towards the University of Tokyo, Institute of Medical Science, from the Shinagawa station.  I participated in the speech about the vaccine development with Mr. Seth Berkley, a founder of International AIDS Vaccine Promotion Plan （IAVI）.  （We know each other since the Davos Economic Forum in 2 years ago, and we both participated in this STS Forum）

In this evening, I went dinner with the Science Advisor of British Prime Minister, Sir. David King.  Of course the topic was mainly about the G8 summit in July 2008 in Japan.  4 of my staff （member from the Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Council on Science and Technology and Science Council of Japan） were also participate.

Japan is the host country for the G8 summit, and deals with the problems of the world,  How are we trying to solve the climate changes and the problems in Africa?  How about Japan's leadership in Asia?  I feel this might be a crucial moment for Japan at the beginning of the 21st century・・・.

In the G8 summit in Germany, Japan's contribution was very high though （comparatively I do not think the evaluation within and outside of Japan was good.  It is as usual because of lack of communication strategy）, then what can Japan do about the climate change, now?  In addition to this, TICAD will be held in May 2008 in Yokohama.  In spite of the marvelous opportunity for taking leadership about the Africa issue, it is irritating that "intention of the nation (National Policy)" was not conveyed to the world in any of the themes.

I feel this is common sence of the world that Japan cannot be seen in the "rapidly moving world."  This can be said that because of the unexpected change of the cabinet, though.

Well, what do you think about this?  It's tiring, isn't it?

UNESCO-L’Oreal prize and incredible female scientists

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There is a cosmetic company named L’Oreal.  I arrived in Paris in the morning of October 4th.  I was invited as a selection committee member of the UNESCO-L’Oreal prize conducted by UNESCO to commend incredible female scientists.

The hotel I staied was Hilton which is near Arch of Triumph, the Japanese embassy, and the OECD Office of Japan.  I had lunch with the UNESCO Ambassador Kondo in the official residence and got acquainted with Mr. Akiba and Mr. Sakashita of the Science council and also accompanied by Mr. Shigeru Ban, who is a world famous architect （Picture 1）.  Presently he visits Paris every 2 weeks each month for the construction of the second centre which he won in an international competition.

Moreover, Mr. Kondo, the ambassador, has also a deep knowledge of culture and has also a book to his name called “Paris from the Malmasion Woods: 24 essays about the diplomacy and culture.”  Rising above all the expectations, he was deeply involved in the World Heritage selection of Iwami Ginzan at the conference of UNESCO in June.  The perspective of “environment” was highly evaluated.  This is an era.  At the end of June, when ambassador Kondo left Paris CDG airport for a conference at New Zealand, I was waiting at the airport for a flight to Tokyo and so we had dinner together.

Picture1　From right- Mr. Saka, myself, Ambassador Kondo, Mr. Akiba

The selection for the L’Oreal prize was on the 5th, the selection committee head was Nobel prize winner Günter Blobel and committee members were past award recipients all of whom were great people.  An old friend Mr. Nalecz（from Poland） was the representative from UNESCO.  I met him after 3 years.  5-10 people were recommended from each continent（North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Africa-Arab） and since all were incredible it was difficult to choose.  5 people from each region were selected after a lively discussion.  Please see the web site for the result.  A grand business plan seems to be planned with the ceremony in Paris on the tenth anniversary of UNESCO-L'Oreal prize next March.  Up till now, Ms. Tsuneko Okazaki and Ms. Fumiko Yonezawa of Science Council of Japan, had participated as the Japanese winners.

Picture2　With Mr. Nalecz

Picture3　Selection Committee

In the evening, I went to the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra concert.  The second number of the Brahms Concerto for Piano was played.  The conductor was Gustavo Dudamel, and Piano by Leif Ove Andsnes.  After the performance I excused myself and went to the Paris CDG airport.  I left for home by Air France at 23:30 from the same CDG airport where I had met ambassador Kondo last time.

Picture 4　Evening Orchestra

Come to think of it, this L’Oreal prize has excellent global advertising communication strategy.  In the global era, this type of special contribution from industries is considered very important as CSR, and is evaluated as intangible value.  Hence, it is necessary that the Japanese industries contribute likewise more and more.

Personal Message as a member of the President Council

We live in a time of a rapidly globalizing and changing world. As the key players in nurturing the future leaders of the global community, many leading universities are urgently attempting significant and difficult reforms, in order to meet, indeed to anticipate and surpass the increasingly challenging needs of our global society. Various reports concerning the ranking lists of universities have become extremely popular with students and their families, as they seek the best opportunities to achieve their highest educational and career aspirations. Various stakeholders of society are looking hard for the best available talents. The internet and other means of modern communication, as well as the public relations strategies of universities, have all become crucial tools for their global target audience to evaluate each college and university for services that include faculty, student activities, vibrant dynamic course contents and potential future career opportunities. Yes, the time has come for future leaders to choose the best opportunities available to them. Universities now compete to capture the best and the brightest beyond national boundaries, so that the institution can become recognized as a top university of the world; the institution where global leaders, be it business, politics, education, research, social entrepreneurs, will be more likely to come from.

The University of Tokyo has long been considered the best in Japan and it is expected to become one of the leaders of all the world’s universities. Its reputation and position in the global ranking has been quite high reflecting in part, the history of Japan and excellent government support. However, in the new global world, its evaluation seems to be slipping down, not because of quality or quantity of courses, but rather due to an insular system and a lack of openness, particularly, in the undergraduate college, where future leaders of a variety of social sectors will be nurtured. In the paradigm of an information revolution that has made our world ‘flat’ as per Thomas Friedman, key elements of creative, innovative and strong leadership must be harnessed through heterogeneity and diversity. The undergraduate years are a great opportunity to build a multi-layered human network throughout the world and a significant portion of courses should be given in English in order to create an added value for students to use in their further studies and in their careers in the global marketplace. Such courses conducted in English would also facilitate the attraction and employment of international faculty members of the highest quality, another key element of any leading university.

I am privileged to serve the President Council with its unique membership that so well reflects the intention of President Komiyama. I sincerely hope, as other members do, that the University of Tokyo will continue to strive hard to become widely recognized, by its global peers, as a leading university of the world in the age of globalization. Systematic reform of universities does not have the luxury of time, as the global competition will become harder and harder and the University of Tokyo, as its history reflects, has to play a leadership role to other universities of Japan, consistent with being a leading economy of the world.

Kiyoshi Kurokawa, MD
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo
Member of the President Council
September, 2007