Public-Private Partnerships
My second point involves separating the roles of the public and private sectors in this area of cultural diplomacy. Now, of course the main task of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to be involved in the creation of global rules. As professionals that the people of Japan count on, our task is to push forward in the creating of frameworks through which content originating in Japan can more easily spread around the globe, such as in the area of protecting intellectual property.
In addition, I would like to see us pursuing a fundamental strengthening of education in Japanese as a foreign language. One of the best means of spreading an understanding of Japanese culture in foreign countries is without a doubt increasing the number of learners of Japanese. Let me ask you this now: do you think that the number of students of Japanese around the world is increasing or decreasing?
Seeing as the Japanese economy was in a slump for so many years, you might be inclined to guess that the number of people with an interest in Japanese has been decreasing, but you would be mistaken; the number is, in fact, increasing.
According to a survey conducted by the Japan Foundation, an independent administrative institution affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 1990 there were 980,000 people studying Japanese as a foreign language around the world, while in 2003 there were some 2.35 million. So the number of students has more than doubled over that time.
I got to thinking about what might account for that, and it occurred to me that the theme songs of anime shows on TV are in Japanese. Naturally, there would be an increase in children with an interest in the Japanese language as a result. That is to say, Japanese pop culture has generated an interest in the Japanese language that is entirely different from anything we have seen in the past.
This is where we need the Japan Foundation to step up to the plate. I hope that the Japan Foundation makes a fresh start in this area in earnest, paving the way abroad, by making the Japanese Language Proficiency Test easier to sit for, or setting up and running model Japanese language classrooms in various countries, or creating standardized textbooks, as just some ideas worth pursuing.
At the same time, you in the private sector can help by making more and better use of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You should think of our Ministry as Japan's largest overseas corporation.
Our overseas branches\that is to say, Japan's embassies and consulates\can be found in no less than 116 countries, at a total of 189 locations. The people there are specialists well-versed in both the local language and the local culture and on par with any major trading house. We have a significant number of specialists with skills in Urdu and Swahili and the like, and we carry only one product, namely, Japan.
As a point of fact, we are more than ready to make inroads into areas abroad by utilizing the new content coming out of Japan, and so I think that you will find that we are able to create a true win-win relationship.