Spring is a season of transitions. It appears solely lately that soft-pink blossoms decked the sakura bushes in Japan. However now, pops of recent verdure have already began to seem.
After being delivered to a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is on the transfer once more, and other people’s hearts are responding to the change. The facility of nature by no means ceases to astonish.
Diplomacy between heads of state can be quickly choosing up. On March 21, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida paid a shock go to to Kyiv, Ukraine to carry talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, touring from India the place he had been on an official state go to. Crucially, this passed off proper when China’s President Xi Jinping was visiting Moscow to satisfy Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
Not way back, Kishida’s journey would have been unthinkable for Japan — a rustic that has lengthy averted going through the potential for struggle.
Sadly, it’s nonetheless too early to foretell when Russia’s struggle of aggression in opposition to Ukraine will finish. However it may be acknowledged unequivocally that this struggle is reshaping Japan and the world.
The True Face of Japan
JAPAN Ahead is an English-language information and opinion web site devoted to presenting the true face of Japan. Our each day updates vary from worldwide politics and home affairs to cultural matters like sakura. We additionally provide evaluation from actual Japanese views on elementary questions pertinent to all, similar to why wars happen.
However what has lately stood out is a string of reports tales on failures, as if to warn us of the decline in Japan’s science and know-how.
For instance, the maiden launch of Japan’s next-generation heavy-lift launch automobile H3 failed on March 7, 2023. In November 2022, ultra-small lunar lander OMOTENASHI didn’t change into the primary Japanese craft to land on the moon.
On prime of that, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries deserted the event of Japan’s first jet airliner SpaceJet and withdrew from the enterprise.
However we should not be disheartened. Dr Hideo Itokawa, the daddy of Japanese rocketry, was no stranger to failure. In actual fact, considered one of his most well-known quotes is “In life, it is very important have a historical past of failures.”
The article under by The Sankei Shimbun was revealed in English on JAPAN Ahead on March 15. It displays on the story of Dr Itokawa’s life and needs the H3 rocket workforce renewed vigor for a profitable launch.
Past the Mountain of Errors
I need to confess that, though I’m the editor in chief of JAPAN Ahead, I’ve additionally made a mountain of errors in my life. Earlier this 12 months, I used to be given the chance to talk in entrance of sophomore and junior college students at my alma mater, Worldwide Christian College Excessive College.
The theme of my speech was “Know the World and Take into consideration Japan.” I brazenly shared a small portion of my quite a few failures, together with my shockingly poor grades and failed college entrance exams.
My intention wasn’t to focus solely on failures. However I used to be reminded of the significance of constructing errors as I fastidiously learn every bit of suggestions from greater than 160 college students compiled by the varsity:
“I used to be struck by your phrases, ‘It doesn’t matter what you expertise, that have will at all times form who you’ll change into sooner or later.'”
“It was a wake-up name for me if you mentioned we have been allowed to make errors.”
“When a foreigner requested me about Japan, I wasn’t capable of give a solution. The expertise made me wish to be taught extra about Japan.”
Shaping the Future
I had a terrific time connecting with these younger college students whose sights have been set on their futures. I hope to have extra alternatives like this.
With out being impeded by the worry of failure, JAPAN Ahead will proceed to problem itself to change into a one-of-a-kind media outlet.
We hope to exhibit to the younger era that there’s at all times one thing to be discovered from failure — and that failure is, in actual fact, the important thing to success.
Hear considered one of Japan’s biggest know-how minds, Naozumi Takezawa focus on this theme together with different angles on success and his friendship with Ryuichi Sakamoto on April 11 (Tue) in individual or on-line.
Look ahead to the subsequent concern of “Tokyo Outlook” in Might.
Grow to be a Supporting Member of JAPAN Ahead
JAPAN Ahead is now in its seventh 12 months! Be part of us as we proceed to share the true voice of Japan with the world. For inquiries, please name 0570-033-433 (Sankei iD) or e-mail us at data@japan-forward.com.
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Creator: Yasuo Naito, Editor in Chief, JAPAN Ahead
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