テキサス大学エルパソ校での講演 2006年3月13日在ヒューストン日本国総領事 加茂佳彦
It is always a pleasure to come to a university campus and to speak before a well-informed audience.As a Consul-General looking after Texas and Oklahoma, I have been to various cities in both states.Every city has its own character and uniqueness, but nowhere in Texas have I felt such an exotic atmosphere as in El Paso.So today, I would like to share my knowledge and thoughts about the relationship between Japan and El Paso, and give you a few tips on how to turn out to be a globally successful person from El Paso.
There are two outstanding Japanese who have connections with El Paso. One is Juko Shiga, a geologist and the other is Tadamichi Kuribayashi, a Lieutenant General in the Pacific War.Both of their stories bring us to two famous battle fields: the Alamo and Iwo-jima. One hundred and seven years ago, when Juko Shiga visited San Antonio, he was touched by the story of 150 brave soldiers at the Alamo and read a poem honoring their Bushido spirit.Later he presented a monument with that poem engraved on it to the City of San Antonio and the monument is now at the Alamo. Shiga also visited El Paso, and when he stopped by at the town of Alpine on his way to El Paso, he suggested building an astronomical observatory.In later years, his suggestion was brought to realization when McDonald Observatory was built in FortDavis.
Iwo-jima is well known as a garrison island where Japanese soldiers died honorably.Actually, this is the only battle field where the American causalities outnumbered the Japanese. Lieutenant General Kuribayashi was the one who took command of this battle.He studied in Buffalo, New York, before the war, and he also visited FortBliss in El Paso at that time.
Why did the U.S. troops go through such a bitter battle at Iwo-jima?Iwo-jima, located in the middle of mainland Japan, and Tennian Island which was the strategic base of the U.S. Air Force needed Iwo-jima as a feed point for the U.S. bombers to refuel or to make a safe return after they attacked Japan.
Iwo-jima is also known for the most famous battle photo in the world.You have probably seen this photo before where American soldiers are raising the Stars and Stripes, but you probably didn’t know that the pole for this flag was a steel pipe from a water tank belonging to the Japanese troops.Both Japanese and American troops fought well in this battle.I hear that veterans of both sides are now reconciled beyond the animosity.
Japan and the United States were once enemies and have become allies.Since World War II, the U.S. Army Base at FortBliss has become the symbolic place and pillar of friendly relations between Japan and the U.S.The Japanese Self-Defense Force has conducted missile target practices here since the Japan-U.S. Security Alliance was formed in 1951 and each year several hundred Japanese military personnel are routinely visiting Fort Bliss for training.
Under the Japan-U.S. Security Alliance, many servicemen came from the U.S. and are living in Japan.Many of them feel friendly toward Japan and some of them have taken Japanese wives back to the U.S.There are many Japanese wives of GIs and many pro-Japanese GIs in Texas, which is a state with a large number of military bases.
By the way, the first Japanese who lived in El Paso was Hideyoshi Tsuchiya.Tsuchiya, who moved here in 1895, ran a bamboo ware store and performed demonstration sales under a cotton tree in the city.He later moved to Mexico City, following his Mexican boss.I find it interesting that the way he came and went between Mexico and El Paso with a primitive manufacturing business mirrors today’s Japanese business style in this area.
There are 25 Japanese Maquiladora companies in El Paso.Major industries include automobile parts and electronic goods manufacturing.These Japanese companies create huge employment both in El Paso and in Mexico.There are about 400 Japanese nationals residing in El Paso, including 120 businessmen and 70 Self-Defense Force personnel.They all enjoy living in lively, safe and clean El Paso.
Now I would like to touch on the business style of Japanese Maquiladora companies.Usually these Japanese companies have the administrative function on the U.S. side and the Japanese staff is stationed here.Although there is little or no local employment for managerial positions at these offices, there is a great demand for skilled workers at the manufacturing sites.Skill and experience are a powerful leverage in finding jobs.Many Japanese companies offer business intern opportunities that sometimes open up a way to get a job in a particular company.
Some big manufacturing companies that have sales departments in the United States practice a different business style.They usually hire American managers as executive officers.Local sales cannot be carried out by the Japanese staff alone.
I think learning the Japanese style of management is beneficial, especiallyJapanese style of the decision making process, which is the bottom to the top style, is worth knowing. Good communication and information sharing among the staff, another characteristic of the Japanese management style, may serve you well in any work place.
Business with Mexico is certainly of great interest to Maquiladora companies.In this regard Japan and Mexico have signed a bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in September, 2004.The Japan-Mexico EPA has not only broadened Japan’s access to the Mexican market, but it has also opened the gateway to North and South America as Mexico concludes the Free Trade Agreement with 42 counties, including the U.S., Canada and Latin American nations.Furthermore, the agreement eliminates Japan’s disadvantages in areas such as tariff, service, investment and government procurement, and Japan is treated equally with its competitors, including the U.S., Canada and EU.
Also, a joint committee has been established in order to improve the business environment in areas such as protecting the intellectual property rights, strengthening security and recovering credit.
Now, let me get back to Texas.The first relationship between Japan and Texas goes back to cotton trade in the 19th century.About 100 years ago, Japanese immigrants led by rice farmers first settled in Houston.Rice farming even spread as far as the Rio Grande area.Because of the close relationship between Japan and Texas due to cotton trade and rice farming, our Consulate in Houston was established in 1941.
Today, Japanese companies are shifting their investment in the U.S. from the East and West coasts to the Southwest area.Texas, being a state with a good business environment, was instrumental in this movement.There are 230 Japanese companies doing business in Texas, and there are 76 factories statewide.Japan is ranked 5th in terms of the amount of investment in Texas and 3rd in terms of the job creation.
Texas’s export to Japan amounts to 2.7 billion dollars and ranks as the 7th largest exporting country.Only about 5 years ago, the Japanese economy was at its lowest point and some people even said it might follow the pattern of the failed economy of Argentina.The sovereign credit rating of the government bonds fell to the same level as Botswana. However, even at this worst period of the Japanese economy, Japanese companies doing business in the U.S. fared rather well.This is actually the best kept secret about the Japanese economy.
Japan is still the No.1 country in terms of the U.S. export market outside of NAFTA countries; Japan is the No. 2 country in terms of foreign investment in the U.S.; and Japan is the No.3 country in terms of job creation in the U.S.Not to mention the fact that Japan’s GDP is larger than that of China, India, Korea, Taiwan and ASEAN countries all put together.
Texas is a land of grace where rich resources such as cattle, cotton and oil have supported the economy.Texas also has a unique and independent atmosphere which comes from its history of independence in separating from Mexico and current close relations with Mexico.If the United States is pictured as the window of opportunity for human beings, Texas is the mirror that reflects the future of American society.Therefore, watching Texas carefully will help predict where the United States will go from here.
One of the factors to be looked at is the population change.It is said that the Hispanic people will be the majority ethnic group in Texas within 15 years.There are about 40 million Hispanic immigrants nationwide, and this number is estimated to be increasing by 1 million a year.How to tackle the immigration problem is a serious issue for the United States.
The border area with Mexico is the fastest growing area in Texas.It is along the border where the future aspiration of all the Latinos would gather.The United States absorbs its energy from the Hispanic immigrants.Part of the great future of Texas lies in the mutually beneficial relations with this frontier called Latin America.
What can be done to encourage the mutual success of Japan and Texas?Japanese companies operating in El Paso hope to see that their successful business model, which means the cooperation of Japanese technology, Maquiladora labor, and the American market, will continue to thrive.El Paso is expected to provide efficient business management functions and a good living environment.
Over the mid-term, Japanese companies may find it attractive to do business in El Paso because of the experience of working with Hispanics and the huge market of the U.S.Having the experience of working together with Hispanic people will help understand the future of America.
There are additional opportunities in the market areas where Japanese companies have not yet been successful.For example, no one in Texas was interested in buying into energy conservation or environmental technology in the past; however, the business trend is changing, and I think there are opportunities for Maquiladora companies to enter this market.
The Japan-Mexico EPA enabled Japanese companies to have better access to the Mexican market.Now, is there a comparative advantage by entering Mexico from El Paso?I don’t know, but the example of the bamboo ware business of 100 years ago may tell you something.
Now, let’s broaden our view to the global issues and talk about East Asia.I want you to know more about East Asia.East Asia is the fastest growing area in the world.Yet, the Cold War structure still remains there.There are unsolved issues related to the Korean Peninsular and Taiwan, for instance there are some territorial disputes among the East Asian countries.East Asia is therefore a volcano of global growth and a warehouse of explosives at the same time.
What is happening in this area now?In the 19th century, the power game between Great Britain and Russia took the stage in East Asia.With the emergence of Japan in the 20th century, the United States took over the rule of the British and confronted Russia.Now that the Cold War is over, it is said that the U.S. and China are the next rivals who will compete against each other over interests in East Asia in the 21st century.
The emergence of China as a major power is, of course, not negligible when we talk about East Asian dynamics.China has built up its national power through rapid economic growth and military expansion.There is still a debated issue of the legitimacy of the control of the communist regime and nationalism under that regime.
Meanwhile, Japan is becoming a “normal country.”As Japan tries to become more assertive, neighboring countries such as China and Korea, which have domestic troubles and territorial disputes, become vigilant of Japan’s movement.ASEAN countries indirectly support the peaceful rise of China.This is partly because most of the ASEAN countries’ economies are dominated by the Chinese.India is also becoming a huge power along with China.India implicitly gained recognition as a “nuclear power” as they continue to achieve economic development.The following are additional footnotes concerning Japan and China, the two major players in East Asia.
The Japanese economy has shown steady recovery.The GDP growth is about 5.5% now and the deflation economy is coming to an end.The Bank of Japan made an announcement on March 10th that they will cancel the quantitative monetary easing policy.
The next challenge for the government is the reconstruction of finance.The amount of both central and local governments debts almost equals 150% of the GDP which is at the worst level among the developed countries.Also, declining birth rate and an aging society are forcing spending cuts and tax increases.The Japanese government is dealing with an explosive issue called “pension system reform” and government administrative reform is required too.
Japan is said to be going through a transition period, without clear vision for our future. We are concerned about several new issues such as economic disparity, decline of the birth rate, amending our Constitution, and “NEET” which is the problem of the increasing number of young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training. Japan enjoys a mature economy, but therein lies both the strength and weakness in the economy.
China’s economic growth is truly remarkable.The country has a population of 1.3 billion and is continuing to grow at an annual growth rate of 9.4%.The China bloc, Taiwan and Hong Kong included, now has about the same size economy as Germany, and China itself may surpass Japan by 2025.Economic growth is the most essential condition for China’s social stability.China owes 70% of the GDP to trade, and 70% of export companies are joint ventures with foreign companies, which means China’s economy is heavily dependent on international society.
For this reason and others, China prioritizes to maintain its good relationship with the United States.The relationship with the U.S. is the more important issue for China than the Taiwan issue.China generally enjoys friendly relations with Russia, India and ASEAN countries too.However, the relationship with Japan is on the downside, since China can afford a tough policy toward Japan, thanks to the good relations it currently enjoys with other major players in East Asia.
Although China is developing economically, there are still unstable elements behind that.They include disparity of income, environmental destruction, water shortage, excess production, inefficient use of energy, absence of the rule of law, human rights oppression, and one-party dictatorship.Japan could become a model for good governance and equal society for China.
China is also making an approach to Latin American countries.Although their relations are basically the diplomacy of energy and resources, China is possibly mapping out a strategy to approach the countries such as Cuba and Venezuela with which the United States does not enjoy the most cordial relations.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the following points: First, take full advantage of the uniqueness of El Paso.El Paso is the center of Pan America with a bilingual culture.Second, discover and achieve your full potential.Promising human resource who may lead the future of America can be developed here.El Paso can be a bridge between the U.S. and Latin America.Have a broad perspective of Pan America and be a bright leader who bears the transformation of the United States, a country of hope for Hispanic peoples.Third, be aware of East Asia.Have interest in that area and consider it as the second frontier.The success and development of Asian-Americans in Texas and California can be organically/systematically connected to further development of Hispanics.And finally, learn and benefit from Japan.Japan has both strengths and weaknesses.High technology, cultural power and civil maturity in Japan can be utilized.In my view, triangular cooperation between America, Hispanics and Japan is an interesting idea with great potential.
El Paso has been seen as an El Dorado, a city filled with golden opportunities and potential, and there is another El Dorado for you and that is East Asia including, of course, Japan.I hope you will be able to visit to explore, discover and eventually achieve great successes there.
Muchas Gracias.