在ヒューストン日本国総領事館
Consulate-General of Japan in Houston

I am very happy and honored to be invited here by the Japan-America Society of Greater Austin to speak to you today regarding the partnership between the U.S. and Japan, which is a topic many of you probably already have a great deal of personal insight into.It is also a very broad topic, which allows for some leeway in what I will speak about today.

 

I came to Texas as the Japanese consul general at Houston at the end of August 2004, so my knowledge regarding Texas and the United States is at best limited.As for my knowledge of Japan, I’ve been away for several years, so it’s likely that some of you know better than I what is going on there currently.Therefore, I don’t feel that I can speak with any authority regarding the partnership between the U.S. and Japan.So instead, I’d like to modify the subject of today’s topic by discussing what my impressions and experiences as consul general in Texas have been of the Japanese people living today in American society.As a matter of fact, some of you may have attended a similar lecture I gave last fall to a Japanese businessmen’s group in McAllen, Texas, and I can hear you saying that I talked too much at that presentation.Well, I began with every intention of giving a succinct thirty-minute talk but instead ended up giving a two-hour soliloquy.Today, I would like to avoid a repetition of that experience for all our benefit, and so I would appreciate it if you would give me a sign if my speech is getting too long by allowing yourselves to yawn loudly and maybe by scratching your backs too.

 

The relationship between the U.S. and Japan has deepened and expanded over the years.As mature democracies with advanced market economies, we have shared interests in world politics, national security, business, culture, human rights, global issues, and many other issues as well.Partnerships are being formed between us on many fronts for pursuing mutual goals and benefits.Our countries enjoy a long history of exchange on a grass roots level, and my role, as consul general is to promote this relationship.My job has been made easier and more rewarding by the fact that Texas has proven to be a very hospitable place to operate and get work done in, and I credit organizations such as yours for helping to make that possible.

 

There are three major groups who have ties to both Japan and the U.S.The first of these groups is composed of long time American citizens of Japanese descent, the second is composed of Japanese nationals or Japanese Americans for whom I shall use the term--new first generation--who came and made the U.S. their new home after the war.The third group includes all those Japanese who are living in the U.S. on a temporary basis such as businessmen.I shall refer to these three groups as Japan related people.They have all greatly contributed to advancing and securing a well-respected image of Japan in America, and I truly admire what they have accomplished.With this in mind, I would like to give my observations and personal views regarding them and their relation to and role in U.S. society.

 

Despite certain obstacles faced by Japanese who have made America their home, a majority of them has been able to achieve success commensurate with their potential and talents.As a result, no one in the U.S regards Japanese related people as an underclass.To the contrary, among all U.S. ethnic groups, they are perceived as being the most successful.Although I have no objection to this perception, let me convey a more comprehensive picture of them.

 

The Japanese Americans who came to the U.S. more that 100 years ago as some of the first immigrants from Asia became deeply rooted in American society.After experiencing racial discrimination and unjustifiable treatment at internment camps, they successfully mounted a redress movement after the war and went on to establish a firm and consolidated position in American society.Japanese Americans are American, so it may not be legitimate for me to comment on them, but I would like to express my heartfelt respect for what they have accomplished over the years as an ethnic group. During the past two years in Texas, I have been very impressed by the many Japanese American people I’ve had the chance to meet, and my respect for them has grown even more.

 

It was Japanese American troops during the war, well represented by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, who dedicatedly fought for their country and thereby made possible the recovery of the honor and social standing of all Japanese Americans after the war.Despite suffering the loss in casualties of nearly half of its roster, the 442nd Regiment heroically rescued the Texan 1st Battalion who were surrounded by German forces in Northern France.This event was recently recaptured in the film “Only the Brave.”For their heroism and sacrifice, the men of the 442nd Regiment were proclaimed after the war to be honorary Texans by then Texas Governor, John B. Connally. However, I feel Texas should take the initiative to do something more to honor them and to ensure that their heroic deeds will not be forgotten with the passage of time.It is my hope that Japanese Americans, who call Texas home, will take the initiative to create the most appropriate type of annual recognition for these heroes and thereby permanently imprint their achievements on U.S. history. However, time is running short, as the veterans of the 442nd are getting older.

 

Another comment I’d like to make today is in regard to my desire for Japanese Americans to achieve greater success and prosperity.I know they are among some of the most successful groups in the U.S., but I have also heard stories of there being a glass ceiling. They’ve achieved great success as doctors or engineers, but it is my hope that the 4th and 5th generation will produce more corporate business leaders.I would like for the Japanese American community to take this as their collective goal and to encourage their sons and daughters to take up the challenge of becoming world-class corporate leaders. So, my fellow Japanese Americans – remember the 442nd and get richer!

 

My message to new first generation Japanese is to learn from other Asian communities in the U.S.The driving force of these communities comes from those new so-called first generation people who came to the U.S. as refugees or for better economic opportunities.We have marveled at the success achieved by these new Asians from places such as India, Pakistan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and South Korea for example.Some Japanese after the war also came to the U.S. and stayed to find new opportunities for success, and some became naturalized.One of the striking facts about these new first generation Japanese is that they include some of Japan’s best and brightest.Japan is experiencing a brain drain as a matter of fact.However, I’m not saying they should return to Japan, but I do hope they will represent Japan well as its best and brightest and will successfully compete with other new first generation Asian Americans and of course mainstream Americans as well.

 

The new first generation Japanese came to the U.S. in pursuit of the American dream, and so I hope they will remember their original objective and realize their American dream.Compared with other groups, the new first generation Japanese may be handicapped by their smaller numbers, which makes it more difficult to be taken note of and to become influential.I want them to seek great successes rather than to be content with small ones.They should be the driving force of the community of Japan related people in America, and with that recognition in mind, I hope that they will get involved with social activities whenever possible.

 

Also, it seems to me the new first generation has even a “genetic” obligation to the Japanese race as a whole.That is to say, since the new first generation Japanese in America are some of our best, they should reproduce and have big families, and with their genes, pass on their abilities and strengths.Sorry, I know I’m getting a little personal.

 

The third group of Japan related people are Japanese businessmen and their families and any other temporary Japanese U.S. residents.In Texas, there are more than 230 Japanese firms, and they are contributing immensely to the local economies.These Japanese businessmen have won great trust and admiration in Texas with their industriousness, kindness, generosity, and honesty.We enjoy an overall good and positive image in Texas.I have also happily witnessed in recent years a rapidly growing interest in Japanese culture—our sports, animation, and food.One suggestion I would like to make is in regard to the kind of mindset we’re apt to take on while here.It could be termed as a visitor or guest mentality.We tend to see ourselves while here as visitors or guests, and we expect American society to treat us as such.Knowing their stay is temporary, Japanese society is quite generous in courting its visitors.However, in Japan, it is not easy for foreigners to overcome their status as outsiders.In order to compensate for this difficulty, we accord our visitors friendly and sometimes advantageous treatment.But in the U.S. where so many people from so many different places come, no one is accorded the special treatment given a guest.So if we Japanese cannot overcome the expectation that such treatment should be extended to us, our self-fulfillment in U.S. will be greatly constrained.In the U.S., no one cares where you’re from, what’s important is what you can do for yourself and for others or the community.However, we tend to avoid getting involved in the community, and as a result, we often fail to make the necessary connections for success.Hence, our American dream suffers from the constraints we place upon ourselves.If there is any weak point in the Japanese related community in the U.S., it is our passiveness, our unwillingness to assert ourselves in proportion to our potential, achievements, or influence.Some would argue for this reserve, believing that talent speaks for itself.Reserve is highly valued and cherished in Japanese culture, but in the U.S. it must be superseded by assertiveness.The effect of the guest mentality is that it stifles our dynamism and prevents us from growing stronger as a community here in America.I realize that many of us do not care about this, since we have our wonderful motherland called Japan to which we can return whenever we wish.However, I think this is an unfortunate way of thinking as I believe it possibly leads to the Japanese American community and the Japanese people as a whole missing out on some of the best opportunities that America has to offer.The stereotypical image of Japan as having a very closed society should be contradicted by our actions.We should be seen as a vital participant in this age of globalization, and the wisdom and experience gained from close interaction with other cultures will aid us in this effort.We can gain a greater resilience from experiencing different cultures and the stresses generated by interactions with them.It may be unpleasant to assert oneself and to thereby provoke possible confrontation, but we have to become skillful at this.I believe that if we can rid ourselves of the guest mentality, assert ourselves and get more involved with the local communities while we are here, we will be better off.

 

The other side of the coin of the visitor mentality is the legacy mentality.We Japanese possess an outstanding historical and cultural legacy.Well, I hope I don’t sound like a racial supremacist.That is not what I mean.I am only referring to the fact that for better or worse, we Japanese have stood out among our fellow Asians in the past 150 years. We take pride in our modernization and in our role as the vanguard of Asia’s modernization.We also take pride in our economic reconstruction and in our long democratic tradition.However, as with our guest mentality, we also have an unwise tendency to believe that this legacy should set us apart or grant us special treatment.The U.S., and in particular Texas, attracts and provides opportunities for success for many different kinds of people.So our guest mentality is out of place in Texas.As a matter of fact, the identity of “Asian American” has been rapidly gaining recognition in American society.There are very few Japanese, however, who are free of the psychological resistance to being mistaken, for example, for someone who is Chinese.After all we expect others to recognize Japan’s legacy and to set us apart and identify us as Japanese rather than Asian.This psychology may apply not only to Japanese people but also to Japanese Americans.It is vital however, if we are to exert any influence here, that we work to dispel this perception amongst ourselves.The Asian population in America is growing and rapidly registering its influence and presence.At the same time, unlike other ethnic groups from Asia, Japan related people are not visibly increasing in number.We are instead becoming a minority group in the Asian community.Our legacy will not enable us to grow in number or to gain political influence in the democratic society of America.So I think it’s important for us to learn from other Asian Americans and to get accustomed to working together with them for our common goals.Political influence should be garnered by the united voice of the Asian American community. We are a small group in the Asian community, but if we can consolidate our status as dynamic viable members, we can then capitalize on the dynamism generated by other Asian communities.We may also then go on to become the leaders of other Asian groups within the Asian community by virtue of our integrity or leadership abilities.I believe that these kinds of experiences will lay the foundation for the future of Japan, as they will be necessary on a grander scale to succeed globally.The challenge faced by the Japan related residents in Texas is the same as the challenge faced by the Japanese nation in the world.Therefore, our experiences in Texas will be useful to Japan when it seeks peace and prosperity in its global dealings.Texas provides the ideal classroom where we can learn how to deal with the friction of different cultures in close contact, how to assert ourselves and endure confrontation, and how to adapt to new societal modes.Out of this process we will learn the important lessons for the Japanese to survive and prosper in the 21st century.

 

The U.S. is a land of hope for all humankind with its overwhelming bounty and natural gifts.If its success is not maintained, it will be a serious blow to the entire world.Therefore, the contribution of any nation to the continued success of the U.S. is quite important.The Japan related people may prosper in this land without much involvement with its local communities, but I believe it will be to the detriment of both the U.S. and Japan if they do so.We have a very special history with the U.S.--we fought a big war and then reconciled and became good allies.So we share more than just a casual acquaintance, and I hope that the Japan related people--Japanese Americans or Japanese who are living in the U.S.--will make more than a casual effort, and in fact will make every effort to contribute to the success of the U.S. and thereby contribute to their own success as well.Out of this process we--Japan and the U.S.--will both mutually benefit.Thus, one of the most important elements of the partnership between the U.S. and Japan rests in our hands here in Texas.