Impressions of Japan

The piece below was written after returning from a trip to Japan, December 2006.


''One of the things that most impressed me was the tremendous attention to detail the Japanese seem to have afforded everything. The everyday routine of life is made so much easier and pleasant in Japan, toilet seats being warm in winter for example! Gifts are delicately and beautifully wrapped, food is presented as a form of high art and people work tremendously hard to do a good job.

The innovation and drive for excellence impressed me greatly. Never have I seen such cities, such buildings and such incredible design. I took endless photos of cars. In the UK,we are just about beginning to grasp the ideas of economy, compactness and low emissions in vehicle design. The Japanese, however are ten years ahead. Vehicles over there look futuristic. In actual size they are very small but manage somehow to provide plenty of space for passengers whilst looking incredibly stylish.

When we went up to the viewing platform of the Tokyo Tower (one of the tallest free standing steel structures in the world) I was reminded of the manga cartoons I had seen: acres of flashing neon, skyscrapers like something from Star Wars, highways extending as far as the eye could see, nothing but lights and city. Whereas in other countries I have visited, where technology seems either aging or imported, Japan seems to have wanted to reinvent everything, going one step further in innovation, efficiency and design. Getting back to the UK almost seemed like stepping back a century in terms of technology and organisation.

Providing a contrast to all this human endeavour, is the wonderful beauty ofJapan’s natural environment. Although we were visiting in late December, winter had come late and the autumn colours were at their best. Driving up the valley towards the volcanic spring town ofHakone, the autumn colours and landscape were simply breathtaking. Early in the morning I went to do some exercise on our hotel roof and Mount Fuji could be seen, crowned with snow and with a dramatic walnut-whip swirl of cloud around its base. Japanese landscapes are wild and yet at the same time delicate and incredibly aesthetic.

Harmony between ones surroundings and a sense of perfection and wellbeing is emphasised in cookery and traditional architecture. Sashimi represents the freshest and best cuts of raw fish, presented with shavings of Japanese horseradish, Japanese delicate vegetables and fruits cut into perfect shapes of flowers: many courses, many flavours, freshnes sand beauty. Using chopsticks allows the person to select a single morsel and enjoy that particular flavour before the next.

Famous Japanese social etiquette was at first slightly daunting but rapidly became a pleasure. Bowing when receiving things or meeting people quickly becomes second nature and great importance is stressed on ones bearing and relationship towards people and environment. Although the young people we met seemed to be less inclined to cling to the old ways, Japan still emanates centuries old culture and tradition through everyday contact.

I became aware of the determination of the Japanese people to renew and reinvent themselves.Two significant places we visited were Hiroshima,where the first Atomic weapon was used, and Kobe, struck by the great earthquake in 1995. Visiting these modern and vibrant cities today, it is as if the Japanese used such terrible events almost as tools for regeneration, improvement and growth.

A supremely pragmatic and practical people, the Japanese, throughout history have learned quickly from the world around them and responded to challenges quickly and courageously.''

Champions League Night: The Wrong Reasons

Below is my response to the BBC's 606 debate on the trouble at yesterday's Champion's League Final in Athens.

You can find this story at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A23024198?s_fromedit=1

And my original comment at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/F7373856?thread=4186669&skip=180&show=20

''Mr Gaillard uses the issues of fake tickets and people jumping barriers to blame travelling Liverpool fans. In the first instance we cannot but condemn such alleged actions. Any fan entering with a fake ticket or forcibly entering the stadium has deprived someone else who has legitimately prepared for a match of a lifetime. However, this is irrelevant when dealing in terms of reality when it comes to English football fans and massive occasions such as this. Any stadium and host nation in this day and age which puts itself forward for big events MUST be 110% firm on organisation and security. Thought has to go into ticket checking systems upon entrance, adequate space to allow for bottlenecks and perhaps even a cordon several hundred metres from the perimeter of the stadium to allow an initial ticket check. It is clear the Greek authorities and Uefa did not afford sufficient planning and thought to this event. English fans love their football fiercely. Fact. They will do anything to support their team on a big occasion. Fact. Implement proper systems, have a suitable venue and a well-organised security force to deal with non-payers. ''

Aid to Africa or Another Nail in the Coffin?

Aid agencies typically assault our emotions in commercial breaks by showing African children crying and emaciated people wandering around hopelessly to the sound of a mournful classical soundtrack. And why not? I suppose the considerable public relations machines that foundations possess these days overexert themselves to provoke feelings of collective guilt, that citizens of richer western countries should have so much when others have so precious little. It's a similar psychological tactic to the one used in tabloid newspapers; basically shock tactics equals sales. Create a reaction by getting someone to think in a certain way and you've got them hooked.

Anyway that's the subject of another discussion. Africa is a continent shrouded in myth and stereotype. Ask people for three words associated with Africa and they will probably say something like famine, genocide and AIDS. How has this come about? Without doubt Africa has experienced a litany of woes since the years of Independence. But here I wish to make the point that Aid donors and Aid Agencies have, although well meaning, created more problems than solutions.

The problems arise when agencies begin campaigns by painting too simplistic and bleak a picture in order to secure funding from the public. The message sent out is that bombarding a particular crisis with money will lead to relief. The media finds itself working on behalf of agencies, seeking out the worst most horrifying stories on the ground.

Bonanzas of aid have been shown to undermine developing countries' self-reliance, encourage dependency and perpetuate damaging regimes and failing economic policies. When a country is flooded by cheap foodstuffs local producers' prices will inevitably be driven down. There is the danger of food aid being pilfered and sold on the black market as happened in Somalia in the 1990s, or even used as a weapon, withheld from certain parts of the population for political motives. It may even be sold to buy weapons.

Among other perverse incentives governments may learn how easily obtainable aid is and therefore make no effort to institutionalise tools leading to self-reliance and reform. Any strong economy must create an environment where people are free to be productive and what produces this is sound domestic policy.

Doug Banlow* points out that few programs have consumed as many resources with as few positive results as foreign aid to economically less-developed countries. With little evidence to suggest long-term aid promotes stability and growth, in many cases it has perpetuated the regimes of brutal dictatorships (see France's steadfast support of the Hutu regime during the genocide of 1994). In truth aid, in many instances, has amounted to little more than bribery to ensure hegemony in political and geographical spheres of influence.

Instead of dwelling on the disaster scenarios the media should be encouraged to take a more balanced view of individual crises and move away from the quick-fix aid solution. Contrary to what we may think, a quick donation may ease our conscience but will not solve a long-term problem. Aid needs to be targeted in crisis scenarios as much as possible and needs to be delivered in a measured way. Most importantly trade barriers to developing nations should be lowered and nations encouraged to learn to feed themselves rather than becoming accustomed to an aid-dependent economy.

Acknowledgements

''Can Aid Do more harm Than Good?'' Henri Astier
''The Selfish Altruist'' Tony Vaux
*''Help or Hindrance: Can Foreign Aid Prevent International Crises?'' Doug Banlow
''The State of Africa'' Martin Meredith