Public-Policy Lab

This May, I visited  Boston , a city known for its rich history, academic excellence, and vibrant culture. One reason for my trip was to meet my son, who works at the Boston branch of a Japanese pharmaceutical company. But beyond the family visit, I had another goal, such was to observe how  Toastmasters clubs  operate in the United States. A City of Knowledge and Tradition Boston is famous as a “town of universities.” World-class institutions such as: Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are located here. It's also home to Fenway Park , the oldest baseball stadium in the United States and the home ground of the Boston Red Sox . Harvard university MIT Fenway Park Over 50 Toastmasters Clubs in Boston As a regular Toastmasters participant in Japan, I was curious about how clubs function in other countries. I was surprised to find that there are over 50 clubs within 10 miles of central Boston —a reflection of the city's strong academic a...

This chart displays the Japanese birth numbers and total fertility rate. It means the average number of babies born per woman. The baby was born nearly 3 million just after World War Ⅱ. But it decreased by around 1 million.  Annual Live Births and Total Fertility Rate(TFR) Source)The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research (IPSS),  This is the recent movement of the former chart. Despite government policy to give incentives such as supporting the education fee or fulfillment of nursery facilities, the total fertility rate hit a record low of 1.15 in 2024, and the number of newly born babies finally fell below 700 thousand. This number is around one-fourth of the baby boomer generation. Source) produced by kanagawa by using national statistics This represents the change in population by age and future projections. The elderly ratio is expected to increase to around 40%. When I returned from abroad, I felt the safety of Japan, but from around 2000, I began ...

Last Monday, I had the pleasure of skiing amidst some of the finest snow conditions I have ever experienced here in Hyogo Prefecture. The previous week brought an extraordinary amount of snowfall to our region, creating a winter wonderland that is quite rare for this area. The Japan Meteorological Agency had warned of heavy snowfall not only along the Sea of Japan coast but also on the Pacific side, where snow is rare. This exceptional weather resulted in pristine powder on the slopes, making for an unforgettable skiing experience. It is not often that we see such conditions here, and I feel fortunate to have taken full advantage of them. While regions like Hokkaido experienced record-breaking snowfalls, with Obihiro City recording 124 cm (48.8 inches) of snow in 72 hours, our local snowfall, though less extreme, was still significant and contributed to the excellent skiing conditions. As I carved my way down the slopes, surrounded by the serene beauty of freshly fallen snow, I couldn...

 I attended the memorial event commemorating the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which struck 30 years ago(January 17th, 1997). The disaster claimed the lives of over 7,000 people. Personally, I had to commute to work on foot, by bicycle, or via substitute bus services due to the extensive damage to the railway system. Regarding its restoration, the railway took approximately six months to be fully rebuilt. From this incident, people in Japan came to recognize the limitations in the ability and capacity of the statutory sector, as well as the necessity of mutual aid and the role of civil society. As a result, for instance, a new law was enacted to facilitate the incorporation of NPOs, and greater attention was given to the concepts of partnership and local governance.

  This is the best shot of Himeji Castle from Himeji station. Many foreign tourists have visited there recently. The mayor of Himeji is considering raising the entrance fee for foreign tourists. Double-standard fees for this kind of tourist facility  are not rare worldwide.

 Yesterday was Father’s Day. I thought it was a Japanese-original event. However, I recognize that the origin of the day is the movement proposed by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1909 in the US. And her father’s birthday is June.