Consul General Kawakami (Photo Courtesy of Nikka Times)
Unofficial Translation of the Interview with Consul-General Koichi Kawakami that Appeared in the Nikka Times, May 12, 2006
“This is the first time I've come to Canada and to Toronto, and I am now in the process of discovering this country,” Consul-General Koichi Kawakami, who assumed his position on April 23, serenely explained.
And his impressions of his new posting?
“Watching the comings and goings of the people of Toronto makes me feel as though I am in a United Nations building in New York or Geneva. People from a wide variety of ethnic groups are living together peacefully. This is a wonderful place. My first impression of Canada and of Toronto is exceedingly positive.”
His previous position was that of a Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. What might he have been teaching?
“The school is a national university located in the Roppongi district of Tokyo. There are about 240 students, half of whom are Japanese – people from regional local governments doing graduate work. The remaining half consists of civil servants from developing countries in southeast and central Asia and from China. I was seconded from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was teaching Japanese diplomacy in southeast Asia to foreign students in English.”
The foreign students from developing countries were studying diligently to learn from Japan's experiences in order to undertake nation building in their own respective homes. Mr. Kawakami was working as their instructor.
He received a directive from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assume the position of Consul-General in Toronto. I asked him what his aspirations here would be.
“The safety of local Japanese residents would be foremost, then securing the interests of the Japanese businesses here. As well, to increase exchange between Japan and Ontario in a wide variety of ways. I would like to undertake my duties while keeping these objectives at the core. I also am convinced that Japanese Canadians play a very important role in Japan-Ontario relations.”
Although not much time has passed since his arrival in Toronto, he has already met with several individuals in leadership positions within the Japanese Canadian community. He states he would like to meet with as many people as soon as possible.
“From my predecessor, I have inherited the task of further developing the Prince Takamado Gallery of Japan, and of successfully realizing the Noh performances in Toronto and Ottawa in November. I would like Canadians to discover the wonderful aspects of Japanese culture.”
How does he intend to approach local Japanese residents, Japanese Canadians and Canadians?
“Many Japanese businesses have made direct investments in Canada. This helps to support Canada's employment, and leads to increased exports. As well, Canadians can benefit from making use of technologies that are uniquely Japanese. This results in fertile ground on which friendship can further develop. Our relationship should even deepen as long as there is continued direct investment.”
He furthermore explains the importance of “soft power”.
“Soft power essentially refers to the charms of the country. By pointing out what is alluring about Japan, we persuade Canadians to grow fond of the country. For instance, blue jeans is an example of American soft power. In Canada, visits by such dignitaries as Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, the Noh performances, concerts by Japanese musicians and other similar activities are examples of soft power that exhibit what is splendid about Japan. If the local Japanese and Japanese Canadian communities have fascinating aspects, they also become a soft power for Japan.”
Consul-General Kawakami, 55, was born in December 1950 in Kanazawa City of Ishikawa Prefecture. He joined the Japanese Ministy of Foreign Affairs, after graduating from Tokyo University's Faculty of Law in 1976. He underwent training during his position as Attaché d'Ambassade, Embassy of Japan in France, enrolling in Université de Grenoble and the Ecole Nationale d'Administration.
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who as of late has often been making international news headlines, as well as presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, were classmates of Consul General Kawakami.
He worked at the Japanese Foreign Ministry from 1979 to 1986. He assumed the position of First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in France in 1986, and in 1989 received the Officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite decoration from the Government of France. He returned to work at the Foreign Ministry from 1989 to 1995.
He became Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Myanmar in 1995, and Counselor and Director of the Information and Cultural Centre at the Japanese Embassy in France in 1998 (Minister from 2000). He served as Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia from 2001, and taught diplomatic policy at National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies from 2003 until March of this year.
“My overseas postings thus far have consisted of France and Southeast Asia, so coming to Canada this time has been very inspiring.”
Could you at this time relate a particularly unforgettable memory from your life as a diplomat?
“In the latter half of the 1990s, I was serving as Counselor (at the Embassy of Japan) in Myanmar. That country under a military regime was experiencing repeated civil wars and ceasefires. The regions that were under rebel rule were known to be widely producing poppies, which was the chief raw material for opium. With Japan providing funding, the United Nations Drug Control Programme was implementing a project aimed toward promoting the growth of vegetables in lieu of drugs.
"We took four-wheel drive U.N. vehicles into a region occupied by rebel forces that were in a ceasefire with the government troops. The road along the way was a mud swamp, and we were often forced to pull the stuck cars out with car-mounted winches. At the same time, everyone got out into the mud and pushed them from behind, sometimes moving only 30 meters in one hour. After suffering such hardships, we finally arrived at the checkpoint of the rebel forces, and then to their command unit. There were poppies being grown as far as the eyes could see. We asked the villagers what their revenues were for growing the poppies, and learned that they received very little as producers. We implemented this project with the aim to prove to them that they could make as much money producing vegetables. Because there was no way to communicate with the Embassy, our colleagues there did not know if we were dead or alive and were extremely worried.”
He is married to his wife, Mimeko, with whom they have a son who is working at an IT solutions company in Tokyo. His hobbies include driving, photography and reading. Abe Kobo's The Ruined Map is among his favourite books.
When asked what his motto might be, he answered “teamwork”, stressing that “It's teamwork that is important, not grandstanding.”
