On May 29, 2021(Saturday), the 19th Japan-Korea Asia Future Forum ended successively. This forum was supposed to be held at Tokyo in March 2020. But, due to the pandemic of COVID-19 we had the forum on Zoom Webinar (web-seminar) style. SGRA, who has been undertaking global communication proactively took an initiative to organize the forum using “ON-TACT” in COVID-19. (*ON-TACT: Korean English. External activities using ON-LINE) As concern Japan-Korea relations, it is not so easy to find contacting point though there is a sign of improvement, such as regime changes in Japan and America or different from the precedent sentence at the Korean court. Then, what to do? What shall we do to break the status quo? What will the government do? What will the researchers of Japan-Korea relations do?At this Forum, four specialists from both countries each exchanged their opinions “what shall we do at crossroads of the Japan-Korea relations?”  The Forum started by the opening speech by Ms. Junko Imanishi, Representative of SGRA and key-note speeches by two specialists from Japan and Korea each followed. Firstly, Mr. Masao Okonogi, Emeritus Professor of KEIO University made his speech under the title “Present stage of the Japan-Korea relations – Where are we now?”. It is not easy to improve Japan-Korea relations in short period considering the political schedule. But, in the long run, if we would consider the birth of new identity and alternation of generations, we will be able to accelerate to bury the unfortunate past. In the United States, the Biden Administration calls their allied Countries and friendly Nations for their solidarities against China as their strategic competitor. Both Japan and Korea, which exist just between America and China, shared the strategies that they would improve mutual image and take the initiative to share their broad recognitions. They emphasized the reconfirmation of the joint declaration by Kim Dae-Jung (ex-President of South Korea) and Keizo Obuchi (ex-Prime Minister). Professor LEE Won-deog, Kookmin University reported Japan-Korea relations from Korean viewpoint. He diagnosed reversal phenomena in their relations which became remarkable through its transit their offense and defense and emphasized that it is desirable for Japan and Korea to promote their multi-layered and multi-dimensional cooperation in the circumstance that strategic competition between America and China are being intensifying. Korea must establish their foreign policy against Japan on their strategic thinking and national interest without getting swayed by emotion of masses. They must start reading Japanese properly.As to the issue of conscripted workers, he presented four scenarios.Scenario-1: “Leave it (Maintain the status quo)”Scebario-2: Resolution by subrogation (establishment of foundation)Scenario-3: Judicial Resolution (The International Judicial Court)Scenario-4: Political Resolution (Abandonment of Reparation or Formular by KIM Young-sum)　　Among those scenarios, Professor Lee said Scenario 4 is the most suitable. We got down to the debate. Mr. Shen Yuxian, ex-Director of Editorial Department of The Dong-a Ilbo, asked Professor Okonogi that “Is there any solutions to improve the relations between Japan and Korea by sharing their internal mind and future vision, not by external factors or the past example?” He pointed that “In order to make those solutions possible, it is necessary to think who, when and how people should do? And consciousness and persuasion, open attitude by leadership and political world and sharing international cognition would be an answer to the solutions.” Mr. Atsusi Ijyu-in, Chief Researcher of Japan Center for Economic Research, commented on the opinion by Professor LEE Won-deog that it is not easy to establish “Big Alliance against China” by the Industrialized Nations. It is realistic to organize order-made linkages depending on individual theme, such as securities, technology, supply chain and human right etc. As to the Japan-Korea relations, how about the utilize of such dealings and sharing the strategies? Part 2 (Free discussion):Associate Professor Jin Zhiying, Hanyang University surveyed the situation as follows:In order to solve the complexed conflicts between Japan and Korea, the key is to solve first the issues on conscripted workers and comfort women be retrieved. It will be difficult to ask the Suga Administration (Japan) for apology or to keep flexible attitude for Korea.          Professor Susumu Kohari, University of Shizuoka emphasized as follows: It will be necessary to have a balanced “Realism and Idealism” in mutual cognition among people of both Countries. He worries about people’s recognition toward other country which were formed from their quasi-surroundings which came from “the society in their mind” (not from direct experience) under the situation “Total interruption of human exchange under COVID-19 pandemic”. We should deal with this matter by promoting ON-LINE dialogue etc. Professor Junya Nishino, KEIO University suggested as follows: Both countries are trying to understand the other by leader’s behavior. But we should pay attention more to the fact that the other society is diverse from their own and it is quite common. It is important also to understand the recognition of the other toward international order and how they develop the strategy and policy basing on such recognition. It should be subjective to establish “new relationship”, not “restoration” under the governmental “controlling” of the relations of both Countries. Professor Park Yon-june, ＮATIONAL ＤEFENCE UNIVERSITY, said as follow: It is a key for the improvement of the relations of the Korean Government through the consultation with the Japanese Government reconsidering of dissolution of “The Foundation for Conciliation and Healing”. In the field of diplomatic and national security which Korean Government wants, it is indispensable to achieve strategic goal for the cooperation of both countries. Part 3 (Q and A Webinar)Q and A on Webinar style with general public participants assisted by Eminent Professor KIM Soonbae, Chung-nam National University.We had participants, hundred or more including from KEIO University, University of Shizuoka and Kookmin University. Due to schedule, we could not give them enough time for Q and A. But the number of participants which exceeded a hundred is the most remarkable in the history of the Japan-Korea Asia Future Forum and it was noteworthy that young generation of two countries could connect concurrently.        Lastly, Director Suh Jae Jean, Center for Future Human Resources Research Studies wrapped up the forum with his comment on his long scholarly relationship with Professor Okonogi. The forum was supposed to be ended by his closing address. But due to twenty minutes delay of opening by unexpected sound trouble (acoustic feedback), opening speech did not reach clearly, Ms. Imanishi appeared again to explain about the delay and made her final speech. Under COVID-19 pandemic, we did not reproduce “Frenzy Night” which is unique to the Japan-Korea Asia Future Forum. I think “frenzy acoustic feedback” would predict for next gathering. We had a meeting for reviewing and got controversial discussion on the positioning of the forum and like to contrive for a format which can expedite discussions among a lot of people concerned, not limited to researchers and dialogs among not only the young in Japan and Korea but a lot of civilians also. Finally, I express my thanks to Ms. Imanishi, Representative of SGRA, ex-Chairman LEE Jin Kyu(Governor of South Hamgyong Province) and staff members who made absolutely sure for Webinar.  Report of the 19th Japan Korea Future Forum in Japanese (original)Photos of the Day (in Japanese)Questionnaire total result (in Japanese and Korean)  KIM Woohghee / Professor Inha University, SGRA Researcher  Translated by Kazuo KawamuraEnglish checked by Sabina Koirala

 The 32nd Olympiad “Tokyo 2020” came to an end on 8 August 2021 after keen, glorious and impressive competitions for seventeen days. It was postponed first for one year due to the COVID-19 and started on 23 July 2021 in Tokyo under the attraction of world attention.  Significance of Tokyo 2020, I do not repeat it because Seiko Hashimoto, President of the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) mentioned repeatedly in their opening and ending speeches. On the other hand, there were criticism toward the Olympics even before the opening, during the games and after the closing. There were a lot of opinions for and against Olympics like “tears” “reconstruction” “throb” “unorthodox” “uneasiness” “confusion” “impressive” “too hot (temperature)” “no spectators” “intentional negligence” “liar” “selfish” “refugee players” “unprecedented” and “gold diggers” etc.Tokyo 2020 had number of issues which had conflicts and challenges. Foreign news bulletin reported framework and situation which lead to opening of the Olympics favorably and introduced criticism in Japan too. Generally, there were a lot of praise.However, strange enough, when Japanese media introduced overseas news broadcast about Tokyo 2020, they intended to criticize greatly finding “negative evaluation” by using every conceivable mean. Why are they self-denial or self-deprecated? I visited Olympic Stadium (Japan National Stadium) around 4:00 pm on August 6. It was clear and had mild gentle breeze. August 6 is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony (A-Bomb Day). There were a lot of policemen and patrol cars around Olympic Stadium and were under the authority of Hiroshima Prefecture. There was no festival atmosphere of Olympic and I had a feeling like “any incident has taken place”.   I liked to observe the Olympic Monument which is installed in front of the Japanese Olympic Museum. But the road between the Stadium and Museum were closed. There were many policemen in front of the entrance and there was a signboard “You cannot enter after 4:00 pm”. I asked a policeman why? and got reply that “there will be a demonstration”. As I could not visit the Olympic Monument so. I walked around the Stadium to look for demonstration. But I could not. Around 6 p.m. one dozen scale demonstration started “finally”. They shouted beating saucepans or bowls and holding up dolls like “skull”. As they used a few speakers, their voice echoed. I listened to what they protested and found protested was for Tokyo 2020.They only denounced Japanese Government, Executive Committee of Tokyo 2020, IOC, athletes and medalists rather than “protested”. Outrageous writings which abuse Tokyo 2020 became topics on internet. I read such writings and feel no refinement nor logic.I do not understand them, who slander, smear or insult athletes and medalists. I dare say that this “demonstration” was effective. For boatload demonstrators, a few hundreds of policemen and a dozen of patrol cars were mobilized. Roads were closed and we could not visit the Olympic Stadium and Olympiad Monument. Furthermore, several newspaper companies and TV stations domestic and overseas covered and reported this demonstration. People who did not visit the site and see the news, they will misunderstand “whole Japan” were protesting Tokyo 2020. Demonstrators kept their “close contact” condition for more than an hour and noise echoed around the Olympic Stadium and Olympiad Monument for more than an hour. The Olympic Motto “Faster, Higher and Stronger” should be added “Together” at Tokyo 2020. A lot of people are forgetting this Motto regretfully. I hope either supporters or opponents and who ignore the Tokyo 2020 would discuss or interact under this Motto. It was an ordeal for the Tokyo Organizing Committee and Tokyo 2020. I thought Tokyo 2020 itself was an ordeal. Not only Japanese Government, Tokyo Organizing Committee and IOC but athletes and medalists were also abused. Medalists and their families had to refrain from their delights.   We saw a lot of volunteers around the Stadium. As you may know, many healthcare professionals and volunteers participated at Tokyo 2020 and one of my students participated.  I am proud of him. Japanese mass media ask sometime “what will Tokyo 2020 leave behind in Japan?”I think the Olympism aims for “respect of dignity of human beings” “harmonious growth of mankind”. “The Olympic is the festival of peace of the world”. It will take time to evaluate Tokyo 2020 properly. It was a challenge to open Tokyo 2020 in such unexpected circumstances like spread of COVID-19 and its pandemic.Tokyo 2020 contributed to the world greatly by peaceful opening. Everybody will understand its contribution several years later and Tokyo 2020 would be covered in glory.  SGRA Kawaraban 678 in Japanese (Original)  Borjigin Husel / Professor of Faculty of International Studies, Showa Women’s University  Translated by Kazuo KawamuraEnglish checked by Sabina Koirala

 Few years ago, during summer, I was on the way to a café in Kiyosumi Shirakawa where I visited often. I was surprised seeing “Fukagawa” which was the address of cafe. Fukagawa is the place where a movie director Ozu Yasujiro was born and brought up. Director Ozu is a specialism my study. I was so excited to have stepped inside Fukagawa town coincidentally where we could find old town atmosphere in Ozu movies. As I was not familiar to geography in Tokyo at that time, it was unexpected discovery because Kiyosumi Shirakawa and Fukagawa were very remote islands in my knowledge. I downloaded the application of geography immediately and visited “the place where Yasujiro Ozu was born”. Large scale condominiums alongside big roads may be different from the scene which Director Ozu has seen. But when I saw the scene standing on asphalt road in hot summer sunshine, l wondered why Director Ozu seems to be, more or less, close to me rather than historical figure. I hit my realization that my study of Ozu started here basically. My unexpected meeting with Ozu went one step closer to. Since then, so-called “Ozu Tour” was a theme of my studying abroad. I followed footsteps of Ozu that a bronze statue of Saigoh Takamori in Ueno Park, the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto and railroad in Onomichi. Wim Wenders, world famous German movie director, disappointed saying in his documentary movie “Tokyo Landscape” that there is no landscape like “Tokyo Story” (Ozu works in 1953) anymore. However, I found myself to be connected to Ozu a moment whenever I found something unchanged and felt everything has changed. Such moment, Ozu works in mono-colored changes to natural color in my mind. But soon absence of Ozu touches me deeply. When I come to the calm sea in Onomichi where same as that in “Tokyo Story”, I can share a look of Ozu. And, at the same time, it sheds light on the life of Ozu immediately.  “San-ma no Aji (Taste of Pacific saury)” (1962) is posthumous work of Ozu. There is a shot of vacant room upstairs after daughter gets married. Professor Masato Hase commented that this shot made audiences feel “the time spent together between father and daughter passed in an instantaneous”. This sense of time (passed in an instant) which applies to my “Ozu Tour” was emphasized in Ozu works by intentional omission of essential scene. It comes from blank space in his life where I had no way to go. I had strange and complicated sense of time which immersed in me with sparkling wave in Onomichi. I can express such sense of time with pain or vain only. Ozu tour was a repetition of meeting and farewell for me. Looking back when I entered Ozu world, I realize my curiosity about riddle of Ozu moviesguided me to my research world and his unshakable strength became an index of my research.My tour for Ozu world supported my study abroad life mentally as a source of vitality. When I was tired and frustrated doing my research, I collected my cluttered mind by following the tracks of Ozu which remained somewhere in Japan which made me evoke his existence or absence. Experiential resonance between reading his works and following his tracks colored the figure of Ozu and expanded my field of vision about Ozu. It was valuable experience for me to have studied abroad. Thinking about it now, not only my research but life in Japan for eight years also seems to have been guided by Ozu. How do I inherit his look which passed in an instant? This is an unsolved and lifetime question which impressed deeply in my mind.I would like to move one step ahead, even if it’s just a little.  SGRA Kawaraban 677 in Japanese (Original)  Koo Hye-won / 2020 Raccoon  Translated by Kazuo KawamuraEnglish checked by Sabina Koirala

 I read the Japanese novel “Hukai Kawa (Deep River)” written by ENDO Shusaku which was recommended by Japanese language teacher in my last year of high school. It was just after the year 1987 when we could buy any Japanese literatures translated to Chinese language at bookstores in Taiwan. (The Taiwanese Martial Law was released in 1987.) I, as a non-religious person, have been trying to find connotation in “Hukai Kawa” and it means I was the reader who drifted in the history of long river like Chiang Jiang.   One of these days, when I was going around bookstores with my classmate who was searching for annotation of Chinese novel “Hong Lou Meng” for mock exam, I found “Waga Hai wa Neko de Aru” (I am a cat) by NATUME Soseki as the title fascinated me. It was the beginning of my exam of Japanese literature and read “KOKORO (heart or spirit)” too and I left my hometown where I could enjoy warm sunshine and pleasant breeze and went to a University in Taipei to learn Japanese language.     The more I learn about the Meiji Era which NATUME Soseki lived and about a life in Taiwan which was full of social success and struggle for survive, the more I realized schooling-oriented society in Taiwan. The youth in Taiwan who study at a university in metropolis feel stress about not only high cost of living and bad residential environment but isolated human relations and social expectations also. The number of children who suffered from psychosomatic illness due to muggy climate in Taipei is quite a lot.    Recently TV drama titled “Children are not your possessions” which criticized society became a topic in Taiwan. I think such acceptable drama should be produced earlier. I grew up under the parent who were not concerned about social status and have been keeping strange feeling about educational system in school. Especially when I talk with the youth who comes from metropolis, has increased my awareness that the youth who grow up in utilitarian atmosphere in the society, live up to expectations of “love” by their parents and teachers. The youth are impatient thinking that “being personage” rather than “it is enjoyable to challenge”. Such common issue in the East Asian countries where academic histories are regarded highly should be pursued continuously hereafter in the field of education.    At the beginning of my doctoral course, new educational system which considered practical utility to be important like in the United States started together with promotion of national security alliances between Japan and the U.S. Exclusion movement of social sciences in Japan affected educational system in Taiwan. One of my colleagues who was translating Japanese contemporary novels confused saying that “what is the good of novels?” One junior of mine decided to be enrolled in go to a good college. But he felt frustrated about how he would be considered after taking doctor’s degree. The causes of his frustration are low birthrate in Japan, sharp drop of the post in universities and unstable employment. Tragedy or political failures follows. Unbalance ratio between demand and supply in the field of social science which came from increasing of the number of students of doctoral course, social looking down on the unemployed despite their high educational background, loss of self-identity of postgraduate students etc. I was feeling depressed after coming to Japan. I have been bullied through social media by my senior who came from Taiwan. When I said I would like to attend an academic conference, I was treated inadequately and rumors spread around the people among same field. When I shared my private living on Facebook, snide remarks were made. I was accused falsely saying I have disrupted the future of others. When I made my research presentation, I was told on through teacher. I was introduced to a male who was looking for marriage partner saying that it is difficult to find jobs for foreign students in Japan and Europe and a female should marry. I think they are in the “co-dependency” relations. Desire of others is own desire. The end justifies the means. They betray immediately when they have conflict of interests.        I recall “Hukai Kawa” which guided me to Japanese literatures. A hero in this novel made a long trip to India in search of meaning of life. I have been living in the life of unbelieving and uneasy human relations. I like to ask myself what shall I trust? My world of existence in Japan is quite different, blessed with nature. I was told this area was developed recently but my heart was calm surrounded by big and calm forest at the night before exam. I saw spiderweb was shining in gaslight near a bus stop. At bookstore, there was a section “enjoyable living with forest and birds”. On a clear day, parents and children relax running around fields and feeding fish and ducks. One of my junior studying graduates said jokingly “since many foreign students here purified by nature, they are all gentle and kind”. The reason why we feel relaxed when we read SAIGYO and BASHOU is we travel with SAIGYO and BASHOU in our hearts.By the way, before studying Japanese literature I heard people go travel when heartbroken.I wonder why? In Taiwan, when they are heartbroken, they go to drink or for songs. The world of Japanese culture which I became familiar is too classy and its interesting generation gap among parents and brothers.    SGRA Kawaraban 676 in Japanese (Original)  WU_Ching-wen/2020 Raccoon, Assistant Professor of Japanese Literature at National Taiwan University  Translated by Kazuo KawamuraEnglish checked by Sabina Koirala

 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 6th Asia Future Conference (AFC#6) has been postponed to August 2022. We are pleased to announce, however, that we will host an online preconference this year instead, and all are welcome to join. Date: August 26th, 2021 (Thursday) ※Taiwan Time10:00～11:00   Opening Ceremony, Keynote Speech11:00～12:00   Symposium13:00～16:20   Presentations of AFC Best Papers, Presentations of Taiwan Best Papers16:20～16:30   Closing CeremonyVenue: Online via Zoom WebinarLanguages: Chinese and English. (Chinese-English, Chinese-Japanese simultaneous interpretation via Zoom Webinar) ◇To participate in the Keynote Speech (Part 1) and Symposium (Part 2)please register for the Zoom Webinar from the following link:Registration for the Zoom Webinar [Part 1]&[Part 2]  No registration required for the Best Paper presentation sessions in the afternoon.  ◇Program[Opening Ceremony] 10:00～10:10Opening Remarks: Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Asia Future Conference ChairMC：Moyo Lin, Taiwan Organizing Committee Chair for the 6th Asia Future Conference [Part 1:Keynote Speech] 10:10～11:00“Where is Asia Heading? When Disease Control is Entangled with Politics”Yu-Shan Wu, Academician, Academia Sinica Abstract:COVID-19 has caused the most severe pandemic and infectious disease that the world has encountered since the Spanish flu in the early twentieth century. Given that “no one is safe until everyone is safe,” being able to control the pandemic would best serve the interests of all nations.  In theory, the pandemic should have promoted international cooperation and coordination. However, since the global outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, what we have in fact witnessed is a series of ongoing international conflicts such as mutual recriminations over the origins of COVID-19, vaccine nationalism, vaccine diplomacy, and so on. International cooperation is being suppressed by conflicts, and this is closely related to the New Cold War which has existed in the current international order since before the outbreak of COVID-19. This New Cold War is rooted in the international power transition of the most powerful countries and the rise of right-wing populism caused by the economic crisis. It is deeply entrenched, and even a shared crisis such as COVID-19 is not enough to resolve these differences and brings about cooperation, instead, leading to a whirlpool of conflicts. Under such circumstances, it is pertinent and necessary to ask where Asia is heading. [Part 2: Symposium] 11:00～12:00“International Relations in the Post-COVID Era –Asia Viewed from Taiwan’s Perspective” Moderator：Dr. Shing-Ching Shyu, President, Chinese Culture University Panelists：Yasuhiro Matsuda, (Japan) Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, the University of TokyoMing Lee, Professor at the Department of Diplomacy in National Cheng-Chi UniversityKevin Villanueva, (Philippines) Assistant Professor, University of The Philippines/Senior Fellow, National Chung-Hsing UniversityHsu, Kristy Tsun Tzu, Associate Research Fellow and Director, The Taiwan ASEAN Studies CenterYu-Shan Wu, Academician, Academia Sinica. [Part 3: AFC Best Papers and Taiwan Best Papers Presentation] 13:00～16: 2013:00～13:10        Best Paper Award Presentation Ceremony13:10～16:20        Parallel Sessions of Best Paper presentationsList of 20 AFC#6A Best PapersList of 5 Taiwan Special Best Papers  [Closing Ceremony] 16:20～16:30Closing Remarks：Junko Imanishi, Asia Future Conference Organizing Committee ChairInvitation to the Asia Future Conference to be held at Taipei in August 2022 ※No registration required for the Best Paper presentation sessions in the afternoon.Please join from the following link after 12:30pm on Thursday, August 26, 2021.Link to Best Presentation Sessions [Part 3] For more program details, please check:E_AFC Preconference_Program Inquiries: AFC Secretariat [email protected] contact the above email address for technical support as well.  Invitation in ChineseInvitation in Japanese  We look forward to “meeting” you at the online preconference. The 6th Asia Future Conference Organizing Committee