JFIR's Recommendation for Japan's Strategy for its Agriculture in the Globalized World

The Policy Council of the Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR) has completed its one year long deliberation on its Policy Recommendation on the theme of “Japan’s Strategy for its Agriculture in the Globalized World”. Following its presentation of the recommendations, signed by the 99 members of the Council, to Prime Ministers Taro Aso, the Policy Council of JFIR held a Press Conference to announce its publication of the recommendations on January 2009 in Tokyo. The initial briefing was conducted in Japanese by Mr. Ito Kenichi President of JFIR and Prof. Honma Masayoshi Head of the Task Force for the Recommendations.

The 31st Policy recommendations of The Policy Council, The Japan Forum on International Relations.


I. Key Concepts to Change the Structure of Japan’s Agriculture

1. Regard Japanese Agriculture as Growing Industry and Make it Target the world markets.
2. Establish 21st-Century Food Production Base Area to Ensure a Stable Food Supply.
3. Integrate Plans for Farmland Use within Plans for the Effective Use of the Total National Land Base.
4. Use Agriculture to Revitalize Local Economies.
5. Abolish Policies that Reduce Rice Acreage.
6. Implement Food Security Policy from Two Perspectives: a Stable, Daily Supply of Food, and a Possible Severe Food Shortage due to Emergency Conditions in Japan.
7. Open Japan’s Agriculture to the World.

II. Mid- to Long-Term Measures

8. Assemble 1.5 Million hectares of Land into 10,000 Core Farms in Food Production Base Areas Measuring about 100 hectares each.
9. Designate the Food Production Base Areas as Special Economic Zones for Deregulated Farming.
10. Establish Financing Policies to Encourage Production, and Forgive the Loans of Highly Effective Farm Managers.
11. Introduce Land Use Planning that Emphasizes Optimal Use of Farm Land and the Surrounding Environment.
12. Compile Road Maps Showing a move toward Eliminating Rice Production Quotas and Increasing Annual Rice Production to 12 million tons.
13. Establish with in the Prime Minister’s Office a Pan-Ministerial Organization Responsible for the Economic Security of the Japanese People.
14. Use Japan’s Agricultural Technologies to Help Eliminate Food Problems in the World.

III. Key Measures for Urgent Needs

15. Assemble Large Blocks of Farmland Rapidly, by Helping Farmers Transfer Ownership of Their Land by Retiring Early.
16. Develop Agriculture-Commerce-Industry Partnerships to Create New Employment Opportunities in Farming Villages.
17. Establish Tax- and Donation-based Mechanisms to support the Employment of Retirees and the Establishment of Multifunctional farming.
18. Assist in the Training of Professionals, Especially Young Professionals, Who Will Promote Agricultural Exports.
19. Establish a Market for Transfer of Production Quotas, as an Essential Step toward Eliminating Rice Acreage Reduction Measures.
20. Accept 50,000 Foreign Farmlands under a Government-regulated Program.
21. Show Leadership in Guiding WTO Agricultural Negotiation to a successful Conclusion.

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Hailing Prime Minister Aso's Stance towards China

by YUSHITA Hiroyuki,

Visiting Professor of Kyorin University

Newly-elected Prime Minister Aso Taro held bilateral talks respectively with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-bank in October on the occasion of his attendance at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Beijing, thereby kicking off his summit-level diplomacy with neighboring Asian countries. After the repeated changes of Prime Minister in Japan, both national and international attention was focused on how the Japanese new leader works out his policies towards China and South Korea. To our delight, during these meetings, the basic outline for building solid relationships and cooperation was confirmed among those heads of government, and the implementation of reciprocal visits and a frequent exchange of views on the telephone were also agreed upon between Japan and South Korea. Worthy of special note concerning Japan's relations with China was Mr. Aso's remarks at the Reception to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China. Reading the press coverage of his remarks, I fully sympathized with him in the following three points.

The first point is concerning Mr. Aso's basic understanding of the nature of Japan-China relations. He stated, "It is not easy to name other countries as important to Japan as China. The essence of Japan-China bilateral relations is that our two countries are 'mutually indispensable to each other.' Japan and China are neighbors in perpetuity, that is, 'neighbors that cannot relocate.' Japan and China should make a concerted effort and grow together in order to realize an Asia that is both open and increasingly vibrant."

The second point is about Mr. Aso's basic perception of the status quo of Japan-China relations. He stated, "When we look at public opinion surveys regarding Japan-China relations, I cannot help feeling a touch of concern. In both Japan and China, the percentage of people holding at least some degree of positive feelings towards the other country does not reach even 30%. Even if we hold different views, we should always have a correct understanding of what the other is thinking. The important thing is to promote dialogue and exchanges at every possible level, thereby deepening our mutual understanding on broader basis."

The last point is about Mr. Aso's basic posture on the bilateral relations. He said, "We should not refrain from doing things in the name of 'friendship' between Japan and China. Rather, active cooperation through sound competition will constitute a true 'mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests.' There are a host of issues that Japan and China should engage in cooperatively, proactively sending a message from Asia to the world. We are looking towards the same future. We can have even more confidence in 'the latent power and vitality' of the Japan-China bilateral relationship."

Witnessing the dramatic rise of China, some Japanese have increased their wariness or strengthened their alarmist attitudes towards China. They center on such questions as "what will become of China" or "what China is trying to do." However, diplomacy or foreign relations are, by nature, processes on interactive basis; one nation cannot stand independent of other nations' actions. That is to say, China might transform itself according to the actions taken by Japan or the U.S. It is imperative, therefore, that Japan, instead of being passively gripped by anxiety or wariness, should enhance mutual understanding with China, thereby forging close ties with it, while the Japan-U.S. alliance remains the axis of Japan's foreign policy. Interestingly enough, France and Germany today go hand-in-hand taking the lead in advancing European integration; their present amity is startlingly contrasted to their hostile relationship in the past, exemplified by such instances as Franco-German War, World War I and World War II. I really hope to see Prime Minister Aso's basic posture on Japan-China relations will sooner or later take a concrete shape.

Source: GFJ Commentary, 20 November, 2008

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