Sat. August 27 Vital Japan Session in English “Shifting Perceptions of Japan”「世界が見る日本 – 海外メディアの日本報道はどう変わってきたか？」

◆日時：2016年8月27日（土）　勉強会 6:30-9:15pm（開場 6:00pm）　   終了後、懇親会

◆会場：東京しごとセンター B2F 講堂
東京都千代田区飯田橋　3-10-3
◆交通：飯田橋駅より徒歩7分、九段下駅より徒歩10分
★地図

◆参加費：1000円
◆定員：200人

◆Sign-up 参加申込フォーム　参加受付中！

◆Session Flow:
-6:30pm  Networking time
6:30pm: Opening
6:45pm-: Workshop by the Speaker
(Lecture, group discussions, Q&A)
9:15pm:  Session end
(9:30pm- Networking Party)

◆使用言語：英語     Session in English

今回はフィナンシャル・タイムズ紙の記者として25年にわたり日本や日本企業について世界に向けて報道され、東京支局の副支局長としても活躍された中元三千代さんをスピーカーとしてお招きします。

日本が世界の注目の的であった「ジャパン・アズ・ナンバーワン」の時代からバブル崩壊、失われた20年、震災、そして現在にいたるまで、海外メディアの日本に対する報道がどう変化してきたのか、さらに日本は今後どうすべきかを考えます。

海外メディアに興味のある方、日本人がこれからどうしてゆくべきかについて関心のある方、どうぞお気軽にご参加ください。

グループディスカッションなども交えながらインタラクティブな形式にて英語のみで行います。

▽Speakerからのメッセージ
In the late 1980s, the western media was fascinated by Japan, particularly its expanding economy. With its surging stock market, formidable industrial base and technological prowess, Japan’s rise as a global economic superpower
seemed unstoppable.

But then the financial bubble burst at the turn of the decade and western perception of Japan changed dramatically. As the country’s financial and economic crisis deepened, Japan began to look more like an economic basket
case than an economic superpower. Over the years, Japan’s sputtering economy combined with years of dysfunctional politics gradually sapped the world’s interest in Japan.

Then came the massive earthquake and Fukushima disasters in 2011 and with it a different kind of western media attention ? Japan became a disaster zone.

In his second term, Prime Minister Abe was able to re-ignite more positive interest in Japan, first with his fight against deflation and then through government efforts to promote tourism.
The world began to notice that Japan was not just about cars, electronic gadgets and GDP.

Nevertheless, overall media coverage of Japan in the west has shrunk significantly, reflecting the decline in Japan’s global presence.  Japan is still the world’s third largest economy but nobody cares much about what Japan
thinks or does. To begin with, Japan was never a global political or thought leader. Furthermore, as Japanese industry has lost its shine, not much has come in to take its place as a magnet to draw international attention.
Japanese companies are not changing the world.  There are no Googles, Facebooks or Ubers coming out of Japan. The only exception is Toyota with its hybrid car, Prius.

In this age of globalization, in order to remain relevant to the global community it is important for Japan to engage more actively and effectively with the non-Japanese speaking world. To do so, greater English language capability is essential but not sufficient. There needs to be a broader appreciation of the merits of engaging with the outside world.

▼Speakerのご紹介
中元 三千代 さん    Michiyo NAKAMOTO
太平洋を行き来する幼少期・学生時代を送り、米国イェール大学 文学部卒業。
ユネスコ・アジア文化センター勤務、通訳者、プラッツ社 東京特派員を経て1988年よりフィナンシャル・タイムズの東京特派員、ロンドン本社記者、2006年からは東京支局 副支局長 として活躍。
グローバルな英国高級紙フィナンシャル・タイムズを舞台に、日本や日本企業について世界に向けて25年にわたり報道を続ける。フィナンシャル・タイムズ退社後、2015年よりjaponica.infoを主宰。

in English

Vital Japan 144th Monthly Session – August

*When: Saturday, August 27th, 2016
6:30-9:15pm (Door open 6:00pm)
Networking Party to follow

*Place: Tokyo Shigoto Center – B2 Hall
3-10-3 Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
*Access: 7 minute walk from Iidabashi Station or 10 minute walk from Kudanshita Station
*Venue details

*Topic  “Shifting Perceptions of Japan:
How the western media’s portrayal of Japan has changed over the years.”

*Speaker:  Michiyo NAKAMOTO
Former deputy bureau chief of the Financial Times Tokyo Bureau,
Editor of japonica.info

*Language: English

*Cost: 1,000yen

*Sign Up Form  Sign Up Now!
(Max 200 people)

*Session Flow:
-6:30pm  Networking time
6:30pm: Opening
6:45pm-: Workshop by the Speaker
(Lecture, group discussions, Q&A)
9:15pm:  Session end
(9:30pm- Networking Party)

Please join us for the interactive workshop on “how the western media’s portrayal of Japan has changed”.

*Message from the Speaker
In the late 1980s, the western media was fascinated by Japan, particularly its expanding economy. With its surging stock market, formidable industrial base and technological prowess, Japan’s rise as a global economic superpower
seemed unstoppable.

But then the financial bubble burst at the turn of the decade and western perception of Japan changed dramatically. As the country’s financial and economic crisis deepened, Japan began to look more like an economic basket
case than an economic superpower. Over the years, Japan’s sputtering economy combined with years of dysfunctional politics gradually sapped the world’s interest in Japan.

Then came the massive earthquake and Fukushima disasters in 2011 and with it a different kind of western media attention ? Japan became a disaster zone.

In his second term, Prime Minister Abe was able to re-ignite more positive interest in Japan, first with his fight against deflation and then through government efforts to promote tourism.
The world began to notice that Japan was not just about cars, electronic gadgets and GDP.

Nevertheless, overall media coverage of Japan in the west has shrunk significantly, reflecting the decline in Japan’s global presence.  Japan is still the world’s third largest economy but nobody cares much about what Japan
thinks or does. To begin with, Japan was never a global political or thought leader. Furthermore, as Japanese industry has lost its shine, not much has come in to take its place as a magnet to draw international attention.
Japanese companies are not changing the world.  There are no Googles, Facebooks or Ubers coming out of Japan. The only exception is Toyota with its hybrid car, Prius.

In this age of globalization, in order to remain relevant to the global community it is important for Japan to engage more actively and effectively with the non-Japanese speaking world. To do so, greater English language capability is essential but not sufficient. There needs to be a broader appreciation of the merits of engaging with the outside world.

*Speaker’s bio
Michiyo NAKAMOTO is a former deputy bureau chief of the Financial Times Tokyo Bureau.
After graduating from Yale University in the US and working for Asian Cultural Center for Unesco, she spent nearly 25 years as Tokyo correspondent for the Financial Times, writing about Japanese business, industry, finance,
politics, social trends. She is currently the content producer and editor of japonica.info.