earthquake and tsunami, a sense of ear thquake a nd tsuna m i, a sense of 
stagnation was spreading throughout stagnation was spreading throughout 
Japanese society. Young people were Japanese societ y. Young people were 
wedded to the status quo, and I thought wedded to the status quo, and I thought 
we were struggling with weighty and we were struggling with weight y and 
intractable issues. But now more people intractable issues. But now more people 
think, “Letthink, “Let’s pull together.” I think the s pull together.” I think the 
Japanese people always come together Japanese people always come together 
in times of crisis.in times of crisis.
Ando : In Tohoku, the sense of family : In Tohoku, the sense of family 
that the rest of Japan has lost still exists. that the rest of Japan has lost still exists. 
I mean in the fishery industry and in I mean in the fishery industry and in 
agriculture, which are supported by agriculture, which are supported by 
family bonds. We must plan for the next family bonds. We must plan for the next 
generation while the bonds between generation while the bonds bet ween 
family members, from children to f a m i l y me m b e r s, f r om c h i ld r e n t o 
elders, remain in place. The children elders, remain in place. The children 
who will be the next generation mustwho will be the next generation must 
be raised to have hope in their hearts.be raised to have hope in their hearts. 
I have set up The Momo-Kaki Orphans I have set up The Momo-Kaki Orphans 
Fund, which helps orphans by F u n d ,  w h i c h  h e l p s  o r p h a n s  b y  
supporting their schooling for a period supporting their schooling for a period 
of 10 years. I was hoping to persuade of 10 years. I was hoping to persuade 
10,000 people to pay ¥10,000 each year 10,000 people to pay ¥10,000 each year 
for 10 years, and about 150 people have for 10 years, and about 150 people have 
been signing up every day. However, been signing up ever y day. However, 
most of them are people over 60. People most of them are people over 60. People 
of that generation still think first of of that generation stil l think first of 
family and country, and then about fa m i ly a nd cou ntr y, a nd t hen about 
themselves. Thatthemselves. That’s what people used tos what people used to 
be like. We have to consider how we can be like. We have to consider how we can 
induce people in their thirties today to induce people in their thirties today to 
have this kind of mentality.have this kind of mentality.
Kunibe : I believe “human ties” are : I bel ieve “huma n t ies” a re 
important not only in the reconstruction important not only in the reconstruction 
of the areas affected by the disaster, but of the areas affected by the disaster, but 
also in the issue of our shrinking,  aging also in the issue of our shrinking,  aging 
population. population. 
Ando : The thing that Japan today is : The thing that Japa n today is 
most acclaimed for is longevity. The most accla imed for is longev it y. The 
average lifespan here is 83 years. a ve r a ge l i fe s p a n he r e i s 83 ye a r s. 
Women live to 86. Whenever I go abroad Women live to 86. Whenever I go abroad 
I get asked how Japanese women stay I get asked how Japanese women stay 
so young and lovely, and full of vitality, so young and lovely, and full of vitality, 
and why Japanese men somehow have and why Japanese men somehow have 
lost their vigor. What people around the lost their vigor. What people around the 
world long for is indeed to live as long world long for is indeed to live as long 
and look as fine as Japanese women. and look as fine as Japanese women. 
Therefore, we need to encourage the Therefore, we need to encourage the 
participation of more women in society; participation of more women in society; 
we need to get more women into the we need to get more women into the 
workplace.workplace.
Initiatives as 
a global player and 
part of the Asian family 
of nations