what I am really concerned about.
｡?ANDO
In concluding this symposium, I would like to raise two points, which I hope will become useful in the following conference of this kind. The topics we have picked up for this two-day discussion, were both culture and economy.
And as Professor Lee had reported, both topics had a common character in that they were wavering between the government and the market. I would like to formulate this in my own way. Mankind created certain systems, hoping that they could benefit the whole of mankind, though in the cultural scene it would be dangerous. But I think that it is possible to settle any problem by just granting the freedom of choice or the freedom itself to each individual who forms the group.
Dr. Tanaka also mentioned this, but when I was studying in America, many years ago. I was extremely impressed by my professor of diplomatic history. He said that civilization is, in a word, self-restraint. That is, if you forget the concept of restraint, the various systems which mankind has developed with effort, will eventually collapse. The market may move in its own way, but the nation state may turn absurd and violent. Even the civil society may become distorted. In other words, whenever and whatever we do, it is important for us to be aware of the group we belong to, be it a nation, region or the world, and not lose sight of our own relationship with it.
I referred to the saying, "too much is as bad as too little". I think that the common message of the symposium would be to be conscious of that viewpoint. The other problem is how we should actually send out this message. Especially as Professor Iokibe had pointed out in his final speech, since the war ended, the Japanese have been restraining themselves too much, so that they don't even say what they are supposed to. Professor Hara also pointed out that it is certainly important for us to conscientiously reflect on what we have done in the past. But at the same time, Japan has a duty to speak for the future and send out a message to the world.
We must seriously discuss such issues and send our message out to the world. I am sure that this itself will play a tremendous role in the formation of commonality, which we have been talking about earlier. Thank you for your active participation in this two-day discussion. I would like to thank all the lecturers who took part, the audience, the office and interpreters who supported us behind the scenes. I hope we can invite a representative of China next time and discuss more comprehensive issues. I am really looking forward to it. Thank you.
