elements of "culture" and "civilization," I believe that Osaka can develop various new types of tours.
Finally, Kansai International Airport is now planning to expand the Airport Island to construct another runway. In this regard, I would like to suggest that the Airport Island should be designed in a special shape, just like the terminal buildings designed by Mr. Lenzo Piano. Fortunately, the Kansai region has Japan's first designed structure: an ancient emperor's burial place that has a unique shape that combines a circle and rectangle to form a rough keyhole-shaped mound. This burial mound is so large that you can see the entire figure only from the air. It would be very exciting if Airport Island has a similar figure to Japan's first designed structure, so that air passengers will be able to recognize the island easily from the sky. This idea came to me when I was looking at islands and lakes of various shapes on a map of Japan. You might want to ask me where we should obtain sufficient earth for the reclamation. Well, please do not ask me that question. I just wanted to present my idea, which I think is a very exciting one.
I understand that the Kansai International Airport project was a great success, but I believe that the airport can attract a greater number of visitors in addition to air passengers. To attract visitors, Chitose Airport in Hokkaido has Sky Gallery; I believe that Kansai International Airport can have something like this: a comics gallery for instance, since Japanese comics have fans around the world.
At the airport, there is always a long line of empty taxis, waiting for customers. This is because the taxi fares are too expensive. It is indeed expensive if tourists take a taxi to downtown Osaka. Instead of going to Osaka City, why can't a taxi take tourists around the vicinity of the airport? In just one or two hours, tourists can tour lzumisano City, where the airport is located. In the mountains near the airport, tourists can relax in a natural atmosphere. I understand that the local community is now planning to develop such new sightseeing tours.
Over the past 120 years, the Japanese people have been concentrating their efforts in manufacturing. It is important to continue manufacturing, but at the same time, we should learn to produce cultural aspects, as well as industrial products. When we manufacture industrial products, we often start with raw materials. Accordingly, Japanese people tend to think that we must always make something brand new. In the creation of cultural and tourism resources, however, it is important to add values to what already exists. In the Kansai region, we are fortunate that we have rich traditions and abundant historic sites, as compared with other regions in Japan. By adding new values to the legacies we already have, we can fully use them as tourism resources. Although tourism promotion seems to require a great deal of effort, please remember that it is extremely effective in promoting local culture, as well as economy.
Kobe had Bombay Town in addition to China Town before World War II. By reviving this town, which was once home to many Indians, Kobe can develop another tourist site. However, I do not propose converting quiet residential areas into tourist sites; in my view, Kitano district in Kobe, already popular as a quarter abundant with classical Western-style houses, has become excessively commercialized. Kitano was once an exclusive residential zone, quiet and calm. Instead of redeveloping residential areas, communities should encourage the redevelopment of inner cities, by using old and forgotten legacies, local cultures, and traditions.
Even the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake did not destroy all our cultural legacies. In current redevelopment projects in the damaged areas, it is essential that such cultural legacies should be used as the spiritual backbone of urban redevelopment. In the next serial drama to be broadcast every morning, NHK or the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation will present a drama of a woman who spent her life at a sake brewery in Nada, Kobe. I believe that this TV program will provide the district with a golden opportunity to attract tourists. Since my hometown, Nishinomiya, is also known for sake breweries, and has suffered extensive damage caused by the earthquake, I am now elaborating on a city development plan using the old breweries.
This concludes my keynote lecture. Thank you very much for your attention.
