vitalization and tourism promotion.
When we try to promote tourism by making full use of local cultures, very important are the inter-ministry efforts between the Ministry of Transport, which is responsible for tourism; the Ministry of Agriculture. Forestry, and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Home Affairs. To date, however, the Ministry of Education has not been involved in this matter, and I wonder why. Since the Japanese school system has introduced a five-day-week system, children should be encouraged to study local history during their free time.
In their official curriculum, Japanese schools emphasize teaching world history. At the same time, I believe that greater emphasis must be placed on how to teach Japanese history correctly.
The Ministry of Transport has elaborated Welcome Plan 21, with the aims of increasing the number of inbound tourists to Japan, promoting their understanding of Japanese culture, and cultivating hospitality among Japanese people.
In addition to this Plan, the Ministry of Transport has implemented two more measures to promote tourism. One concerns changes in the national holiday system: by increasing national holidays on Mondays (Coming-of-age Day, Marine Day, and Respect-for-the-aged Day will be on Mondays), the Ministry encourages both workers and students to go on trips from Saturday to Monday. Another concerns establishing tourism as an academic discipline, and founding colleges offering tourism courses. In June 1995, the Tourism Policy Council proposed that the Ministry of Transport take these three measures.
While the establishing of tourism colleges may be an effective measure, I believe that it is essential to teach the importance of tourism and promote Japanese culture in elementary schools. In this regard, the Ministry of Education should be involved in tourism promotion.
Takada: As to why Japan is not attractive to overseas people, I stated earlier that the national government is most responsible; however, listening to panelists, I have come to understand that it is we ourselves, I mean the Japanese people, that are the most responsible.
Whenever I explain that Amagasaki is promoting tourism by using the alleged tomb of Chikamatsu Monzaemon, the common reaction of people of other localities is like this: well, we do not have any tomb of a celebrated person. In response to such a reaction, Mr. Hirono emphasized the importance of discovering something valuable in each locality before promoting tourism. In other words, local people have to enjoy themselves before inviting outsiders. Mr. Kanzaki stated that if local people do not appreciate their own culture, they can never attract tourists.
Looking back into Japanese history, during the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Japanese people had a strong longing for Western culture. In 1883, a clubhouse named "Rokumeikan" was constructed in Tokyo as a facility to assimilate Western culture; dance balls were held there every night, participated in by Westerners and upper-class Japanese in Western costumes. People then thought that Japan should learn everything from overseas: New York, Paris, London, and so on. It is good to learn something, but in their efforts to assimilate Western cultures, Japanese people began to think that if you desire anything valuable, you have to look for it abroad, not in Japan.
Even now, we all tend to think that there is something valuable in far countries, not in our own neighborhood. For instance, we tend not to think that our colleague, sitting next to us in the office, is a genius. We learn of his talent only upon hearing of it from others.
Now I would like to discuss the UK. During the 19th century, the UK was less advanced or sophisticated than France or Italy. French people, for instance, had the impression that British tourists had no manners, and that although the British had some money, because of their success in the Industrial Revolution, they lacked dignity and elegance. In contrast, today we have the impression that British people are elegant ladies and gentlemen, and that if we wish to lead a quiet and comfortable life, we had better go to the UK. How did British people change themselves? How did they create their current reputation of being self-restrained, well-behaving people? Dr. Inose, what do you think?
Inose: It is indeed a very difficult question.
Takada: I asked you, because you are always ready to answer difficult questions.
Inose: Well, I am not always ready. I think it is a very difficult but important question, because if we know the answer, we can model our efforts after the British approach in addressing the current problem.
I do not know if I can offer a satisfactory answer, but please allow me to say what is in my mind, First, I would like to emphasize British society comprises several classes of people. Japanese society once had classes, but today, fortunately or unfortunately, classes have disappeared and almost all Japanese regard themselves as belonging to the middle class.
Since I study British history, I cannot but compare Japan with the UK. As I have just mentioned, British society comprises several social classes. Although the majority of Japanese people regard social classes as something undesirable. British people do not; they think that the fact that they belong to a certain class does not preclude their promotion to an upper class. Because of these classes, British people think that they can set their objectives of their life more easily.
