TOYODA Shoichiro
Chairman, Keidanren
Through this experience, I came to think that we Japanese have to strive for higher goals than we currently do. We need to have higher dreams for the future and make efforts to realize them. カジノシークレット ブラックジャック past, children wanted to do something big when they grew up. They wanted to become cabinet ministers or scientists. They had dreams.
The Prime Minister's office recently conducted a survey on how Japanese view their lifestyles. According to the survey, we found that 70% of respondents felt that they were "satisfied" or "mostly satisfied" with their current lives. The figure was the highest ever in such a survey. I'm afraid that young people feel Japan is the best place in カジノシークレット ブラックジャックorld, and that they need not do anything for the future of their country.
Looking at カジノシークレット ブラックジャックorld today, we are living in an age of megacompetition. Japan has fallen behind in globalization and is lagging in the information revolution. Meanwhile, Japan's population is aging faster than that of any other industrialized nation. Furthermore, Japanese are having smaller families. Our present infrastructure and social services are inadequate to cope with those trends.
If we fail to come to terms with those issues and responsibilities, we will be unable to maintain our standard of living. We will become isolated from the rest of カジノシークレット ブラックジャックorld. Japan must take bold action to tackle domestic issues and, as an economic giant, to fulfill its international responsibilities. We must strive to do everything possible to realize our vision for Japan, and thereby contribute in shaping a better world.
We at Keidanren are drafting a blueprint for Japan in the year 2020 -- a vision for our nation in the 21st century. We are sketching a broad outline for a more appealing nation. I would like to see Japan as a country where its young people have dreams and where people from around カジノシークレット ブラックジャックorld would be happy to live and do business.
In framing our vision, we see to it that we adopt a global perspective. Viewing Japan in a global context enables us to identify appropriate goals. We should regard working together with peoplカジノシークレット ブラックジャックn other nations, for example, as a fulfilling and gratifying endeavor. We should want to extend a helping hand to peoplカジノシークレット ブラックジャックn other nations who are struggling with hardships like poverty.
At Keidanren, we are determined to make Japan a vigorous nation that is open to カジノシークレット ブラックジャックorld. Japanese need to view this goal from global context, act globally, and fulfill global responsibilities. If we can accomplish this goal, the rest of カジノシークレット ブラックジャックorld will see Japan as a nation on which they can rely and which is worthy of respect.
Making a conscious effort to win respect may seem an odd, even presumptuous, endeavor for a nation. Yet, efforts to win the respect of our fellow members in thカジノシークレット ブラックジャックnternational community are bound to make us a better nation.
Success of our efforts to make Japan a better nation also hinges on our success in better educating our people. We need to provide them with the necessary background to be creative, to adapt to international standards, and to take thカジノシークレット ブラックジャックnitiative to pursue goals.
I believe the children who will lead the next generation need more than just good schooling. They need to be well-rounded individuals. They should be participating in activities like Boy Scouts or charity work. This also means they should be able to interact well with their counterparts in other nations. Those children will make Japan which will be worthy of respect. I count on them to build a new image for Japan カジノシークレット ブラックジャック 21st century.