Japan
'Migration from Bangladesh to Japan shaped people-to-people contact'
Data shows that migration from Bangladesh to Japan has significantly developed the character of personal relationships between Bangladeshis and Japanese, and some returnees have retained strong personal ties from the previous sojourn in Japan, according to a Japanese professor.
"From the late 1980s, a considerable number of Bangladeshis started to go to Japan. Some of them have developed their families and remained in Japan, but many others have already returned home after their time in Japan," Tetsuo Mizukami, dean and professor of the College of Sociology and director of the Center for Statistics and Information at Rikkyo University, said.
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A Japanese team is now in Bangladesh to conduct research on Bangladeshis' migration pattern to Japan.
This research project "Global Migration and Transnational Networks," commenced at the College of Sociology in 2014 April.
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"We have been gathering empirical data by conducting questionnaire surveys and intensive interviews with these Bangladeshis who had lived in Japan and experienced Japanese social life for a long period, and have since returned to their homeland."
The project seeks data about life at the grassroots level of relationships to develop a broader understanding of Bangladesh-Japan relationships, Tetsuo said.
Shinzo Abe was a true friend of Bangladesh: Momen
Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister of Japan, was a true friend of Bangladesh, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Thursday.
Abe will forever be remembered for his contribution to regional and global peace, he added.
Momen was speaking at a condolence programme organised by the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh and Dhaka University (DU).
The Department of Japanese Studies of DU and the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka in association with the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japanese Universities Alumni Association of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Ikebana Association and Kazuko Bhuiyan Welfare Trust arranged the condolence programme "Tribute to Abe Shinzo" in Dhaka.
Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman, vice-chancellor of DU, and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladeshi Ito Naoki also joined the event to pay tribute to Abe, Japan's best-known politician and longest-serving prime minister, who was gunned down while speaking at a political campaign event in the city of Nara.
They conveyed their condolences to Abe and his family.
Also read: Japan police chief to resign over Abe shooting death
Rohingya Crisis: Japan for considering third-country resettlement in parallel to repatriation
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki has said it is "vital to consider third-country resettlement" in parallel to repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Myanmar.
“Accepting refugees through third-country resettlement is one of the permanent solutions. It is a way to share the burden of the refugee crisis among the international community,” said the ambassador.
In December 2008, Japan decided upon a pilot programme to accept refugees from Myanmar through third-country resettlement as the first country in Asia.
Until today, 54 families and 200 people, including Rohingya, were resettled through this scheme, said the ambassador.
He hoped that they could consider further possibilities of Rohingyas’ resettlement in Japan with the guidance of UNHCR.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said as an essential component of an international, comprehensive humanitarian response, they are working to "significantly increase resettlement" of Rohingya refugees from the region, including from Bangladesh, so that they can rebuild their lives in the United States.
Naoki said Japan, together with Bangladesh and the international community, will do its utmost to create conditions for safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.
Japanese envoy said his country will continue to actively provide humanitarian support, paying close attention to the needs of the Rohingya people facing challenging circumstances.
He made the remarks while speaking at a seminar titled “Rohingya Crisis: The Pathways to Repatriation” hosted by the Centre for Genocide Studies (CGS), University of Dhaka on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen spoke as the chief guest at the seminar. Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, US Embassy Dhaka’s Regional Refugee Coordinator Mackenzie Rowe and Dr Imtiaz Ahmed also spoke.
Ambassador Naoki said the fundamental solution to the Rohingya crisis is to realize the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees to their homeland Myanmar.
Read: Myanmar conditions do not allow for safe, voluntary return of Rohingya: US
“Japan will stand ready to cooperate with Bangladesh to this end. We commend the efforts of the government to start the repatriation early through the bilateral dialogue. I see the urgent need for early repatriation,” he mentioned.
Given the current political situation in Myanmar, it is a challenging task, he added.
Despite the difficulty, Naoki said, the international community must make the utmost efforts to support the government of Bangladesh and create an enabling environment for the early start of repatriation process.
The ambassador said it is highly commendable that the government and the people of Bangladesh have shown a humanitarian stance and generously provided shelter to Rohingya refugees over the past five years.
Japan will continuously support and show its solidarity with Bangladesh and Rohingya, he said.
In January 2022, Japan provided US$ 2 million seed funding to UNHCR and WFP as the first donor to help operations on Bhasan Char.
“Nevertheless, I believe that the situation in Bhasan Char could be more creative and sustainable,” said Naoki who has been to Bhasan Char twice.
Since the coup in Myanmar on February 1st last year, he said, Japan has taken every opportunity to strongly urge the Myanmar military to immediately stop the violence; release those detained; and swiftly restore the democratic political system.
The ambassador said Japan has also been working closely with the international community, including ASEAN countries, to improve the situation in Myanmar.
“I believe that improving the situation in Myanmar, including restoring its democratic regime, is essential to achieving sustainable repatriation of Rohingya refugees,” he said.
“Also, we must improve the condition in the Rakhine state, and Japan has been providing financial support for that,” he added.
Five years ago, Myanmar’s military launched a brutal campaign against Rohingya – razing villages, raping, torturing, and perpetrating large-scale violence that killed thousands of Rohingya men, women, and children.
More than 740,000 Rohingya were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in Bangladesh.
Japan's PM Kishida isolates with COVID-19, cancels travels
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and canceled his planned travels while he isolates and recuperates.
Kishida developed a slight fever and cough late Saturday and a PCR test for the coronavirus was positive, said Noriyuki Shikata, the cabinet secretary for public affairs at the prime minister's office.
“Prime Minister Kishida is isolated inside his residence,” he told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Read: Japan minister says women ‘underestimated’
The 65-year-old prime minister was on summer vacation last week and was scheduled to return to work Monday. It’s not clear where or how he was infected.
Kishida won't go in person to a conference on African development later this month in Tunisia but will participate online. He also postponed his trip to the Middle East.
Cases of coronavirus infections have been surging recently in Japan, although most people — including Kishida — have been vaccinated. Other world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and recovered.
National Mourning Day observed in Japan
Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo on Monday observed the National Mourning Day and the 47th Anniversary of Martyrdom of the great architect of Bangladesh’s independence, the greatest Bengali of all time and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman paying deep respect and in a solemn manner.
The programme began in the morning at the Embassy premises with hoisting of the national flag at half-mast by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed.
The national anthem was played at this time.
After this, one-minute silence was observed followed by a special dowa and munajat for the salvation of the martyred souls of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his family members and all other martyrs of 15th August in 1975 with the participation of all Embassy officials and expatriate Bangladeshis.
Later at the Bangabandhu Auditorium, Ambassador Ahmed followed by other participants paid deepest homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by laying a floral wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
Messages of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs issued on the occasion were read out to the audience.
Read:Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra observes National Mourning Day
Ambassador Shahabuddin paid profound homage to the greatest Bengali of all time and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as he dreamt for freedom of his Bengali people and their independent statehood.
Under the visionary, fearless and strong leadership of the Father of the Nation, the Bengali Nation was united to forge a struggle for independence and fought liberation war to attain an independent country, Bangladesh and a national identity, Bangalee, at the global stage.
Immediate after independence, under his leadership, Bangladesh joined all major international and regional bodies and established bilateral relations with large number of countries including Japan thus firmly establishing Bangladesh’s place in the world stage.
"Bangabandhu is not with us today, but his dream, ideals and directives are still guiding us in the pathway for emancipation of Bangladesh. Under the leadership of his daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh will implement the Vision 2041 to build a poverty free, modern and developed country as dreamt by Bangabandhu as his Sonar Bangla," the Ambassador expressed his resolve.
A discussion on the significance of the day was held following a documentary screening on the life and work of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In this segment, a significant number of Bangladeshi community members and professionals working in Japan highlighted the significance of the day and vowed to turn the grief of losing Bangabandhu into strength to work unitedly in strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to further develop the country and fulfil the dream of Bangabandhu to create ‘Sonar Bangla’.
Japan, UNDP to help Bangladesh manage infectious health care waste
The government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Wednesday launched a new project to address the unprecedented rise in infectious health care waste caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that is overwhelming waste treatment facilities.
The project will support the national health agencies and other key stakeholders in Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives.
The two-year $11 million ‘Project for the Improvement of Infectious Waste Management’ was officially launched at a signing ceremony in New York City, said the UN agency.
Ambassador Takeshi Osuga, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations and Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific at UNDP attended the signing ceremony.
“The government of Japan is proud to support Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives to establish sustainable solutions for health care waste management, that will provide long-term benefits for health care workers, patients and the wider community, as well as contribute to protecting human security,” said the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.
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Improperly managed health care waste is recognized as a significant source of pollutants.
For example, disposing untreated health care waste in open dumps and landfill sites can cause soil and water contamination, while inadequate incineration of medical waste can lead to the release of persistent organic pollutants.
Many low- and middle-income countries have historically had limited public and private investments in sustainable waste treatment systems, and now find themselves in the dire situation of mounting health care waste that is beyond their waste management capacity.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present compound challenges for countries on their path to recovery and sustainable development,” said Kanni Wignaraja.
“The threat posed by inadequate health care waste management systems is one such challenge that requires urgent attention, so we can better safeguard our health as well as that of the environment.”
The project will support key stakeholders in the three countries to deploy locally appropriate health care waste management practices and technologies to help protect human health, and minimize the pandemic's environmental and social impacts.
Health facilities in 26 sub-districts in Bangladesh, in 15 districts across 4 cities in Bhutan, and 6 atolls in the Maldives will benefit from the support.
Health care workers will receive training on properly treating and handling infectious waste, which requires special treatment processes to ensure there is no risk of onward disease transmission to patients, hospital staff and nearby communities. Health facilities will also be equipped with specialized health care waste disposal equipment and digital management systems for improved coordination.
UNDP’s work in health is guided by its Strategic Plan and HIV and Health Strategy, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Through a systems and governance approach, and in collaboration with other UN agencies and partners, UNDP helps countries to deliver more strongly integrated health and development solutions that have equity, resilience and sustainability at their core.
Japan is the biggest development partner of Bangladesh: KM Khalid
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid on Saturday said Japan is the biggest development partner of Bangladesh.
"Japan has played an important role in our economic development since our independence by contributing to the infrastructure development of Bangladesh. Japan, the land of the rising sun, the land of peace, the unyielding nation, has always stood by us," he said.
The State Minister spoke at an event marking the historic Hiroshima Day Saturday night. Theater group Swapnadal organized the event at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA)'s Experimental Theatre Hall.
"At the end of World War II, the atomic bombs explosion on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9) by the imperialist United States was the most brutal and atrocious killing in the history of the world. As a result of dropping the atomic bomb, 80,000 people died instantly in the city of Hiroshima," the State Minister said.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki joined the event as the special guest, and lauded the initiative of Swapnadal and thanked the State Minister as well as Bangladeshi people for their compassion to the Hiroshima tragedy.
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"During my stay in Bangladesh since October, 2019, I was impressed by the fact that so many Bangladeshis are familiar with the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The compassion shown today by Bangladeshis is really significant to us, thus the `Hiroshima Day’ will strengthen mutual understanding and amicable relationship between Japan and Bangladesh."
The event included a panel discussion, an exhibition of video and installation art, anti-war photography, and more.
An exclusive exhibition of anti-war photography, film, and installation art was also launched at the Experimental Theatre Hall premise.
Additionally, the group showcased the 117th show of its anti-war drama 'Tringsha Shatabdi' at Experimental Theatre Hall.
“For the past 21 years, Swapnadal has organized events to commemorate Hiroshima Day. As a theater group, we believe it is our duty to educate the public about the danger of nuclear weapons pose to the human race,” Swapnadal founder Zahid Repon said adding, "We demand a nuclear-weapons-free planet.”
The first city to be struck by a nuclear weapon was Hiroshima. On August 6, 1945, Little Boy, an atomic bomb, was dropped on Hiroshima by the United States Army Air Forces.
On August 9, 1945, the Fat Man nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Between 129,000 and 226,000 persons were murdered in the two bombings, the majority of them were civilians.
Japan minister says women ‘underestimated’
Japan’s minister for gender equality and children’s issues called the country’s record low births and plunging population a national crisis and blamed “indifference and ignorance” in the male-dominated Japanese parliament for the neglect.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Seiko Noda couched the steadily dwindling number of children born in Japan as an existential threat, saying the nation won’t have enough troops, police or firefighters in coming decades if it continues. The number of newborns last year was a record low 810,000, down from 2.7 million just after the end of World War II, she said.
“People say that children are a national treasure. ... They say that women are important for gender equality. But they are just talking,” Noda, 61, told the AP in a Cabinet office in downtown Tokyo’s government complex. “The politics of Japan will not move unless (the problems of children and women) are made visible.”
She said there are a variety of reasons for the low birthrate, persistent gender bias and population decline in Japan, “but being in the parliament, I especially feel that there is indifference and ignorance.”
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Japan is the world’s third biggest economy, a powerful democracy and a major U.S. ally, but the government has struggled to make society more inclusive for children, women and minorities. There are deep concerns, both within Japan and abroad, about how Japan will reverse what critics call a deep-seated history of male chauvinism that has contributed to the low birthrate.
The gap between men and women in Japan is one of the world’s worst. It ranked 116th in a 146-nation survey by the World Economic Forum for 2022, which measured progress toward equality based on economic and political participation, as well as education, health and other opportunities for women.
“Japan has fallen behind because other countries have been changing faster,” said Chizuko Ueno, a University of Tokyo professor of feminist studies, referring to Japan’s gender gap. “Past governments have neglected the problem.”
Because of outdated social and legal systems surrounding family issues, younger generations are increasingly reluctant to get married and have children, contributing to the low birthrate and shrinking population, said Noda. She has served in parliament since 1993 and expressed her ambition to be Japan’s first female prime minister.
Noda criticized a law requiring married couples to choose one family name — 90% of the time it is the women who change their surnames — saying it’s the only such legislation in the world.
“In Japan, women are underestimated in many ways,” said Noda, who is one of only two women in the 20-member Cabinet. “I just want women to be on equal footing with men. But we are not there yet, and the further advancement of women still has to wait.”
The more powerful lower house of Japan’s two-chamber parliament is more than 90% “people who do not menstruate, do not get pregnant and cannot breastfeed,” Noda said.
The lack of female representation is often referred to as “democracy without women.”
A quota system could help increase the number of female candidates for political office, Noda said, but male lawmakers have criticized her proposal, saying women should be judged by their abilities.
“That made me think that there are men who lack the ability” to be candidates, she said. But during the candidate selection process, “men can just be men, and I guess, for them, just being male can be considered their ability.”
Noda graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo and worked at the prestigious Imperial Hotel in Tokyo before she entered politics, succeeding her grandfather, who was a parliamentarian in Gifu prefecture.
Noda had her first child, who is disabled, at age 50 after fertility treatments. She supports same-sex marriage and acceptance of sexual diversity.
Noda, who has many liberal supporters, called herself “an endangered species” in her conservative Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed Japan with little interruption since the end of the war.
She said she is frequently “bashed” by conservatives in the party, but also by women’s rights activists, who don’t see her as an authentic feminist.
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Still, without the help of powerful male lawmakers in the party she could not have come this far, Chiyako Sato, a Mainichi newspaper editorial writer, said in her recent article.
Comparing Noda and her ultra-conservative and hawkish female rival Sanae Takaichi who both ran unsuccessfully in the September party leadership race, Sato said despite their different political views, they are similar “perhaps they had no other way but win powerful male lawmakers’ backing to advance in the Liberal Democratic Party at a time women are not considered full fledged humans.”
Japan’s Self Defense Force, she said, has had trouble getting enough troops because of the shrinking younger population. She said there’s also not enough attention paid to what the dwindling numbers will mean for police and firefighters, who rely on young recruits.
To try to address the problems, she has created a new government agency dedicated to children set to be launched next year.
Younger male politicians in recent years have become more open to gender equality, a reflection, in part, of the growing number of children who are being raised by working parents, Noda said.
But many male lawmakers, she said, think that issues around families, gender and population don’t concern them, and are reluctant to get involved.
“The policies have been made as if there were no women or children,” she said.
PM seeks Japan’s support in repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday sought Japanese support for the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, their homeland, as the forcibly displaced people have become a burden on Bangladesh for the last several years.
She made this call when Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs HONDA Taro and President of Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) TANAKA Akihiko met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told a media briefing that the premier urged the Japanese to take initiative so Myanmar takes their displaced nationals back home in a dignified manner.
In response the Japanese parliamentary vice minister said his country also wants a dignified return home of the displaced people.
PM Hasina said three mega projects --Matarbari coal-fired power plant in Maheshkhali, Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Metro-rail project—being constructed by Japan would help develop Bangladesh.
In this regard, the JICA president said the government of Bangladesh is providing proper support to implement the mega projects and it is also determined to complete the Maheshkhali--Matarbari project.
HONDA Taro appreciated Bangladesh for its graduation from the status of least developed country (LDC).
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"Many Japanese companies are keen to invest in Bangladesh," he was quoted as saying.
They congratulated PM Hasina on construction of Padma Bridge with own funds saying it would accelerate economic development of Bangladesh.
They said Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu Bridge connected the southern and northern regions directly with the capital.
Hasina expressed deep shock at the recent assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and paid tribute to him as a great friend of Bangladesh.
She recalled that Japan soon after the Liberation War recognised Bangladesh and since then became its strong development.
The Japanese vice minister and the JICA president recalled the visit of Shinzo Abe to Bangladesh in 2014.
They said his visit elevated the bilateral relationship between the two countries to a comprehensive partnership level.
Talking about the Holey Artisan attack, Hasina said no recurrence of such incident has taken place due to the strong steps taken by law enforcement agencies.
She recalled the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan in 1973 and said he had laid the foundation of the today's exemplary Bangladesh-Japan relationship.
Hasina said Bangabandhu was a great admirer of Japan's socioeconomic and technological development. He had also wanted to replicate the same here in Bangladesh, she added.
PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki were present.
Japan Cabinet sets Abe state funeral amid mixed public view
Japan’s Cabinet on Friday formally decided to hold a state funeral on Sept. 27 for assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid national debate over the plan, which some criticize as an attempt to glorify a divisive political figure.
Abe was gunned down earlier this month during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara, shocking a nation known for safety and strict gun control. The alleged gunman was arrested immediately after the shooting and is being detained for interrogation as authorities seek to formally press murder charges.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said a state funeral is appropriate because of Abe’s “distinguished contributions” as the longest-serving Japanese leader and his “outstanding leadership and decisive actions” in broad areas including economic recovery, the promotion of diplomacy centered on the Japan-U.S. alliance, and reconstruction following the 2011 tsunami disaster.
Matsuno said the funeral will be a non-religious ceremony held at the Nippon Budokan, an arena originally built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics that has since become a popular venue for sports, concerts and cultural events. The government also holds an annual memorial service on Aug. 15 marking Japan’s World War II defeat at the arena.
Foreign dignitaries will be invited to Abe’s state funeral, Matsuno said, though further details, including the estimated cost and number of attendees, are yet to be determined.
Read: Key moments in life of Shinzo Abe, former Japanese leader
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week announced plans for a state funeral that some see as a move to stabilize his grip on power by pleasing ultra-conservatives who backed Abe, who led the biggest party wing.
The plan has received a mixed reaction from opposition leaders and the public. Some oppose the use of tax money on the event, while others criticize Kishida’s governing party for politicizing Abe’s death to glorify him and attempt to end debate over his highly divisive legacy, including his hawkish diplomatic and security policies and revisionist stance on wartime history.
On Thursday, a civil group opposing plans for Abe’s state funeral submitted an injunction request asking the Tokyo District Court to suspend the Cabinet decision and budget for the event, saying a state-sponsored funeral without Parliament approval violates the constitutional right to freedom of belief.
Dozens of protesters stood outside the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday to oppose the Cabinet decision. An opposition leader, Mizuho Fukushima, said the decision was not based on public consensus, has no legal basis and should be scrapped.
Abe’s private funeral was already held at a Tokyo temple and attended by about 1,000 mourners, including lawmakers, business leaders and others.
Abe’s assassination shed a light on his and his party’s decades-long questionable links to the Unification Church.
The alleged assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, has told police that he killed Abe because of his links to a religious group that he hated. His reported accounts and other evidence suggest he was distressed because his mother’s massive donations to the church had bankrupted the family.