COMMUNICATIONS

I took up the position of Director-General of Nichibunken in April 2020. With the coronavirus pandemic moving into full swing soon thereafter, however, I’ve been left in something of a limbo.

My predecessor Komatsu Kazuhiko advised me that one of my duties would be to give talks, deliver messages representing Nichibunken, and appear at various events. I would need to be ready, he said, with something engaging and suitable to say for each and every occasion.

But with events cancelled one after another, I have had occasion to attend very few face-to-face gatherings—and international meetings, in particular, have become practically impossible to hold. So, despite being told that making speeches is my job, I have had no opportunity to fulfill that role. In fact, I have yet even to present an inaugural address as Director-General to my Nichibunken colleagues.

Feeling rather abashed about not performing the role befitting to my post, I have come up with the idea of making amends by writing a series of essays online . I hope you will enjoy the series.