The opera "Shotoku Taishi" (1)

 

 The TAF (the Tokyo Art Foundation) held an opera “Shotoku Taishi”(“Prince Shotoku”) at the National Theatre in Tokyo on September 16 and 18. The performance was hosted by TAF in cooperation with the IFAC(The International Foundation for Art and Culture).

 The “Shotoku Taishi” was first performed in 2002, and it was the second performance for the first time in two decades to commemorate the 1400^th year since the death of Prince Shotoku.

 Shotoku, also known as Prince Umayado, was a legendary regent of the Asuka Period (552-645). He is well known to have contributed to establishing the nation’s social system and spreading Buddhism in Japan. The opera dramatized an important part of his life when he decided to dedicate himself to the creation of an ideal nation.

 The role of Shotoku Taishi was plaed by Toshu Fukami, also known as Dr.Haruhisa Handa who is an operatic baritone, philanthropist, business leader, calligrapher, painter and noh performer. He was also the chief producer of the entire event.

Hata no Kawakatsu, played by Koya Muramatsu (left), and Prince Shotoku, played by Toshu Fukami

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The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (6)

  The second panel's main issue was the nationalism. Former Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key provided a comment on the issue, joined by panelists including Badr, professor Kazuto Suzuki of the University of Tokyo, Ito and House of Representatives member Keichiro Asao. 

  The focus of the final panel of the day was on Japan's role in global peace and security efforts, featuring the opinions of Rae and Morrison, and including the expertise of Chiaki Akimoto, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Securityy Studies, House of Councilors member Rui Matsukawa, Kiuchi and Dr.Handa.

  Finally, Dr.Handa closed the sessions, thanking all the speakers for their insight. He pointed out the importence of plotting a clear path for Japan's future, and the need to balance influence from countries such as the United States, and bolster democracy throughout the world. 

  Former Taoiseach of Ireland Enda Kenny (left), former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper (second from left), former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron pose at the summit. 

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The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (5)

   The next day, the WSD and JRIF held a special symposium for a select audience of 200 people at the Hotel New Otani, Tokyo. The discussions centered on one of the greatest global issues today, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its far-reaching consequences.

  Yulia Timoshenko, Ukraine's former Prime Minister started her speech by thanking Japan and its people for the steadfast support and outpouring of generosity toward her country. She mentioned how Japan and South Korea's Invasion stand out in Asia, sternly noting, "It is a great puzzlement to us in Ukraine to see many Asian leaders averting their eyes from the fact that Russia invaded our country, and that many of them even embrace the propaganda...of the invader. Russia's war on Ukraine...is a war of aggression, a war for territorial conquest aimed against all countries of the free world."

  Harper, Nemyria, the University of Tsukuba's Higashino, Dr.Handa and People's Deputy of Ukraine Serhiy Vlasenko took part in the symposium. 

     Former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko thanks Japan on July 29 for supporting Ukraine. 

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The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (4)

  The final discussion of the day focused on a theme dear to Abe's heart, that is, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a strategic cooperation pact comprising Australia, India, Japan and the United States. The main speaker was former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and panelists were First Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine Hryhoriy Nemyria, professor Atsuko Higashino of the University of Tsukuba and Meiji University's Ito.

  Morrison noted that when facing pressure from the People's Republic of China, the Indo-Pacific region "must not embrace the path of acquiescence in the face of coercion. Rather we must practically insist on engagement whthin the clear and established rules, with accountability and transparency."

  Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland Enda Kenny closed the sessions, and Dr.Handa made the final remarks, cracking a few clever jokes to lighten the mood after the serious discussions of the day.

The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (3)

  The second panel was led by David Cameron, former prime minister of the United Kingdom. He expressed his condolences on the shocking passing away of Abe and reminded attendees through a quote from the same that, even with the serious challenges the world is facing, "hope is the most important factor for growth."

  The discussion ranged across the many issues facing Indo-Pacific region, such as globalization and populism and Putin's increased aggression. It benefited from the insights of the luxurious cast, including Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, former Ambassadors to Japan Hisham Badr of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Ireland's Brendan Scannell. 

Cameron expresses his condolences on the assassination of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 

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The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (2)

   The first panel discussion of the first day focused on the role of North America on the global stage. The panelists included Stephen Harper, former prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015 as well as current chairman of the IDU, Peter Rae, former senator of the Australian state of Tasmania, Minoru Kiuchi, House of Representatives member and prof.Masasru Ito of Meiji University who represented Japan in the discussion.

  Harper remarked on three "acute geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges" the world is now facing: the end of "native globalism," the "pandemic party hangover" caused by governmental money expansion, and the management of large-scale debts and deficits. 

   

   Worldwide Support for Development Chairman and Japan Forum on International Relations Director Haruhisa Handa (left) welcomes panelists on stage at the sixth Global Opinion Leaders Summit on July 28 in Tokyo. 

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The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (1)

  On July 28 and 29, the sixth Global Opinion Leaders Summit was held in Tokyo. The two-day event was attended by more than 1200 people. As before, the meeting was held under the auspieces of Worldwide Support for Development(WSD), the International Democrat Union(IDU)  and the Japan Forum on International relations(JFIR). The two-day summit featured a lineup of leaders from around the world, who came together to share knowledge and deepen cross-cultural relationship.

  The WSD is a bipartisan organization, but this time the summit focused on the past experiences and opinions of conservative world leaders, including six of former prime ministers.

  First, in the event on Jul 28 which was held with a collaboration between the WSD and the IDU, featured three panel discussions. The speakers and attendees were invited and introduced by WSD Chairman and JFIR Directore Dr.Haruhisa Handa, relpacing former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was originally scheduled to make an opening speech. Dr.Handa noted that "this is an opportunity to gather wisdom from the world...and understand the essence of leadership from so many former prime ministers." He expressed his wish that the summit be an open and easily understandable forum for attendees to truly understand the complex issues at hand.

  Dr.Handa handed over  the introductions to Katsuei Hirasawa, a member of the House of Representatives who belongs to the Liberal Democratic Party. 

                   Haruhisa Handa opens the sixth Global Opinion Leaders Summit on July 28 in Tokyo. 

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