There are times when being Japanese leads to trust (Seya)

Fukuhara　In order to be active in the world, I believe that it is necessary to firmly possess your own identity. Have you ever felt an identity as a Japanese during your support activities?

Seya　In a warzone, there are times where being Japanese has its merits. First of all, there are many regions that look at us as leading a highly neutral existence. Also, because Japan has experienced defeat in war and reconstruction, there are many people who have a sense of familiarity. And because Japanese are seen as having high technical skills, people place their hopes on our activities.

Fukuhara　I hear that Japan's rating around the world is surprisingly high. We tend to treat modesty as a virtue, but there is a necessity to realize that there are some people who desire the identity that comes from Japan's neutrality and history. If you can notice that, I believe that you have a character that can contribute to the world, and that will turn into a feeling of wanting to go out into the world. That is what you, Ms. Seya, are teaching through your way of life. I am very pleased that that way was nurtured from the Chuo University campus. One more question. Does being a female have any effects on your support activities?

Seya　Depending on the local culture, there are times when I must hide my skin and hair, or I must pay attention not to extend my opinion to males etc. At the same time, because I am a woman, there are many times when local women and children will talk to me about the damage that has been inflicted on them. There are times when I hear the true story which is difficult to say to a man, which makes being a woman useful for support activities. There are many Japanese females working in warzones.

Fukuhara　In the future, I want many females, and males of course, from Chuo University to head out like you. By the way, how do you intend to develop these activities in the future? Please tell me about your future aims and dreams.

Seya　Until now, from a position as an NGO, I have worked for peace in warzones in a support structure. From that experience, I want to develop the economy in warzones in a business structure in the future. Support tends to have a time limit, but business which has merits for both companies and locals should be sustainable. It's a sad story, but in war there are arms sales which are easy to link to business. But countering this, I think there should also be a framework where building and maintaining peace is linked to business.

Fukuhara　That is an excellent idea. I think ideas like that are needed for businesses in Japan today. Not in the sense of social contributions, but in conducting economic activities and creating structures where businesses can make a profit.I feel that is very powerful.

Seya　In order to build peace, new industry must be created in the affected area, and work must be provided for those who can only survive by involving themselves with antigovernment forces. There are already regions where foreign companies have begun economic activities, so I definitely want to see Japanese companies get involved. Japanese companies of course have technical skills, but they also possess rich knowhow in nurturing human resources, which is highly regarded throughout the world, so I believe it would be easy to gain the trust of the local people.

Creating talent that can cooperate with international society and manifest their practical skills (Fukuhara)

Fukuhara　It would be good if, not only Japanese companies, but also graduate schools could partake in those activities. At the professional graduate school, Chuo University Business School, they took on business restoration in the Tohoku region as part of their research after the Great East Japan Earthquake. By conducting support activities in a business restoration framework, I heard that it was highly effective for both graduate school students and local businesses.

Seya　That is a significant activity. I think it would be good, that in the future, universities, companies and localities remove as many barriers as possible and proceed in concert with each other. New values and knowhow are created when people from different areas and positions cooperate together. I want more and more students to take themselves to sites other than their campuses, to go overseas.

Fukuhara　Even universities, which have had a large profile as research and educational institutions, are now required to cooperate even more in society since the disaster. This year our international program was chosen for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Project for Promotion of Global Human Resource Development, and we also established the International Cooperation Promotion Institute with the aim of deciding basic policy and implementing policies related to internationalization. In the future, we will promote these kinds of activities, and I want us to produce human resources who can cooperate and be active in not only Japanese society, but also international society. I think there are many Chuo University students who haven't yet realized how highly skilled they are.

Seya　It seems that there are many students who aren't sure over what they should study in order to work overseas. I often get asked about what one should major in, but there is always demand in the field, regardless of what faculty you studied in. So it is important to, first of all, select a field you are interested in. At JCCP we hold lectures and offer internships, but while we can provide some alternatives, it is the students themselves who choose their path. Because they are highly skilled, if the students find something that grabs their interest or a path they can trust, I want them to take it up without thinking twice. For example, even if you fail, I think it becomes a hint for taking your next step.

Fukuhara　So it is important to give something a go. No matter how many international programs a university has, learning there alone can't be said to be global. I think that stepping out into a different language and different environment to practice what you have learnt is significant.

Seya　Looking back now, I think university was an environment where you could endlessly dream about that. Putting the specialist knowledge you have learnt to use in an internship, and then making the most of that experience in your studies. I want every student to make use of the time and environment where they can study and put into practice.

Fukuhara　University life in Japan is temporary and there are many students who spend only four years there from 18 to 22, but there are also many people overseas who will work for a while before returning to university to deepen their specialist knowledge or embark on new studies. This way of university study may even become the norm in Japan in the future.

Seya　If that happens, it will be even better because there will be an environment where people who have left the workforce to enter graduate school can interact with faculty students. When I was at university I had the opportunity to interact with postgraduate students, and it was highly stimulating. I believe that university students, postgraduate students and working adults stepping out of their respective systems and stimulating each other are very important.

Fukuhara　That's right. Graduates are also part of that, and I am truly grateful to you, Ms. Seya. Thanks to those who were raised at Chuo University and have come back to spread their message, I think the university has become even richer. I'm sure that some of the students who read this interview will develop into the next generation of global talent. Thank you very much for your time today.