{"id":726,"date":"2023-04-07T14:26:08","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T14:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonglobalforum.org\/gemaiws\/uncategorized\/the-shinzo-abe-initiative-2nd-conference-japans-prominence-in-the-new-age-of-global-enlightenment\/"},"modified":"2023-09-23T07:28:54","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T07:28:54","slug":"the-shinzo-abe-initiative-2nd-conference-japans-prominence-in-the-new-age-of-global-enlightenment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonglobalforum.org\/gemaiws\/enlightech-economic-alliance\/the-shinzo-abe-initiative-2nd-conference-japans-prominence-in-the-new-age-of-global-enlightenment\/","title":{"rendered":"The Shinzo Abe Initiative 2nd Conference: Japan\u2019s Prominence in the New Age of Global Enlightenment"},"content":{"rendered":"

The PDF of this publication can downloaded here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Tokyo, April 5th, 2023<\/p>\n

Contributors: Nazli Choucri, Michael Dukakis, Tuan Anh Nguyen, Quynh Nham, Thomas Patterson, Alex Pentland, Shyamal Sharma, David Silbersweig<\/p>\n

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The Boston Global Forum Shinzo Abe Initiative<\/strong><\/h6>\n

In 2015, the Boston Global Forum (BGF) honored Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with the “World Leader for Peace and Security Award.”\u00a0 This award was given in recognition of Prime Minister Abe’s contributions to promoting peace, security, and economic development in Japan and around the world.\u00a0 Prime Minister Abe’s leadership and vision helped to bolster the Japanese economy, strengthen international partnerships, and promote a more secure and peaceful world for all.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Abe was a distinguished contributor to the book Remaking the World \u2013 Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment<\/em><\/strong>, which was published in 2021 by the Boston Global Forum and the United Nations Academic Impact.\u00a0 The book presents a vision of the future based on the deep integration of applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) in all aspects of politics, economy, education, and society.<\/p>\n

On July 10, 2022, the Boston Global Forum founded the Shinzo Abe Initiative for Peace and Security<\/a> to recognize his legacy and continue his work on global peace and security through engaging world leaders, scholars, thinkers, and innovators on these topics with special attention to promoting Japan\u2019s economic growth and innovation.<\/p>\n

In January 2023, the BGF announced former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhide Nakayama as the coordinator of the Shinzo Abe Initiative and a distinguished contributor to the BGF.<\/p>\n

The Age of Global Enlightenment<\/strong><\/p>\n

The book Remaking the World \u2013 Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment<\/em><\/strong> (2021) presents a vision of the future based on the deep integration of applied AI in aspects of politics, economy, education, and society.\u00a0 This vision is supported by a 7-layer model of the AI World Society (AIWS), which is at the core of the Age of Global Enlightenment.\u00a0 The book outlines how the 7-layer model of the AI World Society can be used to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity.\u00a0 The model is designed to guide policymakers, business leaders, and individuals in harnessing the power of emerging innovations in digital technology as well as artificial intelligence (AI) to address the complex challenges facing the world today.\u00a0 It provides a roadmap for policymakers, political leaders, entrepreneurs, and world citizens to work together to establish a new Social Contract for the AI Age that is guided by the principles of broad-based collaboration, innovation, economic justice and equity, and ethical leadership.<\/p>\n

Leadership Community in the AI World Society and the Age of Global Enlightenment\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

In the new AI World Society, maintaining peace, guaranteeing reciprocal security, and promoting shared prosperity are crucial.\u00a0 The effort calls for concerted, collaborative action by world leaders.<\/p>\n

Toward this goal, the Boston Global Forum (BGF) has assembled a Leadership Community for Global Enlightenment<\/em>.\u00a0 This Leadership Community is composed of distinguished policymakers, political leaders, strategists, scholars, thought leaders, business leaders, innovators, artists, and other public intellectuals who are committed to crafting a new Social Contract for the AI Age.\u00a0 Notable participants in this Community include former Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts, President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, President Sauli Niinisto of Finland, UN Secretary General\u2019s Envoy on Technology Amandeep Gill, Speaker Andreas Norlen of Sweden, and \u201cthe father of the Internet<\/em>\u201d Vint Cerf among scholars from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and other leading institutions.\u00a0\u00a0 The BGF convenes members of this Leadership Community in High-Level Dialogues and similar discussions for imagining solutions and actions to address the world’s most pressing issues.<\/p>\n

<\/h6>\n
Japan\u2019s New Era of Reiwa<\/em> and the Age of Global Enlightenment<\/strong><\/h6>\n

The promise of a new era for Japan emerged in Spring 2019 when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe\u2019s eventual successor Suga Yoshihide gave the promise its name, Reiwa<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 The first character rei, means \u201causpicious\u201d or \u201corderly;\u201d wa means \u201charmony\u201d or \u201cpeace.\u201d\u00a0 Japan\u2019s officials chose \u201cbeautiful harmony<\/em><\/strong>\u201d as the English rendering for Reiwa.\u00a0 The name came from Japan\u2019s Manyoshu poetry anthology compiled over a millennium ago: \u201cIn this auspicious (rei) month of early spring, the weather is fine and the wind gentle (wa).\u201d<\/p>\n

The early months of Reiwa were neither auspicious nor gentle with the COVID-19 pandemic taking hold, China suppressing human rights in Hong Kong, and Shinzo Abe stepping down due to illness.\u00a0 Japan has demonstrated resilience in the face of past challenges.\u00a0 In the Showa era from 1926 to 1989, Japan recovered from the Second World War and grew into the world\u2019s second-largest economy. It led Ezra Vogel, a Harvard historian, to write about \u201cJapan as Number One\u201d and to urge America to learn lessons from its former foe.\u00a0 Mr. Abe had this in mind when he declared that \u201cJapan is back<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reiwa\u2019s dawn has already provoked soul-searching in Japan.\u00a0 The question for the Reiwa era is what kind of Japan the Japanese seek.\u00a0 Yoshimi Shunya of the University of Tokyo has argued that Japan is in a \u201cpost-growth or post-development era\u201d and its values must evolve from the \u201cfaster, higher, stronger\u201d of Showa to \u201cdiversity, resilience and sustainability.\u201d\u00a0 Others hope to reprise past glories, as in \u201cWe must make Japan Number One again<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Showa Japan once offered lessons on how to win the future.\u00a0 Reiwa Japan will offer lessons on how to survive and prosper.\u00a0 A place to start is on Japan\u2019s front line with China.<\/p>\n

Diplomats speak of Asia in terms of a \u201cFree and Open Indo-Pacific,\u201d a coinage of Mr Abe\u2019s.\u00a0 Trade negotiators speak of \u201cData Free Flow with Trust,\u201d another Japanese idea.\u00a0 Central bankers ponder \u201cquantitative easing,\u201d also pioneered in Japan.\u00a0 Years before Joe Biden promised America would \u201cBuild Back Better,\u201d Japan pushed to insert the phrase into the UN framework for disaster-risk reduction.<\/p>\n

In Spring 2021, President Biden welcomed then Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide for the first foreign leader visit of his presidency.\u00a0 After a tenuous period under the Trump Administration, the United States and Japan renewed an alliance that has become a cornerstone of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.\u00a0 Japan is central to this century\u2019s geopolitics and a peaceful, democratic world order \u2013 spreading Reiwa<\/em><\/strong>, Beautiful Harmony<\/em>, in a world beset by destabilization, displacement, and violent suppression imposed on millions of world citizens by authoritarian regimes.<\/p>\n

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Welcoming Japan as an Essential Pillar of World Democratic Alliance <\/strong><\/h6>\n

It is a great honor for the Boston Global Forum to welcome Japan as its distinguished collaborator from the Asia-Pacific region for co-creating the Global Digital Governance Framework towards peace and security in the new Age of Global Enlightenment ushered in by emerging digital technologies and generative artificial intelligence. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Leadership Community of the Boston Global Forum looks forward to Japan playing a pivotal role in leading and promoting the comprehensive social integration among the United States, Japan, India, the Europe Union, Australia and other like-minded democratic countries, for shared prosperity and a peaceful world order in this new Age of Global Enlightenment.\u00a0 With its historic excellence in technological innovations and its culture of humility, Japan could pave the way for establishing a robust ecosystem for innovation and technology-driven economy in Asia-Pacific and across the globe.\u00a0 The success of this collaboration will require both Japan and the United States to work together, alongside the European Union and India, considered as the Four Pillars of a free and fair global society in the new Age of Global Enlightenment<\/em><\/strong>, and leverage their respective strengths to create new synergies, as well as an effective global framework for digital governance to prevent harm and optimize the common good.<\/p>\n

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Japan as the Benevolent Economic Giant in the Age of Enlightenment\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h6>\n

The Boston Global Forum proposes the following for ongoing dialogue and collaboration:<\/p>\n

As a nation with a strong tradition of innovation and technological advancement, Japan has strong potential to play a prominent role in shaping the development and implementation of AI and other emerging technologies in what could be the Global Enlightenment Economy.\u00a0 Japanese companies and institutions have already made significant contributions to the field of AI, and Japan’s leadership in this area can help to drive innovation and promote ethical standards in the use of AI and other technologies.\u00a0 Japan’s leadership role in promoting a shared framework for responsible and ethical standards developed through proactive collaboration with the Boston Global Forum and leaders in the Global Enlightenment Community could be pivotal in advancing democracy, peace, and prosperity in the global economy in the Age of Global Enlightenment.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Japan’s commitment to international cooperation and collaboration, as well as its focus on promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, makes it a natural partner and indeed the benevolent economic giant<\/em><\/strong> in the Global Enlightenment Community.<\/p>\n

Potential Strategies<\/em><\/strong> that Japan could adopt for strengthening its economy in the Age of Global Enlightenment:<\/p>\n

Foster Innovation and Openness<\/em><\/strong>: Japan has a strong tradition of technological innovation.\u00a0 To remain competitive in current times, Japan could encourage greater openness to new ideas and technologies and promote an environment that fosters innovation.\u00a0 This could involve providing more funding for research and development, creating incentives for entrepreneurs and startups, and investing substantially in the development of emerging technologies like AI and robotics.<\/p>\n

Focus on Digitalization<\/em><\/strong>: Japan could embrace the digital revolution and invest in the redesign of its digital infrastructure.\u00a0 This could involve building a robust and reliable broadband network, investing in 5G technology, and developing new platforms and services that leverage the power of AI and other digital technologies.<\/p>\n

Embrace Data Economy<\/em><\/strong>: Data is the most vital input of the AI and digital economy, as well as all other highly interdependent sectors of modern life of individual citizens and nations including defense, commerce, and public health.\u00a0 Japan could focus on harnessing the power of data to drive economic growth.\u00a0 This could involve investing in systematic data capture in each sector, data analytics and machine learning technologies, promoting data sharing and collaboration across industries for program planning and implementation, and developing policies and regulations that protect privacy, encourage responsible use of data and improve quality of life for all citizens.<\/p>\n

Build a Strong Ecosystem<\/em><\/strong>: Japan could work to build a strong ecosystem that supports innovation and entrepreneurship.\u00a0 This could involve creating incubators and accelerators to support startups, developing a network of investors and venture capitalists, and fostering collaboration between academia, government, and industry.<\/p>\n

Partner with Other Countries<\/em><\/strong>: Finally, Japan should seek to partner with other like-minded countries that are leaders in the digital economy, such as the United States, India, and those in the European Union.\u00a0 By working together, these countries can share knowledge, resources, and best practices, and create a unified front to compete with China in the global digital economy.<\/p>\n

Kindness Culture of Japanese is Japan\u2019s soft power<\/em><\/strong>: <\/strong>Japan should promote its culture of kindness, civility, and politeness not only through tourism, but also through immersive cultural exchange programs and education attuned to the Global Enlightenment Economy and Enlightenment.\u00a0 By sharing its unique culture and values with the world as the soft power of Japan, Japan can become a pillar in building a cultural lifestyle of benevolent humanity in the Age of Global Enlightenment.<\/p>\n

One of the barriers to achieving this goal optimally is language<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 AI-assisted adaptive translation can help to remove the language barrier between Japan and other countries.\u00a0 Such integration can help to facilitate trade, cultural exchange, and collaboration in a variety of fields.<\/p>\n

To truly promote the soft power of Japanese culture and values, it is important to also invest in human translators and interpreters who can accurately convey the meaning, intent, and context behind the language.\u00a0 This can help to ensure that cultural nuances and context are properly understood and respected.<\/p>\n

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Specific Solutions and Actions for Japan’s Increasing Prominence in the New Age of Enlightenment\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h6>\n