Even in the early days of the 東日本大震災 (Great East Japan Earthquake), I had speculated that this event would come to be known as “3/11”. We have heard several interlocutors in Tokyo now refer to it as such. The impact the “triple disaster” has had on the affected communities is traumatic and relatively obvious, but it is clearly also becoming a watershed for national policy-makers.
Given the extent to which policy-makers in Japan see their current work as shaped by 3/11, it was noteworthy that several interlocutors in Tokyo emphasized several initiatives taken by Canada in response to the disaster.
- humanitarian aid, including donations, immediately following the disaster itself (Embassy of Canada, Tokyo)
- in June the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service organized a series of seminars throughout Canada, entitled “Japan: Still Open for Business“
- on June 23, Canada lifter all additional restrictions on food imports from Japan and was the first country to do so
While so much of world politics seems to be determined by competitive pursuit of seemingly clear (material) national interests through Realpolitik today, it was clear in our discussions that Japanese policy-makers have taken clear note of these Canadian initiatives. These initiatives have thus very much become part of the context in which trade negotiations may be unfolding in the future.